Rurikovo Gorodische (Russian: Рю́риково Городи́ще, romanized: Ryúrikovo Gorodíshche, IPA: [ˈrʲʉrʲɪkəvə ɡərɐˈdʲiɕːə], lit. 'Rurik's Hillfort'), the primary settlement in the area known in Scandinavian sources as Holmgård, was the 9th century predecessor of Veliky Novgorod. The archaeological site is 2 km to the south of the current city center, across from Yuriev Monastery where the Volkhov River flows out of Lake Ilmen. Part of the Novgorod World Heritage site, it includes the original residence of the princes of Novgorod, connected with the names of many famous political figures of ancient Russia.
The settlement began in the 8th century with a fortress, built by Ilmen Slavs, which had a wooden wall on the shaft.[1] Until the 19th century the tract, as well as the adjacent village was called simply Gorodische. The word Rurikovo was added at the beginning of the 19th century, influenced by legends which identify this place with the capital of the state of Rurik.[citation needed]
58°29′N 31°17′E / 58.483°N 31.283°E / 58.483; 31.283
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| Volkhov-Volga trade route |
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| Dvina-Dnieper trade route |
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