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Having founded in the year of 1221, as an eastern outpost of Russia, Nizhny Novgorod is the third largest city of modern European Russia, as well as a cultural and industrial center of the country. At present, the image of the city has preserved the multitude of historic and cultural layers.
Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin - is a unique example of ancient Russian defensive architecture that has been preserved since the early 16 century (recently the city has celebrated the 500th year of the Kremlin). The Nizhni Novgorod Kremlin is the central part of the ancient town which occupies a relatively small territory on a hill dominating the confluence of the Oka and the Volga rivers. The first wooden fortress was built here in 1221. At the time of the Nizhni Novgorod Principality erection of the stone walls began. The walls that you now see date as far back as 1500 - 1511. Construction of the Kremlin wall on the steep hillside was initiated by the Italian architect Peter Friazin. During the XVI century the Kremlin endured 4 sieges. Originally the Kremlin wall was about 1,5 miles long, just some 200 yards less than that of the Moscow Kremlin. Eleven of the original thirteen towers have survived.
There are several legends associated with the Koromyslova (Yoke) Tower. According to one of them the Tower was named after a yoke used by a young girl as a weapon to fight the Tartars. She was the first and the last citizen to meet the enemy as she went to the river early in the morning. Invaders decided to retire after the rebuff from the girl choosing not to try their fortune with men defending the Kremlin.
The Ivanovskaya Tower was the center of the lower Kremlin defence. It protected the trading quarter. The cannons of the Ivanovskaya swept with fire the riverside approaches to the town.
Chasovaya (Clock) Tower was used as an observation post. The city tower clock appeared in 16th century. The Dmitrovskaya Tower was the defence center of the upper Kremlin. It is the highest and the most fortified tower of the Nizhni Novgorod Kremlin. The Dmitrovskaya Tower is used as a bank office now. There are several picturesque buildings within the Kremlin. The House of Soviets is situated to the right of Dmitrovskaya Tower's entrance. This building is a sample of constructivism in N.Novgorod (built in 1929-31, architect A.Grinberg). It looks like an airplane from a bird's-eye view and is the seat of the City Council.
Not far from it you can see what used to be the Governor's house (from 1840 to 1917), then it became the seat of the Regional and City Communist Party Committee, and from 1990 it houses the Art Museum with a rich collection of icons, paintings and sculptures.
On the left of Dmitrovskaya Tower you can see the exhibition of the Second World War military equipment produced in N.Novgorod. In the main square of the Kremlin there are some interesting places. You can see the oldest church of our city - Archangel Michael's Cathedral (built in 1631 by L.Vozoulin and D.Konstantinov) in the center of the square.
If you go further you'll discover a splendid view of the Volga and the Lower part of the city.Two historical monuments are situated here: a memorial in honor of N.Novgorod citizens who perished during the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 (two stelae, eternal flame and T-34 tank) and an obelisk in honor of K.Minin and D.Pozharsky, the leaders of the N.Novgorod people's volunteer corps in 1612, built in 1828 by sculptor I.P.Martos and architect A.I.Melnikov-Pechersky.
There is a fine Concert Hall in the right wing of the Regional Administration building. The A.D.Sakharov International musical festival is held here annually in early fall.
Minin and Pozharsky Square (formerly Blagoveshchenskaia Square). This is the city's central square, and most of the city festivals, Victory Day, Day of the City, and folklore festivals, are held here. Several busy streets cross the square, so it is crowded during the day. Nevertheless, the square is quite picturesque, and many people enjoy sitting on benches in the parks surrounding it. The monument to Kuzma Minin adorns the park on the left of the Dmitrovskaia Tower.
The Nizhni Novgorod Teacher's Training Institute is situated in the former Seminary building where Nikolai Dobroliubov, a famous Russian literary critic, studied. The institute's main building was part of the former gymnasium (architect A. Leer built in the 1830s), when Lenin's father, I.N. Ulianov, worked and lived with his family from 1863 to 1869 (Ulianov Street, l).
The history and philology departments of the Nizhni Novgorod State University and the Boys' Choral School are in a building which previously served as a hotel where Aleksander Pushkin, Russia's greatest poet, stayed in 1833. Many kiosks selling various goods operate on the square. Opposite the Dmitrovskaia Tower you may buy flowers during the day and in the early evening.
Bolshaia Pokrovskaia Street; formerly Sverdlov, informally called Pokrovka or Sverdlovka, connects Minin and Pozharsky Square with Gorky Square and crosses the historical central part of the city. A favorite place for strolling and shopping, Bolshaia Polrovskaia is a pedestrian street closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles and delivery vans. It takes approximately half an hour to cover the distance from the Kremlin to Gorky Square if you do not stop for shopping.
Historically, Pokrovka was one of the first streets in the city. Today the street is remarkable for its architecture. Most buildings date back to the nineteenth or the very beginning of the twentieth century.
The former building of the City Council, designed by the academician architect V. Zeidler in French baroque. At present, it houses the Regional Trade Union Center and a department store.
The former building of the Verkhne-Posadskie market stalls. After the 1904-05 reconstruction it housed the municipal public library. Busts of Pushkin, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy were placed in the niches of the portico. The Exhibition Hall, with the main entrance on Minin Square, an art salon and the Kharbin Chinese restaurant, with its entrance on Pokrovskaia Street, are located here.
The Upper Embankment extends from the monument to Valerii Chkalov, the aviator famous for his nonstop flight from Moscow to Vancouver via the North Pole in l937. The embankment has been a favorite strolling place for over a century. Nevertheless, it is seldom crowded.
The corner of Minin Square and the Upper Embankment formerly housed the offices of the "Volga Steamship Company". This neo-classical building now belongs to the
Institute of Medicine, and the "Le Monti" shop, which sells American goods, is situated in the yard.
The "Rossiia" Hotel (Upper Embankment, 2) has a restaurant with excellent Russian cuisine.
The Museum of the Radio Laboratory (Upper Embankment, 5) has exhibits showing the history of radio science, electronics and applied physics. The world's most powerful radio transmitters were developed in the laboratory in the early 20s. The laboratory's traditions continue in the city's leading research centers.
The late nineteenth century mansion that once belonged to the rich merchant S. Rukavishnikov (Upper Embankment, 7) now serves as the Museum of History and Regional studies, built in 1877.
Opposite the Oktiabrskaia Hotel you will see the Gardina Restaurant. Typical American dishes are served here. It's the closest thing to an American fast food restaurant you will find in Nizhni Novgorod. Next to the restaurant is the Nesterov memorial, which is devoted to the life and exploits of the aviator Peter Nesterov. As the pioneer of aerobatics, he was the first pilot to make a loop. He died in battle in 1914 after ramming an enemy airplane; it was the first such exploit in aviation history.
The Sirotkin Mansion (Upper Embankment, 3), built in 1916, belongs to the Art Museum. However, the main expositions of the Art Museum are displayed in the Kremlin.
The neo-classical Kamenskaia Mansion (Upper Embankment, 11) was built in 1913. A small cafe operates in the basement of the house now.
Lenin Square used to be the city's official center for marketing May Day and the October Revolution. Now the square's function is quite different, with the Trade Fair becoming its main attraction.
The fair's Main Building, an example of the Russian Style, dates back to 1896, when an All-Russian Trade and Industry Exhibition was held in Nizhni Novgorod. A tragic story is connected with N. Ivanov, the chief civil engineer who supervised its construction. One of the walls collapsed during construction and the provincial administration blamed Ivanov for the accident. Mortally offended, Ivanov committed suicide.
In 1970 the building was badly damaged by a major fire that broke out just before a supermarket was to be opened there. Nevertheless, the Main House is an architectural landmark of the city. Today it houses show rooms for the Nizhni Novgorod Trade Fair and several stores, including "Le Monti" and "Queen of Saba". International exhibitions are held at the site of the Trade Fair.
Not far from the square is located the Spassky (Our Savior's) or Old Fair Cathedral, built in 1822, at Mir Avenue 33. Its striking resemblance of the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg can be explained by the fact that they were both created by the architect A. Montferrand. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Strelka Street, the largest church building in the city, built in 1868-81, is another splendid monument built in the Russian Style. From the 1920s to the late 1980s the building was used as a port warehouse. Now it is being restored by the Russian Orthodox Church.
The V.I. Lenin monument is at the center of the square. The Central Hotel and the "Dom Knigi" Bookstore (probably the richest of its kind) are on the left. A wide variety of books, videocassettes, badges, etc., are offered at an open-air market in front of the bookstore. On the right side of the square is the "Oka" Cafe and the "Almaz" (Diamond) jewelry shop.
Gorky Street, is the longest street in the upper part of the city. The Spasskaia (Our Savior's) Church from the turn of the century (N177a) was styled after seventeenth century Russian churches by the St. Petersburg architect academician A. Kochetov, whose design won a nation-wide competition.
Leaving Svoboda Square you will see the Young Spectators' Theater on your left with the Ivan Kulibin Park stretching behind it. At the opposite end of the park is "Sputnik" Cinema and a casino.
A major shopping area exists between Svoboda and Gorky Squares. You may be interested in visiting some of the stores and cafes:
Maiakovskii Street. Due to its proximity to the port, the street has always played an important role in the city's trade life. There are many stores, bars and restaurants here.
The former commercial bank designed by V. Zeidler on the basis of N. Bugrov's order. Its facade is decorated with colored tiles as well.
The River Terminal; it also houses the "Privolzhskii" supermarket, an art salon and a restaurant where a variety of mushroom dishes are served.
The former City Commodity Exchange, built in 1896, is at the corner of the square.
The Nativity (Stroganov) Church, 1697-1719. The Stroganovs, a famous merchant family, initiated and sponsored the building of the church. It was built in the so-called Stroganov style, similar to European baroque. The interior is in good condition, so if you are interested in visiting an Orthodox church this is an excellent choice. The singing is also beautiful.
On the side street leading to the Volga you can find "Russian Club" Restaurant. Boiled crayfish and oysters are offered here.
Varvarskaia Street. This street links two central squares - Minin and Svoboda (Freedom). It is one of the city's oldest streets; the buildings of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are the most noticeable. The oldest houses are an eighteenth century wooden house (N8), and the former city drug store (N4), built in the eighteenth century and then rebuilt by the architect N. Grigoriev in 1883. Presently both of them are dwelling-houses.
The former building of the regional gymnasium (now the main building of the Nizhni Novgorod Teachers' Training Institute) houses a jewelry store located at the beginning of Varvarskaia Street.
The main library (N3) is situated in the former Noble Institute building, designed and built in 1843-1848 by A. Pakhomov, famous for participating in the reconstruction of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The building is marked by features of academic eclecticism.
The architectural ensemble of the Oktiabrskaia (October) Square is not completed. The Auction Center houses many offices and the cozy "Assambleia" Restaurant. Across the street is the City Publishing Center.
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