(Source: http://otzivy.info/publ/russia)

 Valdai is an ancient town  located in the marvelously beautiful nature reserve. And this magnetic beauty attracts numerous travelers here.

Each August and February Valdai holds interregional festival of author’s song performers titled “Nord-West”. The rallies of amateur bikers are organized by the “Wild Will MC” bike club every year: within their frame the gigs of Russian rock-groups are also held. Gatherings of radio amateurs of Novgorod Oblast attract more and more guests every year, participants come from different regions of Russia, as well as from the Baltic States and Finland.

The annual “Bianki Recitals”. Borovno Lake. Valdai holds a fair every Saturday in the town centre: there can buy food, shoes, clothing, and various household items. The best points for viewing and shooting photos/videos: the best view of the Iversky Monastery opens from Selvitsky Island, as well as from the ship during the summer season (it runs regularly from the pierce in the heart of the town to the Monastery). The best view on the town centre opens from the Svobody Square.

“Valda” translated from Finno-Ugric means “light, clean”. Apparently, the crystal-clear water of the local lakes gave the name to the town and its surroundings.

The status of a town was granted to Valdai by the Decree of the Empress Catherine II in 1770. Since then Valdai began to receive a large amount of travelers, it is famous for its bustling fairs, bells and pristine beauty of local places.

The Valdai land is famous for birth and residency of such famous people as N.N. Miklukho-Maklai, P.S. Komarov, V. Bianki. The composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, painters L.I. Levitan, U.F. Benois, famous Russian publicist Mikhail Osipovich Menshikov (who had a Manor at this place) lived and worked here for a long time. And Menshikov was also shot by KGB servicemen at Pryozerny side-street, on the coast of Valdai Lake in 1918.