Polnovo – Village History on Lake Seliger

• Polnovo was established in the early 15th century on the northwestern shore of Lake Seliger, initially as a settlement for customs officials; merchants settled there later.
• Polnovo is home to a Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The village church of “St Nicholas the Wonderworker” opened in 2008.
• The monument at the mass grave of Soviet soldiers was erected in 1965.
• The territory of the Polnovo municipality reaches the northern and western shores of the Polnovsky reach of Lake Seliger. It is the lake’s largest reach, up to 23 metres deep and covering 2,750 hectares.

Polnovo was established in the early 15th century on the northwestern shore of Lake Seliger. Customs officials lived there at first, followed later by merchants. The sequence is clear: the customs officials belong to the initial settlement phase, while the merchants arrived later. Keeping this in mind helps distinguish the circumstances of the settlement’s founding from its subsequent growth.

Polnovo is home to a Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God; the village church of “St Nicholas the Wonderworker” opened in 2008. Another historic site is the mass grave of Soviet soldiers. It has a metal fence, a concrete wall and sloping concrete slabs. The names of fallen soldiers and the inscription “Eternal Glory to the Fallen Soldiers” appear on the slabs. The inscription explicitly states the memorial’s dedication; the monument at the mass grave was erected in 1965. In Polnovo, religious buildings stand alongside a memorial specifically dedicated to the fallen.

The territory of the Polnovo municipality reaches the northern and western shores of the Polnovsky reach of Lake Seliger. This is the lake’s largest reach, covering 2,750 hectares and reaching depths of up to 23 metres. For context, it is important to distinguish the scales involved: the shoreline connection concerns the Polnovo municipality, while the area and depth figures describe the Polnovsky reach.

In Novgorod Oblast, Mount Ryzhokha is the highest point in Valdai National Park. The observation tower on the mountain is 25 metres high and offers views of the taiga, Lake Veljo and other bodies of water. Also in Novgorod Oblast, a circular trail in the Bor area passes through typical taiga forests on hilly terrain and through diverse wetlands in the hollows between the hills.

Novgorod Oblast’s cultural attractions also extend beyond Polnovo. The Bell Museum Centre in Valday displays bells from around the world, with examples ranging from the 3rd century BC and the Middle Ages to modern souvenir bells. Staff demonstrate bell-ringing techniques that visitors can try themselves. The exhibition at the Museum of the County Town, which opened in 1998, explores the everyday lives of townspeople, the development of local trades, and the lives of individual Valday families and well-known summer visitors. Thus, alongside Polnovo’s village history, Novgorod Oblast offers distinctive attractions related to nature, crafts and urban life.

When looking for accommodation, you can first decide what interests you most: Polnovo’s local history and memorial sites, or the broader natural and cultural attractions of Novgorod Oblast. Discover more destinations: Bolshoye Voronovo, Krivoye Koleno, Selishche, Myasnoy Bor, Chudovo, Malaya Vishera, Retle, Vattsy.

When was Polnovo established?

Polnovo was established in the early 15th century on the northwestern shore of Lake Seliger, initially as a settlement for customs officials. Merchants settled there later.

Which churches are there in Polnovo?

Polnovo is home to a Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The village church of “St Nicholas the Wonderworker” opened in 2008.

What characterises the Soviet soldiers’ grave?

The mass grave has a metal fence, a concrete wall and sloping concrete slabs bearing the names of fallen soldiers and the inscription “Eternal Glory to the Fallen Soldiers”. The monument was erected in 1965.

For the broader travel guide: Novgorod Oblast.