Local Attractions

Nizhny Novgorod is a city in the central Russia, the administrative center of Privolzhsky Federal District and of Nizhny Novgorod Region. Nizhny Novgorod is located at the junction of two rivers: Oka and Volga. Oka divides the city into two parts: the highland one, situated on Dyatlov Hills, and the lowland one on the left bank of Oka river. Volga separates two cities: Nizhny Novgorod and Bor. The area of the city is 466.5 square kilometers, the population is ~ 1.2 million citizens. Nizhny Novgorod is the center of an agglomeration, the population of which is 2.08 million citizens. It is the sixth in size in Russia and the second in Middle Povolzh’e.

Nizhny Novgorod is called the third capital and “The pocket of Russia”. The city was founded in 1221 by Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich, Duke of Vladimir and Suzdal’ as a frontier fortress. After transferring of the largest fair in Russia into Nizhny Novgorod, it became one of the main trade centers in Russia. Wealth and prosperity of Nizhny Novgorod became a legend. The fortress (Kremlin) built in XVI century was never captured by the enemies.

There are many unique memorial buildings, historical places, and culture attractions in the city. Nizhny Novgorod was included in the list of 100 cities of the world historical and cultural value by UNESCO.

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is the most interesting place in the city. It is the most unusual fortress in Russia: its walls drop down, then rise up following the natural topography. Now one can walk along the fortress walls, learn the history of each tower and of main memorials located inside the fortress (Monument to Minim and Pozharsky, Mikhail Archangel Cathedral, etc.). Inside Kremlin, there are an open air exhibition of military technics, one of the buildings of Nizhny Novgorod State Museum of Arts, and Mstislav Rostropovich State Academic Philharmonic.

Kremlin is surrounded by a large number of places of interest. Through the gate of Dmitrievskaya Tower, one can reach the main walking street of the city – Bol’shaya Pokrovskaya St., which goes from Minin and Pozharskii Square to Gorky Square and Lyadov Square. There are also many places of interest: Exhibition Gallery, former building of Upper-Posad shopping arcade, M. Gorky Nizhny Novgorod Academic Drama Theatre, Stat Bank, Rukavishnikov Manor House, Nizhny Novgorod Theatre of Puppets, Folk Arts shop, etc.

Near Georgievskaya Tower of Kremlin, there is the longest stairway in Russia – Tchkalov Stairway, which has the shape of eight. The stairway begins at Tchkalov Monument and connects Upper Volga Embankment with the Lower Volga one, which a sight on Strelka and Bor floodplain is opening from. Through Upper Volga Embankment, one can reach Nizhny Novgorod Cableway, which connects Nizhny Novgorod with Bor. A cableway journey allows enjoying the beautiful sights of these two cities and on the nature of Bor floodplain lawns.

One of the oldest streets of the city – Rozhdestvenskaya Street with many beautiful buildings goes parallel to Lower Volga Embankment. One can learn the history of the street architecture (P. I. Shuvalov House erected by A. K. Heintze, I. S. Pyatov House, A. A. Panina House, Our Lady Cathedral Church, etc.) during a ride on an excursion tram. In the summertime, the first Russian tram «Arlicon» is cruising along Rozhdestvenskaya St.

Rozhdestvenskaya St. leads to Kanavinskii Bridge – on of the key transport ways connecting the upper part of the city with the lower one. Passing to the lower part of the city via Kanavinskii Bridge, one can see, first, Alexander Nevskii New Fair Cathedral and Main Fair House. The orthodox cathedral is located at the junction of Oka and Volga. It was built in memory of the visit of His Majesty Emperor Alexander II to Nizhny Novgorod Fair. The building of Fair House was erected in XIX century on the pale of former fair buildings built by А.А. Betankur, the first architect of Nizhny Novgorod Fair. These building were deconstructed because of the problems with the basements. In the design of the building, there are the motives of Russian traditional architecture. Now, among the others, one of the newest museums of Nizhny Novgorod – Museum of Entertaining Sciences “Quarks” is located inside Main Fair House.

All the above is a small part of the architecture and culture attractions of Nizhny Novgorod only, located directly in the center of our city. More detailed information on the local attractions with the historical notes on many places of interest in Nizhny Novgorod can be found at the tourist portal of Nizhny Novgorod Region.