| Valdaj Валдай | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag  .png/70px-Flag_of_Valday_(Novgorod_oblast).png){kind=small} | ||
| State | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 210 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 24 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 13.987 (census 2020) | |
| Prefix tel | 7 81666 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 175400–175405 | |
| Time zone | UTC 3 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Valdaj (Валдай) is a city of the Russia.
To know
Valdaj is a popular tourist destination, located in the middle of Valdaysky National Park. Most tourists visit the lake and the city during the summer. Valdaj has many recreational facilities and sanatoriums, and many campsites are available around the lake. The first meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club also took place on the lake.
Background
It was first mentioned in a chronicle in 1495. At the time it was part of the Derevskaya Pyatina of the Novgorod Republic. Valdaj's growth was facilitated by the construction of a connecting road Veliky Novgorod to Central Russia and since the founding of the Iversky Monastery in 1653, which became an important cultural center. The famous monastery, built under the auspices of Patriarch Nikon in 1650, is located on one of the islands of the Valdayskoye lake.
During the administrative reform implemented in 1708 by Peter the Great, the territory was included in the Governorate of Ingermanland (known since 1710 as the Governorate of St.Pietroburgo). In 1727, the separate Novgorod governorate was split up. In 1770 Valday was established and became the seat of Valdaysky uezd of the Novgorod viceroyalty. In 1796, the viceroyalty was transformed into the Novgorod Governorate. Located along the connecting road Moscow and St. Petersburg, Valdaj developed as an important trading center. The city became the main center of bell production in Russia. It also became an important pilgrim destination.
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In August 1927, the uezd were abolished and, starting from October 1, 1927, the district of Valdajskij was established, with the administrative center in Valdaj. The Novgorod Governorate was also abolished and the district became part of theokrug of Boroviči ofLeningrad oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. Valdai was close to the eastern front line for Russia during World War II, but was never occupied by troops German. On July 5, 1944, the Valdajskij district was transferred to the newborn Novgorod Oblast and has remained there ever since.
How to orient yourself
Valdaj (city): full screen map.
How to get
By car
It is located on the M10 motorway between Moscow is St.Pietroburgo, 386 km from Moscow and 140 km from Veliky Novgorod.
On the train
A connecting railway Bologoe is Pskov Street Staraya Russa passes through Valdaj. The city is also connected to Krestcy with a railway; there is no passenger traffic, so the railway is used for freight traffic.
By bus
Intercity transport is carried out by a municipal transport company and by several taxi companies, in the following routes:
- Valdaj - Krestcy -Veliky Novgorod - St.Pietroburgo
- Valdaj - Boroviči
- Valdaj - Vyšnij Voločëk - Toržok - Tver '
How to get around
What see
Valdaj contains forty-three cultural heritage monuments of federal importance and as many as seventy-four objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. Federal monuments are the whole of the Iversky Monastery, the Presentation Church and a park.
- 1 Valdai Iversky Svyatoozersky Monastery (On the island of Selvitsky in the middle of Lake Valdai, 10 km from the center of Valdai).
7:00-21:00. The monastery was founded in the mid-17th century by Patriarch Nikon, several original buildings have survived: the Assumption Cathedral (1655-1656, one of the largest 17th-century buildings in Russia), Iakov Borovichsky's Church (1702), the subsequent Cathedral of the Epiphany and the Church of the Archangel Michael. The monastery is perfectly visible from the city and due to the particularity of its position it seems a bit submerged by water. The monastery can be reached by car (along the M10 Valdai-Vyshny Volochek highway, off the highway towards Borovichi). 
- 2 Catherine Church, st. Labor, 2A. Wed-Mon 10: 00-18: 00. Closed on the last Monday of the month. Magnificent rotunda, designed by N. A. Lvov at the end of the 18th century. Now the church houses a bell museum.
- 3 Trinity Cathedral, pl. Freedom. Crude Baroque structure, built in 1744.
- 4 Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple of the Lord, pl. Freedom. Another baroque monument; in the worst conditions and without domes.
- 5 Jacob Borovichsky chapel, Komsomolsky perspective. Built in 1826 in memory of Emperor Alexander.
- 6 Church of Peter and Paul, st. Lunacharsky. The red brick temple was built in 1858 by the efforts of a local merchant Vasily Kolobov. During the Great Patriotic War, the church was closed, its building was first used as a dry cleaner, and then a military telegraph was located here. The iconostasis and church values were lost in a fire in 1943. The temple was revived by Father Nikolai Listov, now his tomb is located near the church. The iconostasis for the revived church was brought from the destroyed church in the village of Lamerie of the Kresty region.
- Vvedenskaya Church. It needs restoration.
7:00-21:00. The monastery was founded in the mid-17th century by Patriarch Nikon, several original buildings have survived: the Assumption Cathedral (1655-1656, one of the largest 17th-century buildings in Russia), Iakov Borovichsky's Church (1702), the subsequent Cathedral of the Epiphany and the Church of the Archangel Michael. The monastery is perfectly visible from the city and due to the particularity of its position it seems a bit submerged by water. The monastery can be reached by car (along the M10 Valdai-Vyshny Volochek highway, off the highway towards Borovichi).
Events and parties
What to do
Valdajskij District Museum exhibits two exhibitions. One is dedicated to the history of Valdaj as the center of a uezd in the 19th century. This part of the museum is located in the Mikhaylova House, a historic building from the 19th century. The second part, in the former church of Santa Caterina, highlights the history of the manufacture of the bells of Valdaj. At the end of the 18th and 19th centuries, bell making was a traditional craft in Valdaj. Large church bells were produced, as well as small bells hung on a horse harness.
- 1 Bell Museum, st. Labor, 2A. Wed-Mon 10: 00-18: 00. Closed on the last Monday of the month. The only bell museum in Russia, one of the main attractions of the city. Some of the bells on display can be rung.
- 2 County Town Museum, st. Lunacharsky, 7. Tue-Sun 10 am-6pm.
- Park of the Vakhrushev estate.
- Park of the propertyMenshikov.
- Solovyov Park.
Shopping
- 1 Clothing market.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- 1 Cafe Bavaria, pl. Svobody, 15, ☎ 7 921 705-85-12. 10:00–01:00.
- 2 Cafe Flagman (ex Jolly Roger), Sovetsky pr 27 (In the eastern part of the city). The new owners have done a major renovation, on the first floor there is a real bar, on the second floor there is now a mini-hotel. The past of this place is reminiscent of a metal bench at the entrance, made in a pirate style with the letters "BP".
- 3 Cafe Urartu, Oktyabrskaya st. 6a, ☎ 7 81666 2-48-77.
160 rub. 09:00–02:00. Cozy interior, delicious food, business lunch - 4 Dar Valdaya restaurant, pl. Freedom. 10:00–22:00.
- 5 Tropicana restaurant, st. Molotkovskaya, 2, ☎ 7 81666 20146.
- 6 Pizzeria Miracle-pizza, Komsomolskiy perspective, 56 a, ☎ 7 905 239-33-43.
- 7 Cafe Victoria, st. Oktyabrskaya, 37.
- 8 Lukomorye Cafeteria, st. Lomonosov, 70, ☎ 7 921 207-23-53.
- 9 Uslada coffee, st. Lenin, 24/48, ☎ 7816662 6816.
- 10 Cafe Uyezdnoye, st. Truda, 5 y.
160 rub. Where stay
Average prices
- 1 [link not working]Valdai Dawns Tourist Complex, st. Molotkovskaya, 2, ☎ 7 81666 22-140, 7 81666 20-146. Double room: from 3,500 rubles (2009). The hotel complex is located in the city, on the shores of Lake Valdai, near the Solovyevsky Park. Private beach 70 meters from the hotel (sunbeds, umbrellas in summer). The hotel has a five-storey residential building and an administration complex.
- 2 Valdai hotels, st. Lunacharsky, 20, ☎ 7 81666 22-075. Double room: 1,400 rubles (2009). The Valdai Tourist and Hotel Center is located in the center of Valdai. At the train station at 600 meters, at the bus station at 1.5 km. The lake is 400 meters away. There are several bars nearby within a distance of 200-300 meters.
- 3 Cortile Valdai hotel, Vyskodno-2, d.7.a (In a picturesque area of the tourist area of the Valdaj National Park, 3 km. from the center of Valdaj, on the highway between Moscow is St.Pietroburgo), ☎ 7 81666 24359, @[email protected]. A small hotel with 30 beds all year round.
- 4 [link not working]Valdaj National Park Hotel, st. Victory 3, ☎ 7 81666 21217, @[email protected]. The hotel complex is located in the city on the shores of Lake Valdai, near the Solovyevsky Park. Private beach 70 meters from the hotel (sunbeds, umbrellas in summer). The hotel has a five-storey residential building and an administration complex.
- 5 Marakanas mini-hotel, st. Sandy, 11 (A twenty minute walk from the city center and a short walk from Lake Valdaj), ☎ 7 816 66 203 67. In a quiet and peaceful area of Valdaj.
- 6 Flagman mini-hotel, Sovetsky perspective, 27, ☎ 7 911 606 57 00. Double room: 600 rubles / bed / night, economy quadruple room: 1,600 rubles / room / night. Not far from the mini-hotel is the Bell Museum, the Solovyov Park, the city beach, the city stadium.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Telephony
Fixed line services are provided by: Rostelecom branch in the Novgorod and Pskov regions (FNPO), Eurasia Telecom Ru, Integral, NovLine.
Mobile phone services are provided by cellular operators: MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and Tele2.
Around
- Veliky Novgorod, 140 km northeast of Valdaj.
- Very close to the city on the coast of Valdayskoye lake there is a residence of the Russian president. The building complex is highly protected and a large section of the lake is closed to boats and bathers. This place was a favorite of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Valdaj (city)
Commons contains images or other files on Valdaj (city)
