Valday

In 1770, the urban status was bestowed on Valday by the decree of Empress Catherine II. The second half of the XVIII century was the prime-time of the town and the advance of its traditional crafts and industries. For the first time in the history of world bell-making, the bells for horse-collars started to be cast here.

In the end of the XIX century, Korotskiy Tikhonovskiy Convent was built in the native land of Sanctifier Tychon Zadonskiy near Valday, which became a renowned center of Orthodox pilgrimage.

The Valday branch of Novgorod State United Museum-Preserve comprises the only in the country Museum of Bells (opened in 1995) and the Museum of the Provincial Town (opened in 1998).

In 1990, the national natural park «Valdayskiy» was created, covering 158,500 ha. On grounds of the park,there are 70 lakes, 20 rivers, and about 500 monuments of archaeology, history, and architecture.

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