The Church of Sts Peter and Paul
Beyond the remains of the rampart, on the left bank of the
Volkhov (to the left of the bridge), is the Church of Sts Peter
and Paul (1406), whose beautiful silhouette can be equally well
seen from any side. In olden times, this area was called
Kozhevniki. A 16th-century cadastre states that most residents of
the adjacent streets engaged in tanning leather. The church is
among the most illustrious examples from the heyday of
Novgorodian architecture. The Novgorodian architect's rational
thought is reflected in the different decoration of the facades.
Whereas the north facade giving on the rampart and the east
facade overlooking the Volkhov are resolved in a rather modest
manner, the western and southern walls profuse in decor. During
the 1950s the monument was restored to its original state, with
the walls left without stucco and white-washing, as they used to
be in the 15th century. The surviving 16th-century icons from
this church are exhibited at the Novgorod Museum of History,
Architecture and Art. North of the Church of Sts Peter and Paul
lay the princely sporting grounds, the zverinefs (warren), first
mentioned in chronicles of the 11th century.