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Opposite the Kremlin
on the right bank of the Volkhov River,
there is a picturesque architectural complex
of Yaroslav’s Courtyard.
The most important monumental architectural constructions of Old Novgorod
dating back to the XIIth century
are situated there.
They are the cathedrals and churches
that were built by princes,
Novgorodian merchants
and by ordinary Novgorodians -
the inhabitants of the Trade side.
None of the Russian cities
has such a great number of beautiful
ancient architectural monuments per area unit as Veliky Novgorod.
Yaroslav’s Courtyard was first mentioned in chronicles
in 1030.
According to the legend, Prince Yaroslav
had built a palace that surpassed all the similar European constructions
in its luxuriance and splendor.
In the XIth century,
the Yaroslav’s Courtyard became the residence of Novgorodian princes.
After the establishment of feudal republic in Novgorod
in the XIIth century,
princes had to leave Yaroslav’s Courtyard
and move to the Gorodistche -
the palace located at a 2 kilometer distance from the city.
From that very moment, Yaroslav’s Courtyard
became the place for veche, or popular assembly, gatherings.
There princes used to “kiss the cross”
and give an oath to the Novgorodians
to rule in “agreement” with the city.
Later on, the territory of Yaroslav’s Courtyard
became the place of trade or Torg for some period of time.
The Old Torg was the center
of Novgorod’s economic and social life.
Goods were delivered to Novgorod by water.
Thus, the busiest trading activities took place by the river.
Sometimes, such a great number of trading boats gathered there
that fires bursting out in one side of the city
came to another side
along boats and rafts with goods.
As a result, the whole city might burn down.
That happened sometimes.
Trade was a rather dangerous activity in Middle Ages.
On a long journey, merchants were subjected to serious hardships –
frequent shipwrecks,
attacks of robbers or enemy military troops.
Seeking for God’s protection,
the Novgorodian merchants built churches on Torg.
Churches were also constructed on the initiative of craftsmen
living on some of the streets close to Torg and wealthy merchants.
In the XVIIth-XVIIIth centuries,
there was constructed a stone Guest Court
on the part of the Old Torg’s area.
It consisted of shops
forming a closed quadrangle with a yard,
in the center of which stood a huge balance.
Three sides of the Court were bordered by the streets,
and the fourth side joined the river bank.
During World War II,
the Guest Court was practically totally destroyed.
Of all its constructions, only the Gate Tower and the arcade have survived.
It is the arcade that now makes the outlook
of the right bank of the Volkhov River especially picturesque,
although in reality
it represents the remains of “dark rows”
which received such name due to the fact
that the upper floors resting on these massive pillars
were hanging over the shops
darkening the gallery.
Today, Yaroslav’s Courtyard
is one of the most favorite walking and resting places of the Novgorodians.
At the same time, it is a precious pearl
in the crown of Veliky Novgorod’s architectural monuments
that no other ancient city of Russia possesses.