Novgorod Kremlin

About museum

The Novgorod Kremlin is one of the oldest monuments of military-defensive architecture in Russia from the 15th–17th centuries. The total area of the fortress within the walls is over 12 hectares. A deep moat surrounds it on three sides. The fortress walls are 1,487 metres long, 8 to 15 metres high and 3.6 to 6.5 metres thick. Of the twelve towers that existed in the 15th century, nine have survived. The Novgorod Kremlin was the religious, political and cultural centre of the Novgorod land. It houses Russia's oldest church — St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest secular building — the Vladychnaya (Faceted) Chamber, and other monuments from the 15th–19th centuries. In the centre of the Kremlin stands the Monument to the Millennium of Russia. The ensemble of the Novgorod Kremlin is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Today the Kremlin grounds are home to the Novgorod State Museum-Reserve, the regional scientific library, the regional philharmonic and a music college.