Valday (russian: Валда́й) is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
and the
administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...
of
Valdaysky District in
Novgorod Oblast
Novgorod Oblast (russian: Новгоро́дская о́бласть, ''Novgorodskaya oblast'') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Veliky Novgorod. Some of the oldest Russian cities, includin ...
,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
, located on the southwestern shore of
Lake Valdayskoye, the biggest one in the set of lakes in the highest region of the
Valdai Hills
The Valdai Hills (russian: Валда́йская возвы́шенность, Valdáyskaya vozvýshennost'), sometimes referred to as just Valdai (russian: Валда́й, Valdáy), are an upland region in the north-west of central European Ru ...
, on the
M10 Highway connecting
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
and
St. Petersburg, from Moscow and from
Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the ...
, the administrative center of the
oblast
An oblast (; ; Cyrillic (in most languages, including Russian and Ukrainian): , Bulgarian: ) is a type of administrative division of Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as the Soviet Union and the Kingdo ...
. Population:
History
It was first mentioned in a chronicle in 1495.
At the time, it was a part of
Derevskaya Pyatina of the
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a medieval state that existed from the 12th to 15th centuries, stretching from the Gulf of Finland in the west to the northern Ural Mountains in the east, including the city of Novgorod and the Lake Ladoga regions of mod ...
.
The growth of Valday was facilitated by construction of a road connecting
Novgorod to
Central Russia
Central Russia is, broadly, the various areas in European Russia.
Historically, the area of Central Russia varied based on the purpose for which it is being used. It may, for example, refer to European Russia (except the North Caucasus and ...
and by the foundation of the
Valday Iversky Monastery in 1653, which became a major cultural center. The famous monastery, built under the auspices of
Patriarch Nikon
Nikon ( ru , Ни́кон, Old Russian: ''Нїконъ''), born Nikita Minin (''Никита Минин''; 7 May 1605 – 17 August 1681) was the seventh Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' of the Russian Orthodox Church, serving officially from ...
in the 1650s, is located on one of the islands of
Lake Valdayskoye.
In the course of the
administrative reform carried out in 1708 by
Peter the Great, the territory was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as
St. Petersburg Governorate). In 1727, separate
Novgorod Governorate
Novgorod Governorate (Pre-reformed rus, Новгоро́дская губе́рнія, r=Novgorodskaya guberniya, p=ˈnofɡərətskəjə ɡʊˈbʲernʲɪjə, t=Government of Novgorod), was an administrative division (a '' guberniya'') of the Ru ...
was split off. In 1770, Valday was chartered
and became the seat of
Valdaysky Uyezd of
Novgorod Viceroyalty
Novgorod Viceroyalty (russian: Новгоро́дское наме́стничество) was an administrative division (a '' namestnichestvo'') of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1776–1796. The seat of the Viceroyalty was located in Novg ...
. In 1796, the viceroyalty was transformed into Novgorod Governorate.
[Snytko et al., p. 22] Located along the road connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, Valday developed as a major trade center. The town became the leading center of
bell
A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an inte ...
manufacturing in Russia. It also became a major pilgrim destination.
In August 1927, the uyezds were abolished and, effective October 1, 1927, Valdaysky District was established, with the
administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...
in Valday.
[Snytko et al., p. 85] Novgorod Governorate was abolished as well and the district became a part of
Borovichi Okrug of
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast ( rus, Ленинградская область, Leningradskaya oblast’, lʲɪnʲɪnˈgratskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ, , ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). It was established on 1 August 1927, although it was not until 194 ...
.
On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast.
Valday was close to the eastern front line for Russia during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, but was never occupied by German troops. On July 5, 1944, Valdaysky District was transferred to newly established Novgorod Oblast and remained there ever since.
[Snytko et al., p. 100]
Administrative and municipal status
Within the
framework of administrative divisions, Valday serves as the
administrative center
An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...
of
Valdaysky District.
[Law #559-OZ] As an administrative division, it is, together with the ''
selo'' of
Zimogorye, incorporated within Valdaysky District as the
town of district significance
Town of district significance is an administrative division of a district in a federal subject of Russia. It is equal in status to a selsoviet or an urban-type settlement of district significance, but is organized around a town (as opposed to a ...
of Valday.
[Resolution #121] As a
municipal division, the town of district significance of Valday is incorporated within Valdaysky Municipal District as Valdayskoye Urban Settlement.
[Law #371-OZ]
Economy
Industry
In Valday, there are enterprises of timber and food industries, as well as enterprises producing optical devices and pumps.
Transportation
A railway which connects
Bologoye and
Pskov via
Staraya Russa
Staraya Russa ( rus, Старая Русса, p=ˈstarəjə ˈrusːə) is a town in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Polist River, south of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Its population has steadily decreased o ...
passes through Valday. The town also has a railway connection with
Kresttsy. There is no passenger traffic but the railway is in use for cargo traffic.
Valday is located on the
M10 Highway which connects
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
and
St. Petersburg. There is a road connection to
Okulovka, as well as local roads.
Culture and tourism
Valday is a popular tourist destination, situated in the middle of the
Valdaysky National Park
Valdaysky National Park (russian: Валдайский национальный парк, Valdayskiy natsional'nyy park) is a national park in the north of Russia, located in Valdaysky, Okulovsky, and Demyansky Districts of Novgorod Oblast. It w ...
, in the northern part of the
Valdai Hills
The Valdai Hills (russian: Валда́йская возвы́шенность, Valdáyskaya vozvýshennost'), sometimes referred to as just Valdai (russian: Валда́й, Valdáy), are an upland region in the north-west of central European Ru ...
. Most tourists visit the lake and the town during the summer. Valday features many recreation facilities and sanatoria, with many camping places available around the lake. The first meeting of the
Valdai Discussion Club was also held on the lake.
Valday contains forty-three cultural heritage monuments of federal significance and additionally seventy-four objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The federal monuments are the ensemble of
Valday Iversky Monastery, the
Presentation Church, and a park.
The
Valdaysky District Museum, located in Valday, displays two exhibitions. One is devoted to the history of Valday as an uyezd seat in the 19th century. This part of the museum is located in the Mikhaylova House, a 19th-century historical building. The second part, in the former Church of
St. Catherine, highlights the history of Valday bell-making. In the end of the 18th and in the 19th century, bell-making was a traditional handicraft in Valday. Big church bells, as well as small bells which were hung to a
horse harness
Horse harness is a device that connects a horse to a vehicle or another type of load.
There are two main categories of horse harness: (1) the "breaststrap" or "breastcollar" design, and (2) the collar and hames design. For light work, such as ho ...
, were produced.
Gallery
File:Valday, Troitsky church.jpg, Troitsky Cathedral
File:Valday, Inside the Troitsky church.jpg, Troitsky Cathedral, Inner view
File:Valday, Iversky monastery.jpg, Iversky Monastery
File:Valday, houses in the old city.jpg, Houses in the olld city
File:Valday, the main square.jpg, On the main square
File:Valday, Monuments of Herous.jpg, Monuments to Valdai Heroes of the Soviet Union
Residence of the President of Russia
Very close to the town on the coast of Lake Valdayskoye there is a residence of the
President of Russia
The president of the Russian Federation ( rus, Президент Российской Федерации, Prezident Rossiyskoy Federatsii) is the head of state of the Russian Federation. The president leads the executive branch of the federal ...
. The complex of buildings is highly secured and a large sector of the lake is closed for boats and swimmers. This place was frequented by President
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin ( rus, Борис Николаевич Ельцин, p=bɐˈrʲis nʲɪkɐˈla(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ ˈjelʲtsɨn, a=Ru-Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin.ogg; 1 February 1931 – 23 April 2007) was a Soviet and Russian politician wh ...
and is also
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
's favorite. ''Putin's Dacha'' is on the southern of a peninsula between
Lake Uzhin (russian: Ужин) and
Lake Valdai (russian: озеро Валдай) and is across Lake Valdai from Valday (russian: Валдай).
Often, ''Putin's Dacha'', which was built in 1980, is called ''Valdai'', ''Dolgie Bearods'', or ''Stalin's Dacha'', but Stalin was not alive when ''Valdai'' was built.
Abuting north of this location is owned by the Russian Federation and is frequented by the
Federal Security Service.
[ According to ]Alexei Navalny
Alexei Anatolievich Navalny ( rus, links=no, Алексей Анатольевич Навальный, , ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej ɐnɐˈtolʲjɪvʲɪtɕ nɐˈvalʲnɨj; born 4 June 1976) is a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, and anti-corruption act ...
, Yuri Kovalchuk is the owner of ''Putin's Dacha''.[
]
Twin towns – sister cities
* Cañon City
A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency to cu ...
, United States
References
Notes
Sources
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*
*
*
*
External links
Official website of Valday
Unofficial website of Valday
{{Authority control
Cities and towns in Novgorod Oblast
Valdaysky Uyezd