Staraya Russa, a district center in the Novgorod region, is located 93 km South of Novgorod (about 2 hours drive from Novgorod). Staraya Russa is on the right bank of the Polist river (basin of Ilmen lake), at the confluence of the Porus river. The population is now 40,000 inhabitants.
We have seen Staraya Russa on Sunday during the weekend in Novgorod, and we selected a guided tour: we were alone with our Russian guide!
The first mention of Staraya Russa was found in the Novgorod chronicle in 1167. Archaeological excavations in 1966 confirmed that in the second half of the XII century Russa was a comfortable town with cobbled streets, wooden buildings and a well-developed crafts. Findings found during excavations in 1969-1970 period confirmed the assumption that ancient city, which emerged in the second half of X century, developed due to salt mines. In 1190 and 1194 years the city burned to the ground, but was again restored.
Horde of Batu Khan, invaded the borders of Russia in 1237, but did not reach Russa and Novgorod.
A fire in 1763 again destroyed all the wooden buildings of the city, and then the city was built with a new plan. Its center shifted from the banks of Porus on the right bank of Polist.
Somehow Staraya Russa began to return to normal after the visit of the young Peter the Great. After some administrative reforms, the city was granted by Catherine II with its own coat of arms. In 1828 the city opened a mud-bath resort. Three years later, the earth trembled from the old Russian with cholera riots. Describing these horrors, Alexander Pushkin wrote about the huge sacrifices, not only among the military, which suppressed the rebellion, but also among doctors battling infection.
During the reign of Alexander I, settlements were created by the military, everything was run by the military authorities, such as industry and trade. There was also a cholera epidemic in 1831 which came from Asia and swept over the land of Old Russian. In Staraya Russa, a revolt, close to the town, burned property although the rebellion was suppressed by Tsar Nicholas I. To develop industry, commerce and transport, an opened boat steamer service was opened in 1858 between Staraya Russa and Novgorod, and in the 70's a railway was built in the same direction.
And then, during first World War, were established military hospitals, and then the 1917 revolution happened with civil war.
The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) affected Staraya Russa at its beginning. In July 5th, 1941, the first bombs were dropped on the city, and there was heavy fighting in August 1941, and the city was handed over to the enemy. On February 18th, 1944, Staraya Russa was released.
What attractions to see?
Staraya Russa is one of the oldest Russian cities, with a long and eventful history. The modern view of the city is decorated with the monuments of ancient architecture: Holy Transfiguration Monastery (founded in the late XII century), Church of Mines (XIV c.), St. Nicholas Church (XIV-XIX cc.), Trinity Church and the Holy Resurrection Cathedral (end of XVII century) and others.
House Museum of FM Dostoevsky.
Who was Dostoevsky?
Fyodor Dostoevsky was born on 30 October 1821 in Moscow. He was the second of seven children.
On May 1837, Fyodor Dostoevsky and his older brother Michael went to St. Petersburg for admission to the College of Engineering. On January 16, 1838 Fyodor Dostoyevsky enrolled in the School of Engineering. A literary circle was formed around Dostoevsky in the college.
On August 1842, Dostoevsky was enrolled in the Corps of Engineers during the drawing of the Engineering Department.
During this time he begins to actively engage in creative work. For the first time, he published a translation of Balzac's novel "Eugénie Grandet" in the magazine "Repertoire and the Pantheon".
In 1845, he finished to write the "Poor People" novel.
In winter 1847, there were conflictual relations between Dostoevsky and Belinsky. In July 1847 the writer had his first major attack of epilepsy. In the period from 1847 to 1849 Dostoevsky wrote a number of works: in summer 1847, novel "The Mistress", in 1848, the story "Another Man's Wife", the story "Poor Heart" and "Stories of the experienced man". At the beginning of 1849, he published books like "Notes of the Fatherland", the first two parts of the novel "Netochka Nezvanova".
From 1850 to 1854, along with Dostoevsky, Durov served hard labor in Omsk fortress.
In the spring of 1857, after a long hassle prosecutor, the writer was returned to the hereditary nobility. February 6th, 1857, Fyodor Dostoevsky married a widowed MD Isayeva. In June 1862 Dostoevsky went abroad for the first time. He visited England, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland. April 15th, 1864 of tuberculosis killed his wife, and June 10th, his brother Michael.
In winter 1867 stenographer AG Snitkin became the wife of Fyodor Dostoyevsky. From April 1867 to July 1871 Dostoevsky and his wife lived abroad.
House museum
The great Russian writer arrived in Staraya Russa in 1872 and for eight years, this city was for him and his family's a permanent resting place. In this house he wrote novels like "The Brothers Karamazov," "The Possessed" and other works.
The interiors of house, furniture, paintings, books, and numerous photographs can feel the atmosphere in which he lived and worked. We saw several commemorative items like cylinder, gloves, a bottle of prescription pharmaceutical.
Church of St. George the Victorious
Church of St. George the Victorious was built in 1410 and rebuilt in 1740 with the preservation of the old foundation.
The Priest house:
The Resurrection Cathedral
The main cathedral (1678) of Staraya Russa is dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ. The access for visit was not possible.
Holy Transfiguration Monastery
The oldest architectural monument of Staraya Russa is the Saviour Cathedral of Holy Transfiguration Monastery. The monastery was founded in 1192 near the right bank of the river Polist. At the same time was built the first wooden church. In 1198 it was burned, and in its place, was constructed a new one.
The resort "Staraya Russa"
The resort began in 1828 on the sources of curative mineral waters and mud. In the second half of XIX century, over a thousand patients were treated in this resort. In July-August 1904, Maxim Gorky was treated here. Around the building of the resort there is a magnificent park with scenic lakes and fountains. The famous Muravyevsky fountain, opened in 1854 and represents a ten-pole of mineral water, which rises from the earth and still amazes tourists.
However, the water that we tested was too salty !
This summer will be very busy ... you'll know why later ... The next post will be published in September. Happy holidays to all of you.
This summer will be very busy ... you'll know why later ... The next post will be published in September. Happy holidays to all of you.
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