Novgorod Oblast: Bell Culture and Nature

Valday: Bell Culture and the City’s History

Valday offers a specific cultural theme for a trip to Novgorod Oblast: bell culture and the city’s history. The region’s natural profile includes Valdai National Park, which covers 159,100 hectares and stretches across the districts of Valdaysky, Demyansky, and Okulovsky. This means that travel planning can take in both specific cultural sites and nature-related interests. When choosing a holiday apartment, first consider whether Valday’s museums and city history or nature and outdoor activities in the travel area should be the main focus.

Bells and Local Crafts

At the Bell Museum in Valday, staff demonstrate bell-ringing techniques and let visitors try them for themselves. The museum’s bell center displays bells from around the world and bell designs dating from the 3rd century BC to the Middle Ages; the collection also includes modern souvenir bells. This offers two distinct perspectives on the subject: the practical technique of bell ringing and the variety of bells across time and design. Those interested in the history of local crafts can look beyond the bell collections to the exhibition at the museum of the district town.

Opened in 1998, the exhibition explores the everyday lives of the town’s residents, the development of local trades, and the lives of individual Valday families and well-known summer visitors to Valday. The museum also preserves the memory of stonemasons, carpenters, blacksmiths, women who baked bubliki, soap makers, and bell founders. These craft occupations bring the subject of local trades to life; a monument named “Kuznetsam i kolokolnym masteram Valdaya” (To the Blacksmiths and Bell Masters of Valday) was erected in Valday in 2017. Featuring blacksmiths and bell masters, it provides a distinct perspective on the city’s history.

City Walks and Excursions

From the waterfront promenade in Valday, you can see Iversky Monastery. A guided excursion includes a walk through the streets of Valday and visits to the Valday springs, Valday Iversky Monastery, and ecological trails. It brings together the urban landscape, springs, the monastery, and nature, making it different from a visit focused on a single museum.

Nature and Activities in the Travel Area

The “Ivanyi pereleski” ecological trail is an educational walk where visitors can learn about the wildlife and nature of Valdai National Park. The trail starts at Lake Ivanye in Valdaysky District. Check current local conditions before setting out. The trail focuses on learning and observing nature, offering a different experience from Valday’s museums and city history.

The region’s natural attractions also include the waterfalls of the underground Poneryotka River. They emerge from two caves in the high limestone bank of the Msta and are designated a natural monument of regional significance. Here, the focus is on caves, limestone, and waterfalls, while the ecological trail explores wildlife and nature. A rafting route on the Msta combines active recreation with learning and is suitable for youth, family, children’s, and corporate groups. The options in the travel area therefore vary considerably in character, from an educational walk and a geological natural attraction to a rafting route for different types of groups.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Veliky Novgorod, Valday, Staraya Russa, Volna, Pankovka, Korotsko, Valdaysky District, Staraya Russa, Chudovsky District, Malovishersky District, Chudovsky District, Lyubytinsky District, Borovichsky District, Novgorodsky District, Soletsky District, Chudovo, Simanikha, Borovichi, Ondvor, Molochkovo, Pestovo, Tashino, Trubichino, Bolshoye Voronovo, Polnovo, Petrovshchina, Khilovo, Anukhino, Retle, Myasnoy Bor, Fedorkovo, Toroshino, Zimogorye, Krivoye Koleno, Veryassko, Malaya Vishera, Grigorovo, Vzvad, Mstinsky Most, Berezovik, Usadye, Pribrezhnaya, Luka, Vattsy, Selishche, Krestetsky District, Starorussky District, Soletsky District, Novgorodsky District, Valdaysky District, Demyansky District, Malovishersky District, Khvoyninsky District, Marevsky District, Okulovsky District.

For the broader travel overview: Russia.