We invite you to take a walk down the streets of Veliky Novgorod searching for interesting modern sculptures. Route №2 includes all small architectural forms of the central part of the city.

In Veliky Novgorod there is a curious character awaiting you around every corner - among those are famous tourist girl, which got a little tired after the walk in the sunshine lit city and took a break near the pedestrian bridge, the kind bear who is sitting on a bench on Alexander Nevsky Embankment. But here you will not only meet funny beetles and turtles! If you hear the tender piano sound in the Kremlin park - do follow them! This way you will meet the famous Russian composer - Sergey Rakhmaninov...

What is worth seeing: the monument called “Tired tourist”

Location: on the parapet of the pedestrian bridge over Volkhov river

826 m away from St. Sophia’s square (10 minutes on foot)

Year of creation: 2009

The author: Vadim Borovykh

How to get there: go straight from the Kremlin, cross the pedestrian bridge, the monument is on the left at the foot of the bridge

Description: according to one version the monument is devoted to a girl-tourist, another version is that it’s a girl from Novgorod. Now this monument is a favorite place for taking pictures.

Legend: if you put a coin into girl’s shoe, you will definitely come back to Veliky Novgorod.

What is worth seeing: monument to Drawing boy

Location: Alexander Nevsky’s embankment

1 km away from St. Sophia’s square (15 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: September, 2010

The author: Sergey Gaev, famous sculptor from Novgorod, with the participation of Nikolay Sumarokov, sponsor from Novgorod

How to get there: go straight from the Kremlin, cross the pedestrian bridge, turn left on Alexander Nevsky’s embankment

Description: composition reproduces a «picture» which is usual for this place. According to the tradition, young artists, students of Russian art schools, draw here from life their first landscapes. On boy’s easel is the old Kremlin and boat on the Volkhov river. There are brushes and back pack near the folding chair on which the young artist sits.

Legend: it’s believed that those who sit down next to the boy will definitely come back to Veliky Novgorod.

What is worth seeing: the sculpture «A bear on the bench»

Location: the monument is situated near shopping center «Diez» on Alexander Nevsky’s embankment

1.29 km away from St. Sophia’s square (15 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 2007

The author: Vadim Borovykh

How to get there: go straight from the Kremlin, cross the pedestrian bridge, turn left on Alexander Nevsky’s embankment, reach the shopping center «Diez»

Description: brown bear sitting on the bench near Alexander Nevsky’s bridge is another object of modern Novgorod architecture.

Legend: a bear came to the city from dark forest. He wanted to see people who lived in Novgorod and he was glad he’d met them. No doubts people in Novgorod were very affable and friendly. The bear didn’t want to go back to forest and he decided to stay in Novgorod. During days and nights the handsome symbol of mighty Russia is sitting on Alexander Nevsky’s embankment, watching boats and motor ships sailing by, waiting for people to come, sit beside him and talk about something.

What is worth seeing: Bronze lions

Location: the Kremlin territory, near the entrance to the main building of the historical museum

387 m away from St. Sophia’s square (5 minutes on foot)

The author: the lions were custom-made for count Arakcheev in 19^th century, now they are the only thing left from the palace of famous nobleman.

Description: there is hardly a person who hadn’t been in the historical museum when he was in Veliky Novgorod. It is situated in the center of the city – in the Kremlin. Its entrance is protected by two cast-iron lions sitting on the wide porch.

Legend: there is an old tradition – to make a wish rubbing their tails. If a lion likes rubbing, it will help you to fulfill your wish.

Students in Novgorod have their own tradition: before the exam you should come to lion and rub its leg and nose. Perhaps menacing museum guard winks at you and all the exams would be easy.

People who fell in love also remember the lions. If you flatter them, you will be happy with your love. But! Nobody should see that. So it’s not an easy task.

What is worth seeing: composition «A bug on holiday» 

Location: near Novgorod Drama theatre, 14 Velikaya street, on the embankment of Volkhov river.

1.39 km away from St. Sophia’s square (17 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 2009

The author: this funny sculpture is custom-made for one of factories in Novgorod using method  of forging and welding by employees of Novgorod smith Viktor Kornilov in his workshop.

How to get there: go from the city center to Alexander Nevsky’s bridge, turn left to Velikaya street, go down the street to the theatre and then go down to the river.

Description: the central figure of the composition, installed on the square near Novgorod Drama theater, on the embankment of Volkhov river is a giant bug, having good time near a chaise longue.

Legend: a photo near the bug brings nice holiday. If you’re planning to have a rest from the city fuss and enjoy long-awaited vacation, here is a piece of advice for you: you should make a sunny picture with «A bug on holiday».

What is worth seeing: I Love Veliky Novgorod sign

Location: the river Volkhov bank, near the CASA DEL MAR ship

Distance from the Sophiyskaya Square: 1,5 km (19 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 2015

The author: designer Dmitry Bolotov

How to get there: get to the centre to the Alexander Nevsky bridge, turn to the left to Velikaya Street, go straight to the Drama Theatre, then go down to the bank of the river to the CASA DEL MAR complex

Description: Two-meter construction will certainly awake an echo in the hearts of the guests of the city and its citizens. And it shines brightly in the night.

Legend: Everyone who visited Veliky Novgorod should take a photo with the Novgorod heart. For one can not help but fall in love with our lovely city. Be sure to make a wish, and it will come true!

What is worth seeing: Hanseatic sign

Location: in the historical center of the city, on Yaroslav’s Court

960 m away from St. Sophia’s square (12 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 2009

The author: architectural workshop «Three» of the company «Vozrozhdenie»

How to get there: from the city center using bus No 16, to the bus stop «Nikolskaya», then to Yaroslav’s Court

Description: there are two sailing boats – boat from Novgorod and Hanseatic Kogge

Legend: Years ago Hanseatic ships moored to this right bank of the Volkhov river on Yaroslav’s Court.

What is worth seeing: «Wooden zoo»

Location: near the Kremlin, at the foot of the pedestrian bridge

542 m away from St. Sophia’s square (7 minutes on foot)

Year of creation: 2010

The author: folk creation

Description: on the bank of the Volkhov river, near the Kremlin craftsmen from Novgorod made a group of beautiful animals from old stumps: there are a snail, fish and turtles. All these sculptures bring happiness to children and smile to their parents.

What is worth seeing: the monument to Sergey Rakhmaninov

Location: northwestern part of the Kremlin Park

218 m away from St. Sophia’s square (5 minutes on foot)

The year of the creation: 2009

The author: Alexander Rukavishnikov

Description: The monument about 3.6 m high and more than 3 ton weight, bronze sculpture of a musician leans on a bench.

Legend: the opening of the Rakhmaninov monument was a significant event in cultural life of Veliky Novgorod the day before 1150-years-celebration which was in September, 2009. Sergey Vasilevich was born on the 20^th of March 1873 in Novgorod region in Oneg estate and was descended from old noble family.

What is worth seeing: Hanseatic fountain on Yaroslav’s Court

Location: on the Trade side of the city, on Yaroslav’s Court

919 m away from St. Sophia’s square (11 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 2009

The author: the company «Vozrozhdenie», architectural workshop «THREE»

How to get there: from the city center using bus No 16 to the bus stop «Nikolskaya» then to Yaroslav’s Court

Description: round granite plate symbolizes bargaining table, where all the participants are equal. There are 16 emblems of participation countries of New Hansa inlayed in circumference with color mosaic. On the bank there is a sign: two ships on the waves with tighten crowns of trees instead of sails. These ships are soldered in between – this is a symbol of old and new Hanse, the unity of time. There are benches and trees with red leaves around the fountain.

Legend: there is already a tradition to throw coins in the center of the fountain and make a wish.

What is worth seeing: monument of the bird Sirin

Location: on Alexander Nevsky’s embankment, near the shopping center «Diez»

1.27 km away from St. Sophia’s square (15 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 2012

The author: Vyacheslav Smirnov

How to get there: cross the pedestrian bridge, go down the stairs to the left and then walk along Alexander Nevsky’s embankment

Description: bronze statue of mythical bird with the head of a girl, enclosed in a cage

Legend: according to a description of old Russian believes, sweet-voiced bird Sirin, the same as sea birds Siren, stupefied tourists with the song and carried along to the Hades. In later period these traces were extruded and Russian Sirin was given some magical functions, embodying beauty, happiness and the joy of life. A fantastic bird with face of a woman Obida (Offence) was considered, according to Russian mythology, as a carrier of misfortunes and troubles. As opposed to Sirin it was painted with its wings stretched, dispersing happy, bright days.

What is worth seeing: sculpture «A bear with a balalaika»

Location: 6 Bolshaya Sankt-Peterburgskaya street, near the shop «Magnit»

511 m away from St. Sophia’s square (6 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 2007

How to get there: from the city center using buses No 1,2,6,8a,9,9a,16,33,101 to the bus stop «Kozmodemyanskaya»

Description: smiling brown bear with double bass, but among the people this double bass is called balalaika, that’s why it is named «A bear with a balalaika»

What is worth seeing: «Sail»

Location: the Kremlin park, near «Sadko» fountain

341 m away from St. Sophia’s square (5 minutes on foot)

The year of creation: 1949

How to get there: go from fountain «Sadko» to Bolshaya Sankt-Peterburgskaya street

Description: reinforced concrete «Sail». On the monument there are pictures of Sadko, mermaids, boat, fish, domes of Yuriev Monastery. Sketches were worked out by all the artists of aerography studio. It’s planned that territory around would be improved, benches would appear. It should be remembered that the monument was built to celebration of 50-year-of-October in 1967 according to typical projects of small architectural forms, made by State Building.

Legend: if you walk in a serpentine manner under the sculpture, your trip would be without obstacles and problems.