indigo travel wine

Wine and Safari

A perfectly balanced journey taking you from exquisite Cape wineries to the most authentic African safari experience. Arriving in South Africa, your journey begins with an unforgettable two days in the breath-taking mother city, Cape Town. Nestled in the Constantia mountain range your stay will be surrounded by centuries old wineries and gorgeous landscapes. You will enjoy premium wines and mouth-watering meals at gorgeous estates. Following two nights in South Africa’s most historic wine region experiencing award winning wine and ultimate luxurious comfort, a quick flight will connect you to the bush for an off the grid, all-inclusive luxurious safari. Our special selection of 5 Star lodges are situated perfectly for the best sightings of the Big 5 – pristine nature at its best. You will round off your journey with 4 starry nights in the heart of the African bush.

Beach and Bush

The best of both worlds. Pristine beaches, turquoise oceans, summer sun and exquisite wine. Enjoy stunning views of Table Mountain whilst lying on the beach in ultimate relaxation. Experience city life at its best with authentic cultural experiences around every corner. Take a break to the winelands and be spoiled by the best of our local wineries before you move on to an unforgettable safari experience. Arriving in the bush by charter plane, your safari begins immediately. The most luxurious lodges offering the best sightings of the African Big 5, leaving you in awe of what nature and the African bush has to offer.

The Best of the Winelands

Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or a traveller with a new found taste for wine, this journey will have you falling in love with South African wine. Start your journey in the Constantia wine region visiting some of the very first wineries in South Africa and staying in a deluxe homestead surrounded by vineyards. You will be whisked away to the iconic Stellenbosch region where you will be spoiled with a select choice of delicious authentic wine, and luxurious accommodation chosen for their attention to detail and awe-inspiring views of the winelands. Complete your wine safari with visits to boutique wineries in the beautiful historic village of Franschhoek. This journey includes private wine tours in each region offering specially curated exclusive experiences.

The Garden Route

Embark on a private tour through the heart of the Western Cape. Start your journey with jaw-dropping views of Table Mountain, white sandy beaches, trendy restaurants, award-winning wines and authentic cultural experiences. Continue on the scenic route along the South – East Coast, arriving at the beautiful coastal town of Hermanus. Find yourself sipping on delicious wine and enjoying the freshest seafood caught locally whilst whale watching. Your expertly guided journey continues through to the Tsitsikamma region known as “the Garden of the Garden Route”. Majestic views of the mountains are met with untouched vistas of the warm Indian Ocean. Complete your journey with a hidden gem safari experience in the Eastern Cape. A luxurious Private Game Reserve offering the Big 5 and the most amazing Fauna and Flora variety complete the best of this iconic Garden Route experience.

My family and I had the pleasure of visiting South Africa for a short holiday. I can’t imagine what it would have been without the expertise of Melissa Sutherland a true local with all the right connections! Melissa was on top of everything, sharp as a tack and extremely delightful. If you are looking for a safari experience or a guided tour of beautiful locations or vineyards, I highly recommend Melissa Sutherland, Vindigo Travel.

Our family of 5 including 3 daughters (16 – 21 years old) had a wonderful 2 week vacation in South Africa. Melissa Sutherland of Vindigo Travel was instrumental in making this a memorable trip for us. She recommended hotels and activities in Jo-burg; then arranged our bush camp safari trip and finally planned/organized several activities in Cape Town. She was very professional and organized and gave us numerous suggestions on what activities to consider in each location especially in Cape Town which is her residence. I would highly recommend Melissa and Vindigo Travel for any family planning their first trip to South Africa.

So glad to have met Melissa Sutherland who arranged our entire itinerary that included a safari trip, wine tasting dinner and a tour of Cape Town. Melissa has the balance of being extremely knowledgeable about South African wines and art and also being very detail-oriented and resourceful in making last minute adjustments to our itinerary due to the South African Express grounding of their planes. Highly recommended!

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

We source, import and distribute unique and artisanal wines from all around the world, to the UK’s best restaurants and independent retailers. We’re best known for fresh and balanced wines from Spain, often from producers in lesser-known regions, who work with indigenous grapes. More often than not these wines come from growers who are focusing predominantly on their vineyards, to produce healthy fruit often farmed organically or biodynamically. If you are travelling to the vineyards, experience tells you if it is a happy and healthy place and that is usually transferred into the liquid itself.

Over the years we’ve expanded our portfolio to include some real gems from Portugal, Austria, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile and beyond— although Spain will always be at the heart of what we do. We work hard to find talented growers who are committed to making real, honest, and above all, delicious wines. They are the true heroes of the wine world.

Search Keywords, Wine, Producers, Distributors

European Cellars   >   Indigo Wine

Indigo Wine

Exploring the frontier and discovering the next great winemaker, region, or indigenous variety has been at the heart of Eric Solomon’s career. Indigo Wine is the next chapter of Eric’s work and a return to his roots in finding and championing the places unknown or the talents undiscovered.

Indigo is best known for fresh and balanced wines from Spain and its strong emphasis on France, often from producers in lesser-known regions working with indigenous grapes. These wines come from growers who focus predominantly on their vineyards to produce healthy fruit, often farmed organically or biodynamically. Many of the estates in the Indigo portfolio are new names, some may be familiar, but all are pioneers in their own right.

“I’ve rededicated myself to ‘generation next’ with the creation of Indigo Wine – a portfolio of diverse growers that I found myself increasingly drawn to. Indigo allows me to promote small, innovative projects while breaking out of expectations with the creation of a focused Swiss portfolio, representing groundbreaking projects in Chile, exploring the indigenous varieties from the Republic of Macedonia, and championing my latest find, Domaine des Tourelles from the Bekka Valley of Lebanon.” – Eric Solomon

A Pie de Tierra

Sierra de gredos, spain.

Alvar de Dios

Castilla y leon, spain.

Anna Espelt

Catalunya, spain.

Malleco, Chile

Canary Islands, Spain

Bodegas Luis Pérez

Andalucia, spain.

Casa Castillo

Murcia, spain.

Chandra Kurt

Valais, switzerland.

Chateau du Mourre du Tendre

Rhône, france.

Claudy Clavien

Clos du Rocher

Vaud, switzerland.

Clos i Terrasses

Clos Saint Antonin

Conreria d’Scala Dei

Coreografia

Coster dels Olivers

Cuevas de Arom

Aragon, spain.

Domaine de Courbissac

Languedoc, france.

Domaine de la Rochette

Neuchâtel, switzerland.

Domaine de Marcoux

Domaine des Bosquets

Domaine des Tourelles

Bekaa valley, lebanon.

Domaine Grand’Cour

Geneva, switzerland.

Domaine Jérémy Bricka

Savoie, france.

Domaine Roger Sabon

Domaine Sainte Madeleine

Burgundy, france.

Dominio del Águila

Família Nin-Ortiz

Galicia, Spain

Finca Sandoval

Castilla la mancha, spain.

Gómez Cruzado

Rioja , spain.

Granite Project

Itata, beaujolais, & sierra de gredos, chile, france, & spain.

Hacienda Monasterio

Javi Revert

Valencia, spain.

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin

Rioja, Spain

L’Alpage

L’Enclòs de Peralba

Sign up to our newsletter

How Indigo Wine caught the on-trade at the right time

If you ask leading, influential buyers and sommeliers across the premium on-trade which suppliers they admire, then time and again Indigo Wine will be one of the first suppliers they mention. Ben Henshaw and his team have quietly set about championing artisan wine producers and helped widen the boundaries in which buyers are now prepared to stock more unusual wines for their lists.

Artisan wine producers across Europe and beyond have a lot to thank Ben Henshaw and his team at Indigo Wine for giving them a highly influential platform in the UK premium on-trade.

Ben Henshaw: champion of artisan wine producers

It is indicative of how fast the UK on-trade is changing that a business like Indigo Wine can in a matter of five years, go from being a relatively under the radar wine importer, to evolve in to a major influencing factor on the style of wines now being listed and sought after by the sector’s most discerning on-trade buyers.

The post recession world we live in has opened the doors for producers and suppliers alike to push the boundaries a little more of what sommeliers and buyers are likely to buy for their lists.

The demands and needs of their customers has also changed. They, too, have come out of the recession, more aware of how much money they have in their pocket, yet more adventurous in where and how they spend it.

The average restaurant diner is so much better informed about the kinds of wines they like, and are actively seeking out restaurants and bars that place as much focus on their wines as they do the food coming out of the kitchen.

Henshaw was himself one of those type of diners. His previous career was in sales of major publishing houses, including Time Out where he enjoyed a stint in Hong Kong trying to convince restaurants and hotels to advertise in the publication. An already keen amateur’s interest in wine started to become more of a serious interest.

“I start to be exposed to much better food and wine and I got caught the bug to buy better wine,” he recalls.

A couple of WSET courses later and Henshaw was keen to do something for himself in wine. Particularly as his parents just happened to own a vineyard in the south of France.

Exceeding expectations

Ben Henshaw admits the growth in Indigo Wine has taken him a little by surprise. “ I have certainly exceeded my expectations in terms of the type of producer we are working with. Particularly from Spain where I am very proud of the portfolio we have built up. We are getting more important agencies to work with.”

Henshaw believes the big change in the market over the last three to four years has been a greater acceptance from key restaurant buyers that there is a place for more esoteric, artisan wines.

He explains: “We are also a lot more confident that there is a market for the style of wine we are bringing in. At first it was difficult. I wouldn’t say we were trend setting, but we were certainly on trend when it came to working with artisanal and natural winemakers.”

But it is one thing having the right wines on your list, you then need to find the place to sell them and it is here where Indigo, along with the likes of other relative newcomers like Red Squirrel Wine , and established competitors such as Les Cave de Pyrene , have been able to focus their resources.

It has not been easy, though, stresses Henshaw. “At first it was a little difficult to convince some buyers of these types of wine, but now I think they expect them and they certainly expect them from us. But it is still a niche market and it is certainly more challenging outside of London and the South East for these styles of wine.

It is also not easy keeping ahead of the wine curve, with a small team and limited budget.

“ We try and remain fresh and interesting in the wine we are bringing in. But it’s hard work and you have to be careful as it can take six months to establish a new wine. You have to be business like in you decision making. It is, though, what we do. I think too many wine companies play it too safe.”

It is why he admires restaurants and bars outside of London, for being brave enough to base their wine lists on artisanal and natural wines.

“It is a lot more challenging outside London and I really respect the bars and merchants that are taking them on say in Cornwall or Liverpool. It is very brave,” he says.

Kindred spirits

Leading wine merchants outside of London, like Manchester’s Hangingditch, deserve great credit for their ambition, says Henshaw

But when they do hear of these type of outlets opening up, he admits it feels like they are “kindred spirits”.

“We are building customers around the country, particularly in the west around Bristol and in Manchester and Liverpool.”

He admits he would be disappointed if they did not consider Indigo Wine as a potential supplier. “We would not be doing our job properly if we were not on their radar,” he says.

“There are, after all, only about two handfuls of suppliers that are supplying these type of artisanal wines and are focused in this way.”

Hence the pressure to keep on looking and testing themselves to find new wines and areas to bring in.

Artisan is here to stay

Henshaw is also quite sure the whole interest in artisan wine is not a fad. In the same way our attraction to craft beer and other products with provenance and heritage is not an here today, gone tomorrow phenomenon.

“In France they have been doing this for years. Instead they are called vignerons,” he adds. “There is still very much a trend for craft products and artisanal wine really fits in to that.”

Henshaw says it can be hard to really pinpoint what artisanal wine actually means, but he has a go: “ It is doing things by hand, in a traditional way where 70% to 80% of the focus is what happens in the vineyard and not in the winery.”

For Henshaw they are more like farmers than standalone winemakers.

It is how the wines are made in the vineyard that also most interests Henshaw when sourcing wines to buy. For example, he talks about a recent visit to Switzerland where the winemaker did the tasting amongst the vines and not in the cellar. A little touch that went a long way in helping Henshaw understand that winemaker’s philosophy.

“For him the cellar was the least important thing.”

It’s an approach he comes across time and again when sourcing wine in Spain. “These are the type of people we like working with,” he says. “What better than a cold bottle and a few glasses to taste when actually out in the vineyards.”

When the focus is all on the cellar then Henshaw and his team are more likely to be less interested in what that cellar produces. “It’s a lot easier to show ego with equipment,” he says.

Going direct

Indigo’s route to market is straightforward enough in London where it has direct relationships with most of its on-trade customers and restaurants.

Whilst a large amount of business comes from individual restaurants it is also doing more work with bigger groups and chains. But admits it is not an “easy market” to work in with so much more of the focus on price.

The Michelin star restaurant scene is also “a hard market to crack” as the buyers have such “high expectations”.

But equally their demands are helping its business grow by being able to offer more support, training and bespoke trips to wineries.

“It is one thing getting your wines on the list. It is another getting them to sell, which is why we work hard to get them on by the glass,” he explains. “Not all weird and wonderful wines are easy to sell, but we are committed to those producers.”

Which all comes back to the wines it sources and lists itself. “They all have to be able to offer great value as well,” says Henshaw.

Wine driven new openings like the Quality Chop House has made a big difference to the likes of Indigo Wine

As for London as a whole it is the east where most of the growth is coming from, he argues. Then it is parts of south London, particularly around Southwark, Bermondsey and over in to Clapham and Battersea.

“But there are now so many more wine focused venues opening up which is great news for us. Places like the Clove Club or the Quality Chop House.”

Outside of London it is much more reliant on working with local wholesalers or independent wine merchants to wholesale the wines for them.

“We would love to do more outside the south east and London and develop stronger relationships say in the north,” admits Henshaw.

Indigo also runs a consolidation service for wines from Spain where it is happy to team up with other importers, mostly independent merchants, to build up pallets of wine to ship back as one to the UK. “The saving are significant to make it worthwhile,” he adds.

“It also brings our customers closer to the growers they are working with.”

Indigo has now grown to such a size that it puts on regular buyer visits and tours to key wine producing areas around Europe. Another good way of building loyalty and having closer relationships with its customers, says Henshaw.

Stretching its wings

Mother Rock wines are the result of a collaboration with Swartland winemaker, Johan Meyer. Picture: Teratogena.wordpress.com

Indigo is even putting its money where its mouth is by getting involved in some small wine producing projects. Mother Rock wines would be the most significant to date where Henshaw has teamed up with Johan Meyer, a winemaker in Swartland, South Africa, togrow and market wines from there.

First up has been a Chenin Blanc, made from some of the best grapes across the Cape, which comes under the Force Majeure label. This has been followed by a Cinsault Rosé and a red blend made up of Syrah, Pinotage, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvedre.

Henshaw positively glows when talking about it. “They are such great people to work with and the wine scene there is also so exciting.”

With a business hat on it is also a less risky place to invest thanks to the strength of sterling, still, over the South African rand, he concedes. “The potential there is amazing,” he says.

Collaborating with like-minded importers

Indigo Wine is also keen to collaborate with other like-minded importers in the UK to host tastings and events where they can showcase the wide range of wines they are collectively bringing in to the country.

Last September, for example, it ran the successful new wave tasting of winemakers from South Africa.

A new dedicated London tasting to showcase artisan producers from Australia, part backed by Indigo Wine

It now hopes to do the same with others importers for Australia with the Artisans of Australian Wine tasting. “Arguably there is a little more work to be done in promoting those wines,” he says.

The tasting, which is being event organised by Wine Australia, certainly promises to be edgy enough as it is taking place in a nightclub in Shoreditch. “We want to give it the right vibe and feel,” he explains.

It is also a proud member of the Dirty Dozen group of like minded suppliers and will be taking its rightful place at the group’s next main trade tasting on September 27 .

It is not, stresses Henshaw, some sort of buying group, but more a chance for them to network and share ideas and intelligence gleaned from working in the same area of the wine market. “We like to think it is now one of the best tastings of its type that happens every year.”

With so much going on it is easy to see why Henshaw says Indigo will be taking a break from its own portfolio tasting in 2017. But instead is again looking to collaborate with others with a specialist artisan tasting on Spanish wines in February next year where it hopes to have 30 to 35 growers present.

“We want to latch on to the fact that Spain has such great terroir. It is phenomenal what is going on there.”

He concedes some of the major generic bodies might feel the likes of Indigo are stepping on their toes holding such events. “But hopefully they can recognises we are not trying to take over what they do, but instead take a things in to our own hands more to showcase these kind of wines.”

Henshaw is also confident these are the kind of tastings that the key on-trade buyers want to attend. “They know they can come to what will be a very focused tasting. They are getting more value, particularly if we can get the producers over.”

To the future

As for the future of Indigo? Well the business has now grown to an eight-strong team which is giving it the breadth and opportunity to take on more wines and customers. But Henshaw is also very aware of not trying to expand to quickly. “We have to get that balance right. But I am really happy with our team and we have a structure in placethat allows me to take a bit of a step back and look at ways in which we can develop further.”

Which potentially means exploring new countries like New Zealand. So if you are a Kiwi artisan wine producer you heard it here first.

Related Articles

The Simpsons: what we’ve learnt making wine in France & England

What is South African fine wine? And what is its ageing potential?

How Vinexposium’s V d’Or awards will celebrate business expertise

Claire Greenwood: how North South Wines takes on a new producer

Top wine importers on what gives Pays d’Oc IGP wines the edge

How Wine GB has come of age: we pick the unmissable British wines

Most popular.

Tom Gilbey's 15 minutes of fame & entertaining a new wine generation

Meet Our Partners

Newsletter & Tastings

Sign up to get The Buyer's weekly newsletter and personal invites to tastings & events

Sign up now

TRUTH ENDURES BEHIND INDIGO EYES

Like the allure of a darkening harvest sky, indigo eyes entice and offer insight to what is true. Truth that life is ever-changing, just as wine changes forever in the bottle. We invite you to sit back with a glass of Indigo Eyes, embrace the flow of life and find your truth.

Our Napa Valley based, family-owned & operated winery has created a library of award-winning wines that deliver exceptional quality and value. Built on Napa Valley soil, we remain rooted in the soulful traditions of our first-generation Italian winemakers. Holding that tradition, we believe that wine is served best when it brings people together. We craft wines that tell a story and allow those who enjoy them to tell their own.

Indigo Eyes Pinot Noir

• Tourist Attractions
• Tourist Attractions in Russia
• Novgorod Oblast Tourist Attractions

Veliky Novgorod

The whole city of Veliky Novgorod is a big museum; there are many well-preserved monuments dating back to the 11th century and later centuries.

Veliky Novgorod attractions

Novgorod kremlin, trade side and yaroslav’s courtyard, st. george's monastery, vitoslavlitsy museum of wooden architecture.

Request a private tour, tailor-made for individuals and small groups to meet your needs and preferences.

Discover historical attractions of Veliky Novgorod

• Private trip from St. Petersburg
• Visit Novgorod Kremlin and the Cathedral of St. Sophia
• Explore Yaroslav’s Court with its medieval churches
• Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel

Group of 2: 16000 Rubles/person

• Ask a question

Take a walk through the most ancient Kremlin in Russia

The Novgorod Kremlin, which is also called ‘Detinets’, is located on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The first fortified settlement was set here during the reign of prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. During these times, all the state, public and religious life of Novgorod was concentrated here. It was the place where people kept chronicles and copied the texts of books. The Novgorod Kremlin, the most ancient one in Russia, was founded here in the 15th century.

St. Sophia Cathedral (11th century), The Millennium Of Russia Monument, Episcopal Chamber (15th century) and the main exhibition of The State Novgorod Museum-reservation located in a public office building of the 18th century are all situated in the Novgorod Kremlin. The exhibition will tell you about the whole Novgorod history from ancient times to the present day. There are also restoration workshops, a children’s center, a library and a philharmonic inside the Kremlin walls.

Send a letter with the State Novgorod Museum-reservation stamp

While visiting the main building of the Novgorod Kremlin museum, you’ll see a small bureau near the souvenir area. Two more bureaus like that can be found in the Fine Arts Museum and the Museum information centre. This is the Museum Post, the joint project of the State Novgorod Museum-reservation and Russian Post.

The tradition to exchange letters (at that time written on birch bark sheets) dates back to the 11th century so it’s hardly surprising that such a project appeared here. The bureaus are desks and mailboxes at the same time, so you can send your friends a postcard with a view of Novgorod right from the museum.

Find the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin among the figures of The Millennium Of Russia Monument

In 1862, 1000 years after the Varangians were called to Russia, a monument dedicated to this event was launched in Novgorod. To tell the story of Russia’s one thousand years, the sculptor used 129 bronze figures: from state and military leaders to artists and poets.

One of figures portrays Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin, a politician and reformer who was responsible for Russia’s diplomatic relations in the middle of the 17th century. He is believed to be the father of international and regular mail in Russia. He was also the person who came up with the idea of the first Russian Post official emblem — a post horn and a double-headed eagle.

Cross the Msta River over the first arch bridge in Russia

The steel bridge in Borovichi town that connects two banks of the Msta river was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The project of the bridge was created by Nikolay Belelyubsky, engineer and professor of St. Petersburg State Transport University. This is the first arch bridge in Russia.

In 1995, it was included in the national cultural heritage register. More than 100 bridges across Russia were developed by Belelyubsky, but only this one is named after him.

Cast a virtual bell

When in the Novgorod region, you’ll definitely hear bells ring and learn about the Novgorod Veche Bell. During the siege of the city, tsar Ivan III ordered to remove this bell from the bell tower and send it to Moscow. Legend says that the bell didn’t accept his fate, fell to the ground near the border of the Novgorod region and broke to pieces against the stones.

In the biggest Museum Bell Centre in Russia located in the Valday town, you can see bells from across the world and learn why Novgorod bells are unique. The museum’s collection represents bells from different countries and ages, some of them dating back to the 3rd century BC. You’ll learn about the history of casting and modern bell-making technologies and also play games on a touch table. For example, harness virtual ‘troika’ (three) horses with bells or cast a virtual bell.

Spot the pigeon on the cross of St. Sophia Cathedral

St. Sophia Cathedral was built in Novrogod between 1045 and 1050 by Kievan and Byzantine masters. It was conceived as the main cathedral of the city, and during its first years it was the only stone building in Novgorod. So where does the pigeon on the cross of the cathedral’s biggest dome come from?

Legend says that while tsar Ivan the Terrible and his Oprichniki were cruelly killing peaceful city folk in 1570, a pigeon suddenly sat down to the cross of the city’s main cathedral. It looked down, saw the massacre, and was literally petrified with horror. Since then the pigeon has been considered the defender of the city. People believe that as soon as the pigeon flies away from the cross, Novgorod will come to an end.

Visit a monastery, that was founded by Patriarch Nikon

The Valday Iver Monastery is situated on the island in the middle of the Valday lake. It is considered to be one of the most important and picturesque orthodox shrines.

The monastery was founded in 1653 by the initiative of Nikon who had just been elected Patriarch. Nikon wanted the monastery to look like the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos, including the architectural style and monk’s clothes. Legend says that Nikon saw the spot for the monastery in a dream.

Check out Fyodor Dostoevsky’s country house

Fyodor Dostoevsky, a famous Russian writer, first visited Staraya Russa town in 1872 during a summer trip with his family. They liked it so much that the next year they rented a house near the Pererytitsa River’s embankment and spent every summer here ever since.

Dostoevsky loved this house, called it ‘his nest’ and considered it the perfect place to work and to be alone. In Staraya Russa he wrote his novels ‘The Adolescent’, ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ and ‘Demons’. Today, this place is a museum where you can explore what Dostoevsky’s house looked like and see his family’s personal belongings, photos and letters.

Visit an authentic Russian ‘izba’ (wooden house)

If you want to really enjoy the atmosphere of the old Novgorod, you should come to the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of folk wooden architecture that is located on the Myachino lake not far away from Veliky Novgorod. In this open-air museum you’ll see the best examples of Russian wooden architecture, including authentic old ‘izbas’ (wooden houses), rural chapels and churches.

During the year, the museum hosts fairs of crafts and folklore, christmastides, and even an international bell ringing festival.

Learn what Brick Gothic looks like

The Episcopal Chamber of the Novgorod Kremlin is the only non-religious German Gothic building of the 15th century preserved in Russia. You can have a good look at the facets of the gothic cross-domed vaults inside the chamber. This is why this building is also called ‘Faceted Chamber’ or ‘Chamber of Facets’.

The chamber was part of Vladychny Dvor, the place where all important city events took place: court hearings, gatherings of the Council of Lords of the Novgorod Republic, ambassador’s receptions and feasts. The seals of the city’s lords were kept here. The decree of tsar Ivan III on merging the Novgorod Republic with the Moscow State was first announced in 1478 in Episcopal Chamber. This is when the name of the new state, Russia, was first pronounced.

See the murals by Theophanes the Greek

The Byzantine Empire had a huge impact on the development of the Russian culture. Many works of art and architecture in ancient Russia were created by Byzantine artists and masters. Theophanes the Greek was one of them. He was born in Byzantine and created icons and murals in Constantinople and Caffa (modern Feodosia). After that he moved to Novgorod where he was commissioned to paint the walls of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Ilyina Street. You can enjoy his unique and expressive style if you look at the murals inside the dome of the church and the Trinity side chapel.

The most recognizable and the only monumental work of Theophanes the Greek that is preserved today is the chest-high portrait of the Savior the Almighty in the dome of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior.

Take a photo with an ancient Novgorod citizen who is learning how to read and write

In 1951, a letter written on birch bark dating back to the 14–15th centuries was found in Veliky Novgorod. Many decades later, in 2019, a sculpture designed by Novgorod artist and sculptor Sergey Gaev appeared on this exact site.

The sculpture portrays an 8–year old boy sitting on a stool and holding a piece of birch bark. At this age children in Novgorod started to learn how to read and write. During archaeological excavations in Novgorod, scientists often found ancient handwriting practice books and children’s drawings on birch bark sheets.

Feel like an ancient viking or prince Rurik’s guest

Novgorod is one of the waypoints of the famous trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks. The route passed through the Volkhov river. In the 9–10th centuries there was a fortified settlement of the Viking Age here.

Some scientists believe that Novgorod is named after this area which was called ‘Stary Gorod’ (‘Old City’) at that time. Some historians and archeologists consider this place to be the residence of Prince Rurik who was asked to rule the city in 862. That’s why this ancient settlement is called ‘Rurikovo Gorodische’ (‘Ruruk’s Old City’).

Learn more about the Soviet modernist architecture

On the bank of the Volkhov river near the Novgorod Kremlin, there is an incredible building that looks like a spaceship and contrasts strongly with the ancient buildings of the city.

This is the Fyodor Dostoevsky Theater of Dramatic Art that was built in 1987. It is one of the most striking examples of the Soviet modernist architecture. The theater was built for 10 years according to the project of architect Vladimir Somov.

See what an everyday life of Old Believers looks like

The Krestsy town in the Novgorod region has always been considered to be the center of the Novgorod Old Belief community, and it still is. Before the Soviet revolution there were three Old Believers churches here.

The Lyakova village, which is located not far from the town, used to be inhabited completely by Old Believers. You can learn more about their lifestyle in the local interactive museum. You’ll be introduced to Old Believers’ traditional crafts and ceremonies, drink tea with healing herbs and learn how to chop wood and use an old spinning wheel.

Buy a traditional embroidered tablecloth

A unique embroidery style that is now famous all over the world was born in the Staroye Rakhino village in the Novgorod province. By the middle of the 19th century, it had become a folk craft. Since then, linen tablecloths, towels and clothing items decorated with unusual ornaments have been popular not only among the locals, but also travellers.

In 1929, the first cooperative partnership of embroidery masters was created in Kresttsy. Later it turned into a factory that still operates today. The factory has a museum where embroidery traditions are preserved and new ornaments and technologies are created.

Find yourself in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, Staraya Russa town could be called ‘the salt cellar of Russia’. That’s because salt making was the main trade here up to the 19th century. A few years ago, the old craft was brought back to life, and construction of salt works began. Later, an interactive museum was launched based on the results of archaeological findings.

This museum recreates a typical medieval manor of Staraya Russa of the 12th century with living rooms, a bathhouse, workshops, a livestock pen and traditional peasant household items. In this museum, you can also buy salt which is made in the same way as 1000 years ago.

See the place where Suvorov started his Italian campaign

Alexander Suvorov’s manor in the Konchanskoe village, which has now become the museum of the great commander, was originally the place of his exile. Suvovor openly disagreed with the reform of Russian’s army based on the Prussian model, and Emperor Paul the First didn’t appreciate such behaviour. He first fired Suvorov and then sent him away to his family estate.

However, the exile lasted for only two years. The great commander started the military campaign straight from his house in the Konchanskoe. During this legendary expedition, he crossed the Alps and defeated the French army.

Become a real hiker

If you dream of having a hike in the Novgorod region, but at the same time you are afraid that a tourist’s life may be too hard, you should try the Big Valday trail. This is a five-day 59-kilometer walking route. Its central part goes right through the Valday National Park’s territory.

You won’t have to cope with difficulties and inconveniences of camping life here. The route is marked with signs, and there are camping sites where you can find everything you need for an overnight stay from shelters and places for a fire to toilets. The trail finishes at the Dunayevshchina village where you can take a bus back to Valday. To take the trail, you have to fill out a special form and register on the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation website.

Russian Post has launched a limited series of products dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Novgorod region.

In autumn 2020, Russian Post announced an open contest to create the design for its limited series dedicated to Novgorod region. The project was supported by the Government of the Novgorod region, ‘Russ Novgorodskaya’ (Novgorod Russia) project, the State Novgorod Museum-reservation and Yandex.

Stamps and envelopes are traditionally used to spread information about historic dates and figures and famous landmarks. Now we can also use parcel boxes, packaging tape and postcards. The limited series products will travel around the world, introducing the most popular Russian attractions to six million Russian Post clients daily.

The participants were to create the design for the limited series featuring three iconic attractions of the Novgorod region, the Novgorod Kremlin, the Millennium Of Russia Monument and the Belelyubsky Bridge in Borovichi. Moscow designers and graduates of the Higher School of Economics’ Art and Design School Alena Akmatova and Svetlana Ilyushina won the contest. Their project was chosen via an open vote and by the expert jury.