What is the Lily Garden in Veliky Novgorod?

The Lily Garden is a public park located in the heart of Veliky Novgorod, featuring a stunning display of lilac flowers and a unique blend of beauty and decay.

Is the Lily Garden free to visit?

Yes, admission to the Lily Garden is free, making it a great activity for families or budget-conscious travelers.

What is the best time to visit the Lily Garden?

The best time to visit the Lily Garden is during the lilac bloom, which typically occurs in late spring.

Are there any amenities available at the Lily Garden?

No, there are no food or drink vendors available at the Lily Garden. However, there are several restaurants and cafes located nearby.

Can I take photos at the Lily Garden?

Yes, the Lily Garden is a great place to take photos, with plenty of unique backdrops and a stunning display of lilac flowers.

Is the Lily Garden suitable for families?

Yes, the Lily Garden is a great activity for families, with plenty of space to run around and a unique blend of beauty and decay.

Are there any guided tours available at the Lily Garden?

No, there are no guided tours available at the Lily Garden. However, there are several self-guided walking tours available online.

Can I bring my pet to the Lily Garden?

Yes, pets are allowed at the Lily Garden, but please clean up after them and keep them on a leash.

Is the Lily Garden wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the Lily Garden is wheelchair accessible, with a paved path and several ramps available for easy navigation.

Can I bring a picnic to the Lily Garden?

Yes, picnics are allowed at the Lily Garden, but please clean up after yourself and dispose of trash properly.

Are there any events or festivals held at the Lily Garden?

Yes, the Lily Garden hosts several events and festivals throughout the year, including concerts, art exhibits, and cultural celebrations.

Can I get married at the Lily Garden?

Yes, the Lily Garden is a popular location for weddings, with a unique blend of beauty and decay and plenty of space to accommodate guests.

Lily Garden in Veliky Novgorod: A Bittersweet Beauty

Name: The Jarring Contrast of Novgorod's Ruined Churches and Stunning Lilac Garden
Item: Lilac Garden, Veliky Novgorod
Rating: 5
Author: meganHill

Hello!

Yesterday, I visited this trendy new spot in Veliky Novgorod and I just had to share my thoughts.

I had planned to do this review sooner, but it's tough to find the time at the end of the school year. Plus, I was feeling pretty frazzled yesterday and it's still taking me a while to calm down.

As I walked around the city, I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the beauty of the lilac garden and the ruins of the old churches.

Let me start by saying that I'm one of those people who thinks things were better in the past.

Anyway, the Lily Garden. It's been around for a while, but I'm not sure exactly when it was first opened – I only found out about it through an online news article. Apparently, the journalists were raving about its beauty and charm.

I agree that the lilacs are lovely, but...

How to get there?

The Lily Garden is located on Znamenskaya Street 4, right at the start of Novgorod. This street used to be called Krasiolova, and before that, it was apparently Great Ilyinskaya Street – named after the churches at the beginning of the street. I'm not entirely sure about the current name, to be honest.

You're in the right place if you see this

The Lily Garden, Veliky Novgorod

The Lily Garden, Veliky NovgorodThe return journey looks like this

The Lily Garden, Veliky NovgorodYes, part of the way you'll have to walk along a road with cars – that's just the way it is in this neighborhood. Apparently, they filmed a scene for the TV show 'Karmelita' in one of the houses, but I'm not sure which one.

The Lily Garden is situated next to two inactive churches –

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on Slavnaya

The Lily Garden, Veliky Novgorod

The Church of Prophet Ilya

The Lily Garden, Veliky Novgorod

I have to admit, I'm really disappointed by the view of the latter. I actually used to go inside it back in the day – it wasn't even a church then, but a regular residential building (!!!). Apparently, it was considered the oldest residential building in Russia.

To get a sense of the scale of the destruction after the restoration, I created a collage.

I've got a soft spot for churches, and this one in Siren's Garden, Veliky Novgorod, is no exception. The first photo shows what it looked like back in the day, when the Soviet Union was still around. It's a bit faded, but I remember it being a bit more rundown even then. The second photo is what it looks like today.

I have to say, sometimes I wonder if it's worth making changes at all.

Looking at the first photo, you can see how the building was basically a basement level, where people lived in pretty dire conditions. It's heartbreaking, but it's not like the local authorities had a choice. The second floor, on the other hand, was where the local artists had their workshops. I even saw a sketch of the building back then, but I'm not going to share it – it's just too painful to remember.

But I want to show you the church in all its glory.

Siren's Garden, Veliky Novgorod

Unfortunately, there's not much left to restore. It's more a case of picking up the pieces and rebuilding from scratch. Or, you know, just knocking the whole thing down and starting from scratch. I wouldn't have believed it 10 years ago – it seemed like a crazy idea back then!

Now, let's get back to the garden.

Against the backdrop of these ruins, the beauty of the flowers seems almost mocking. We planted the garden right next to the dying building, and it's a bit of a sad sight. Be careful, by the way – there's a lot of trash and construction debris lying around. It's been a while, but our bureaucracy moves slowly, so it'll take them a while to clean it up.

Siren's Garden, Veliky Novgorod

Anyway, let's move on to the garden itself.

There are already a lot of lilacs here. Some bushes are still pretty small, which is no surprise – they need time to grow. But we want to see them blooming already. So, for now, you'll be charmed by the garden's beauty and shocked by the state of the old, crumbling churches and the trash around them.

Contrasts.

Let's take a closer look at the lilacs.

Lilac garden, Veliky Novgorod

Lilac garden, Veliky Novgorod Lilac garden, Veliky Novgorod Lilac garden, Veliky Novgorod Lilac garden, Veliky NovgorodI won't post all the photos, but if you want to see more – they're all below!

There are quite a few people here even on weekdays! I tried to remove them from the frame as much as possible, but since I don't have a photo editing license, some photos might look a bit weird.

Lilac garden, Veliky Novgorod

Lilac garden, Veliky NovgorodI have to admit, I was surprised to see people relaxing in this place. Those old ruins really get to me – I just can't look at them. Maybe that's why I quickly left, just taking a quick walk around and taking a few photos.

By the way, the irrigation system for the plants seems to be working, but I wouldn't recommend messing with it. There are some kind of wastewater treatment facilities nearby... I saw kids drinking from the water, which is pretty alarming.

And if you need to use the restroom, here it is – help yourself.

Lilac Garden, Veliky NovgorodI love how the sun and moon shine in these photos...

I've never been inside, so I don't know what it's like.

Lilac Garden, Veliky Novgorod

Lilac Garden, Veliky NovgorodFrom what I've seen, if you ignore the ruins, you can still take some great photos. There were lots of people there just for that – couples, moms with kids, and all sorts of groups. Just be patient and let them take their shots.

Lilac Garden, Veliky Novgorod

Lilac Garden, Veliky NovgorodYou can see the houses on Posolskaya street from there, which runs along the ring wall.

It's a beautiful spot, but it's a shame that everything's so neglected and broken down – it's like the outskirts of the city.

Lilac Garden, Veliky NovgorodWhat else can I recommend to tourists?

On your way back, take a walk down Slavyanskaya street – it's one of the oldest in the city.

Take a bus ride for a real adrenaline rush.

Run along the wall – it's fine, but be careful.

Check out the remnants of Soviet-era architecture.

And if you're lucky, you might even spot the home of Philip Kirkorov's dad – or at least, it used to be his.

I suggest exploring the Old Town area (that's what they call this neighborhood) before it gets all renovated and looks like every other city.

The lilacs are blooming beautifully...

Lilac Garden, Veliky Novgorod

Lilac Garden, Veliky NovgorodFor some reason, I kept smelling the church – or maybe it's just because I've been thinking about churches a lot lately. The smell of those 'monastery-made' products always gets to me, I guess.

<\/a> The Lilac Garden, Great NovgorodI'm not sure if there are more beautiful lilac gardens out there, but I'm certain you won't find one like this anywhere else, except in Novgorod. The ruins of churches against the backdrop of new ideas for the benefit of locals and visitors - it's so quintessentially Russian.

I have to mention that this part of the city (and, to some extent, not just this part) was already filled with lilacs in the spring. There were plenty of them. Even now, remnants of the former glory bloom on the streets of Bolshaya Moscow and other nearby streets.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I highly recommend visiting this place. Even this week, you can still make it there, when I visited, not all lilac varieties were in bloom, some were half-bloomed, and some hadn't even started yet. There's time for a stroll, a photoshoot, and enjoying the scents of the lilac varieties.

This is a great idea that's been poorly executed. Let's see what happens in 5 or 10 years... Maybe everything will change? Then this review will just be a memory.

I'd give it 5 stars and definitely recommend it. I want this place to be seen by as many people as possible.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last news in 2025

This year, visiting the Lilac Garden won't be an option. The churches are being restored again. This time, the budget has increased, so we'll be able to see some progress. So, unfortunately, until 2027, you'll only be able to look at it from behind the fence.

As reported by '53 news' to the founder of the garden, Vera Korchubey, the first portable toilet has already been brought in, as well as building materials, including bricks, buckets of mortar, and timber.

In connection with the start of restoration work in the church, which was previously transferred to the Russian Old-Ritualist Orthodox Church, the site will be fenced off, and access to the garden will be closed. According to the documents, the work should be completed by the end of February 2027.

Vera Korchubey added that the lilacs should not be affected by the work.

The contract sum is 257 million. Let's meet here again in 2 years to see how the second attempt at restoration went. Poor churches. Sometimes the best is the enemy of the good.