NOVGOROD VELIKY

It is likely that Novgorod existed as early as the 6th century. It's name, which means literally "New City," probably refers to the fact that it was built on the site of an older settlement. It was later called Novgorod the Great (Novgorod Veliky) to confirm its heightened status in the Kievan Rus' period. In the 13th century, another city named Novgorod was founded on the Volga, but the prefix Nizhny (lower) was added to the town's name sometime thereafter to signify the town's status vis-à-vis Novgorod Veliky. The town officially re-appended the suffix Veliky to its name earlier this year.

Novgorod Veliky has a population of 234,000 and lies on the main road between Moscow and St. Petersburg, some 300 miles from Moscow and about 110 miles south of St. Petersburg. It lies near the shores of Lake Ilmen, with the Volkhov river flowing through and around the city.

The city is well served by trains running between Moscow (9 hours) and St. Petersburg (2 hours). The nicest hotel in town is the Beresta hotel, on ul. Studencheskaya (ph. 34-747, fax 31-707). Less expensive is the Hotel Sadko, at prospekt Fyodorovsky Ruchey 16 (ph. 75-366).