Project launch of tour «Headward of Russia»

During International Tourism Forum «Visit Russia» that has taken place in Yaroslavl on Oktober 20-21, 2011 was held project launch of inter-regional tour «Headward of Russia». 

In forum «Visit Russia» has participated representatives of more than 20 countries, including tops of government bodies, heads of diplomatic and consular missions, representatives of big domestic and international companies and investment funds, tour operators. Representatives of regional Administrations and businesses from more than thirty regions have presented their investment projects. Organizers are sure that Forum will allow determining of the main directions that must be necessary as basis of touristic industry of our country.

On joint stand of Smolensk, Pskov and Novgorod regions has taken place a project launch of inter-regional tour «Headward of Russia». To the Forum beginning times launching of the official tour's site www.oldrussiatour.ru, where there is an opportunity to get to know in detail the objects of presentation, tour's mission, historical explanation and all partners and participants of this project.

The tour is intended for Russian and foreign citizens of different age brackets. For the Russian Federation that has declared incoming tourism as one of the main priority of touristic activity, inter-regional tour «Headward of Russia» should be a new and asked-for offer on international and internal touristic market.

Information

About tour «Headward of Russia»

Inter-regional tour «Headward of Russia» was developed in 2011 by Administration of Smolensk region, touristic company «Smolensk Travel» and Smolensk University for Humanities involving executive agencies and representatives of travel industry of Pskov and Novgorod regions.

Project mission– creation of  inter-regional excursion tour on territory of Smolensk, Pskov and Novgorod regions for the purpose of the more effective realization of  touristic and excursion resources and creation of inter-regional touristic cluster.

Conceptofthetour

At the heart of the tour is a concept of Russian national identity formation based on the Norman theory.

«Rus'» is a historical name of territories of East Slavs. The most early Old Russian Compiled Chronicle “Tale of Bygone Years”(“Povest vremennykh let”)(XI – XII centuries) narrates about  formation of Russia based on legends and was written down later on 250 years after events themselves and dates this events with year 862. Union of north nations that composed the Slavs, the Slovenes, the Krivichi and also the Finno-Ugric folks invited from over the sea the Princes Varangians from Rus' folk in order to stop infightings and internecine feuds. Up to Varangians Hypatian Chronicle begun Ryurik to reign first in Ladoga (nowadays is Old Ladoga) and just only after death of brothers (Sineus and Truvor) he founded Novgorod (nowadays is Veliky Novgorod) and settled there (in Novgorod itself is absent a dated occupation layer elder than thirty years of X-th. century, but location of princely residence was confirmed. It was Ryurik's hillfort arisen in the first half of IX-th. century near by Veliky Novgorod).

Today just Veliky Novgorod is considered to be unofficially the native land of Rus' (Russia). In 1862 was fixed up a monument named «Millennium of Russia», on its pedestal was represent centuries-old history of the country.

Tribes of the Slovenes and the Krivichi tribes, invited Varangians for reign inhabited on an enormous territory:

• the Slovenes occupied basin of lake Ilmen and  upstream of river Mologa and  formed the million of Novgorod territory. They founded towns and strongholds: Ladoga (nowadays  Old Ladoga), stronghold Lyubshanskaya, Hillfort (nowadays Ryurik's hillfort), Novgorod, Old Russa;
• the Krivichi settled on territories of basins of rivers headstream Dnepr, Zapadnaya Dvina, Velikaya. They have built towns and strongholds: Izborsk, Smolensk, Pskov and also towns within today's Belorussia – Polotsk, Vitebsk, Lukoml'.