City Tourism Centre of Staraya Russa

In the XVII century Staraya Russa developed economically as a centre of salt industry, competing with Moscow, Kazan, Rostov, Veliky and Nizhny Novgorod. At the beginning of the XIX century mineral water sources made Staraya Russa the first Russian imperial health resort built on the model of German resort town – Baden-Baden. Russian emperors, from Alexander I to Nicholas II, loved to be treated and rest here. The entire imperial court came here for the time of their staying in the town.

Fyodor Dostoevsky chose Staraya Russa as his place of residence in the 1870s. He spent the summer seasons of 1872-1876 here. Moreover, he did not leave Staraya Russa in the winter of 1874-1875, when he was writing the novel "The Raw Youth". In 1876 Dostoevsky bought a two-story wooden house with a big garden. His famous novel “The Brothers Karamazov” was written here, and the places described in the book are still preserved. The house, now the House-museum of the writer, remained too. Every year the international theater festival based on the Dostoevsky’s works is held here. The guests come from all over the world to see with their own eyes the places where the scenes of one of the greatest works of humanity unfolded.

Staraya Russa’s churches are places of a special significance: Transfiguration of the Saviour Monastery founded in 1192 under Prince Yaroslav; Resurrection Cathedral built in 1696 by the architect Stasov; Church of St. George with the miracle-working Icon of Our Lady called the Baby Joyful Move. It is the biggest processional icon in the world. The icon relates to the Novgorod land and is especially revered by the Russian Orthodox Church. Thousands of believers make annual pilgrimages to see it.

During the Great Patriotic War Staraya Russa was occupied by fascist invaders. The city not only shared the fate of the entire Soviet people, but it also became an important strategic bridgehead, for the possession of which fierce battles were fought all four years. “Even knee-deep in blood, not to surrender Russa,” Hitler said.

In 1984 Russian State Museum of the North-Western front was opened in Staraya Russa. Weapons, maps, schemes, archival documents, personal belongings of both red army and Wehrmacht soldiers are displayed there. Among 1500 exhibits, more than half are originals.

In 2008 the President of Russia issued Decree that gave Staraya Russa an honorary title of City of the Military Glory.