Valday
Encyclopedia
Valday is a town in Novgorod Oblast
, Russia
, the administrative center of Valdaysky District
. It lies on the federal highway M10
connecting Moscow
and St. Petersburg
, 386 kilometres (239.8 mi) from Moscow
and 140 kilometres (87 mi) from Veliky Novgorod
. Population:
in 1770, when its population was about 2,000. The town became the leading center of bell
manufacturing in Russia. The famous Iversky Monastery
(built under the auspices of Patriarch Nikon
in the 1650s) is located on one of the islands of the nearby Valday Lake.
Valday was on the eastern front for Russia during World War II
.
national park. Most people come to the lake and to the town during the summer. Valday features many resting homes and sanatoria, and many camping places are available around the lake.
and Vladimir Putin
.
Novgorod Oblast
Novgorod Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Its administrative center is the city of Veliky Novgorod. Some of the oldest Russian cities, including Veliky Novgorod and Staraya Russa, are located there...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the administrative center of Valdaysky District
Valdaysky District
Valdaysky District is an administrative district , one of the 21 in Novgorod Oblast, Russia....
. It lies on the federal highway M10
Russian Route M10
The M10 is a federal highway in Russia connecting the country's two largest cities, Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and continuing to the border with Finland...
connecting Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, 386 kilometres (239.8 mi) from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and 140 kilometres (87 mi) from Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod is one of Russia's most historic cities and the administrative center of Novgorod Oblast. It is situated on the M10 federal highway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg. The city lies along the Volkhov River just below its outflow from Lake Ilmen...
. Population:
History
The settlement was first mentioned in 1481 and received the status of a town from the empress Catherine IICatherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
in 1770, when its population was about 2,000. The town became the leading center of bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
manufacturing in Russia. The famous Iversky Monastery
Iversky Monastery
Iversky Monastery is situated in Novgorod region, district of Valdai....
(built under the auspices of Patriarch Nikon
Patriarch Nikon
Nikon , born Nikita Minin , was the seventh patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church...
in the 1650s) is located on one of the islands of the nearby Valday Lake.
Valday was on the eastern front for Russia during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Tourism
Valday is a popular tourist destination, situated in the middle of the Valdai HillsValdai Hills
The Valdai Hills are an upland region in north-west of central Russia running north-south, about midway between Saint Petersburg and Moscow, spanning the Novgorod, Tver, Pskov, and Smolensk Oblasts....
national park. Most people come to the lake and to the town during the summer. Valday features many resting homes and sanatoria, and many camping places are available around the lake.
Residence of the President of Russia
Very near to the town on the coast of the lake there is a residence of the Russian president. The complex of buildings is highly secured and a large sector of the lake is closed for boats and swimmers. This place was a favorite of the former Russian presidents Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
and Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
.