"HANSEATIC LEAGUE. RUSSIAN WAY"
DEVOTED TO 1150th ANNIVERSARY OF VELIKY NOVGOROD


Veliky Novgorod is situated on the North-West of Russia, 180 kilometers from Saint-Petersburg and 524 kilometers from Moscow.
The city is easy to reach by car, bus or train.
The oldest city of Russia, the cradle of Russian democracy, medieval centre of trades and crafts, boundless field for research by historians, architects and archaeologists - all this is Veliky Novgorod.
Novgorod was first mentioned as a fortress in the chronicles of 859, and this date is accepted as a starting point of the city's age. However, historians and archaeologists still debate over the exact date of the city's foundation and the location of the "old" city, compared to which the later settlement was considered "new". Prevailing is the point of view that the old city is the so-called "Gorodische", located on the right bank of the Volkhov river, 2 kilometers from contemporary Novgorod. It is generally considered that Gorodische used to be the settlement of Varangian Prince Rurik who was summoned to rule over Novgorod in the 9th century and who started the royal dynasty of Rurikovichy.

Starting from the very early stage of its existence, Novgorod had a quite different political order than other Russian cities. At the times of the Kievan Rus', the oldest son of the Great Prince of Kiev traditionally ruled in Novgorod. Prince Vladimir, who converted Russia into Christianity, and his son Yaroslav the Wise were among those who occupied Novgorod throne. From the year 1136 and on, Novgorod became "free in princes", which means that princes were invited for a period of time (usually during the wars). He was actually hired on certain conditions which were stated in a contract. If the prince didn't come up to the expectations, he was simply fired and expelled. Moreover, the prince and his troops were forbidden to live within the city borders and hunt nearby.

From the 12th century, the Novgorod Land became an independent feudal republic managed by veche - a gathering of representatives of all city parts. Veche made decisions concerning war and peace, foreign and internal policy and other global matters as well as elect the archbishop of Novgorod.

The town grew up around its Kremlin (citadel), the most ancient in Russia , an oval red-brick fortress on the banks of the Volkhov river, surrounded by a large moat.
Russia 's decision-making centre at that time, Veliky Novgorod is also the site of Saint Sophia Cathedral which towers over the sixty or more churches of the fortified city. It contains a unique range of religious buildings and paintings that have been superbly maintained and restored, from monasteries to chapels, and the magnificent Church of the Transfiguration of Our Saviour of the 14 Century with the unique frescoes of Theophane the Greek. Also in the Kremlin is a truly astonishing and exquisite collection of impressively large icons, probably the finest in Russia .
For centuries,  Veliky Novgorod was a political centre of a vast land from the Baltic region and Finland in the West to the Northern Urals in the East. It was a kind of 'door' to Europe, one of the most powerful centres of international trade and integration on the way from the Baltic Sea to Volga, serving as a link between Northern Europe and Asia.
Medieval Novgorod had close contacts with the Hanseatic League of North-European cities. The League had its permanent representatives in Novgorod. Since 1993, Veliky Novgorod has become a member of the Hanseatic League of New Time based on traditions of Medieval Hansa, a prototype of present-day united European Market, appeared in 1980. Nowadays the Hanseatic League of New Time unites more then 160 cities from 15 European countries.
In December 14, 1992 at the jubilee conference of the World Heritage Committee UNESCO it was decided to include the historical monuments of Novgorod and its suburbs into the List of World Heritage.
Annually Hansa Days forum take place in one of Hansa cities. Participating cities present their culture and traditions through medieval market with arts and crafts, traditional cuisine and performances.
In Veliky Novgorod Hansa days are taking place on June 18-21, 2009 when the city is celebrating its 1150th anniversary. Representatives of more than 100 European cities are gathering together for a few days in Veliky Novgorod to present their traditions in music, arts and crafts, national cuisine, dancing, songs and rites and find possibilities of cooperation in economics, politics and culture.
Hansa trade fair and Historical medieval market are working all days to fill Novgorod Kremlin, Yaroslav courtyard and streets of the historical centre with spirit of middle ages and to present the variety of European cities, their traditions, culture, history and the present.
Visitors of Hansa trade fair are getting all the information about present-day Hansa cities - cities of Germany, Estonia, Finland, Great Britain, Poland, Holland, France, Sweden, and Russia. Historical market is inviting guests of the holiday to go on a tour to middle ages; street merchants, craftsmen, actors, ordinary people are helping to imagine everyday life and culture of a medieval city.
Grand ending of a '29th International Hansa days Forum' is a traditional procession of the participants: official delegation from Hansa cities, craftsmen, musicians, actors and Novgorodians.
 

The program of the tour: