The Nizhniy Novgorod region

The city of Gorodets is the oldest city in Povolzhye and Nizhegorodsky region (it was founded in 1152). The founder of the city was Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of the capital of our country - Moscow. The history of the city is indissolubly connected with the legend about the city of Kitezh (Gorodets according to Kitizhsky chronicler was called Maly (small) Kitezh), and also with the name of blessed prince Alexander Nevsky who finished his life in Gorodetsky Fedorovsky Monastery. Today Gorodets is one of the most popular destinations during cruising routes as well as culture-knowledge tourism routes: "Two Kitezhs: Nizhny Novgorod - Gorodets-Svetloyar–Nizhny Novgorod"; "Kitezhskaya Rus"-Nizhny Novgorod-Balakhna-Gorodets-Semenov-Svetloyar–Nizhny Novgorod"; "Into the region of folk crafts and industries": Nizhny Novgorod-Balakhna-Gorodets-Kovernino-Semenov-Bogorotsk-Pavlovo-Kazakovo-Nizhny Novgorod and others.

One of the most popular guided tours is a route connected with a legend about city of Kitezh, namely about two Kitezhs: Small (Gorodets) and Big (Svetloyar) and Batiy's road where Semenov is situated. All three cities are connected with the history of Old Belief. For the purposes of development of cultural and educational and cruise tourism as well as of organization of leisure and excursion service for holiday-makers in sanatoriums, pensions and relaxation camps located in the Gorky sea zone there is a plan to build an object of exhibition in Gorodets – a museum-tourist complex “The City of Handicraftsmen".

The area of 800m length and 100m width is located near mooring wall in the historic part of the city and represents a two-level slope. There is a plan to build a museum-tourist complex architecturally designed in the style of Old Russian architecture. Due to the fact that Gorodets is famous for its house carving, it is planned that houses will be decorated with several types of house carving: indistinct with Old Russian themes, azure opened and super-imposed. Gorodets also received recognition for numerous folk crafts: golden embroidery, painting and icon painting, wood carving and inlaid work, weaving, wooden jug whistler, vine plaiting, pottery craft, baking honey cakes and others.

Each craft will be given a workshop in the museum-tourist complex. Also the number of objects will include a restaurant, souvenir shop, mini-hotel (20-25 rooms).

Total price for the project - approximately USD 3 million. Project-estimate documentation is at the assimilation stage. Draft project is enclosed. Co-financing is necessary: from budget means - for the building of a museum, development of engineer, transport and cruise infrastructure and private funds for the building of a restaurant, souvenir shop and a mini-hotel.