Nizhny Novgorod > Big northern ring of Nizhny Novgorod region

Big northern ring of Nizhny Novgorod region

A wooden fortress and a defensive earth mound that has survived since the 12th century has protected the Russian lands from devastation many times.

The founding of the Feodor Monastery became an important event in the town's history In 1263 returning from the Golden Horde St. Alexander Nevsky took the monastic vows under the name of Alexius and passed away. In the 90s, during archeological excavations, a prince helmet dating to the 13 th century was found here. After St. Alexander Nevsky's death his son Andrey became a Gorodets prince thus becoming famous as Andrey of Gorodets. In the 17th century the monastery chronicles "Kitczh annalist" were created.

In the 14th century even local silver coins were minted in Gorodets. In the 17th century the town became one of the Volga's wooden shipbuilding centers.

In 1722 Peter the Great visited the shipyard, and Catherine the Great was present at Our Lady of St.Theodore Cathedral's consecration. In the 17th century the town became a bhold and an unspoken "capital" of Old Believers. The 19th century became the Golden Era for Gorodets. The town became a large trade, economic and shipbuilding center.

The magnificent past of the city is retained by the appearance of merchants' stone houses, adorned with front porches with a lace of castiron sheds and splendid metal chimneys and drains. Wooden Gorodets houses which are decorated with wood carvings look like fairytale palaces.

The Gorodets area carefully upholds and promotes the traditions of folk arts and crafts. Here the traditions of Gorodets ornaments, golden embroidery, wood carving, honey ginger-breads, pottery, willow weaving, gingerbread mold carving are still alive. Gorodets is justly called the "Craftsmen Town". Annually, every July, the festival of folk arts and crafts "The Fraternity of Folk Craftsmen' takes place here, and the second Saturday in September the Town Day celebration is held.

Modern Gorodets is also a "museum capital". Sim 2003 the regional festival "Nizhny Novgorod Museu Capital" takes place here every September. A "museu block" was opened to unite some of the museums th; make a part of Gorodets historic and art complex. Tf building complex "Craftsmen Town" opened in 20C and has become a part of the museum gallery in th ancient town as well as one of the most popular destin, tions.

The best known Gorodets museums are: "Craftsme Town", "Samovar Museum", "Gingerbread Museun "Welfare Museum" Local History Museum, Panir Memorial Estate and School Museum.