Veliky Novgorod

Veliky Novgorod (/vəˈliːki ˈnɒvɡərɒd/ və-LEE-kee NOV-gə-rod; Russian: Великий Новгород, IPA: [vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət]; lit. 'Great Newtown'), also known simply as Novgorod (Новгород), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. The city lies along the Volkhov River just downstream from its outflow from Lake Ilmen and is situated on the M10 federal highway connecting Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The city has a population of 224,286 (2021 census).

Novgorod is one of the oldest cities in Russia, being first mentioned in the 9th century. In the Late Middle Ages it flourished as one of the Hanseatic League's most important contors, known as the Peterhof. At its peak during the 14th century, the city was the capital of the Novgorod Republic and was one of Europe's largest cities. The Великий (Veliky) part was added to the city's name in 1999. UNESCO recognized Novgorod as a World Heritage Site in 1992.