Old Ladoga is situated on the left bank of Volkhov-river and only in 15 km from the place, where it flows into the largest lake of Europe – Ladoga Lake. Nowadays Old Ladoga is nothing but a large village, but it knew better days.

   Long time ago Old Ladoga, (it was called simply Ladoga at that time), was one of the biggest towns of the North-West of Russia and may be the oldest one. It is accepted in our history that the year of its foundation is 862 AD (the year it was first mentioned in chronicles), but, of course, it was founded much earlier. So it must be considered, along with Kiev and Moscow, the capital of Ancient Russia.

   The location of Ladoga was very convenient: it could guard waterway from Nothern countries to Black sea. Big fairs used to be held there, where one could find goods from different parts of Russia as well as from foreign countries.

   As a military center Ladoga was first mentioned in 997 AD. Perhaps the wooden fortress was already there by that time. In the year of 1114 the first stone fortress was founded there. And 50 years later it got the “baptism of fire”. Swedish squadron of 55 vessels entered Volkhov-river and tried to capture the new fortress. Their attempt failed and they retired, but in Ladoga Lake Swedes were caught and defeated by Novgorod squadron.
   One century and a half the life in Ladoga was peaceful, but in 1313 Swedes made another attempt to conquer Ladoga. It was successful, but not for long. In 1338 the people of Ladoga resisted one more Swedish attack.

   In the middle of XVth century the Ladoga Fortress was reconstructed. The walls and towers were strengthened – their height became nearby 20 meters. It had 5 three-tier towers and the shape of fortress was like oblong triangle.

   By that time Ladoga became a large city. In XVII century it withstood several Swedish attacks and sieges. But only in 1610 Swedes captured it for the second time. In 1617 it was returned to Russia as a result of peace treaty.

   In 1701 was the last time the Ladoga Fortress was besieged by big Swedish army. It held out and since that time it was no longer the Border Fortress.

   In 1704 near the Volkhov issue young Russian monarch Peter-the-Great founded a new town and named it New Ladoga. All citizens and administrative services of Old Ladoga were moved to this new town. Later, when railways were built, the waterway by Volkhov became unprofitable and the old town with centuries-old history sank into oblivion.

   Nowadays the Old Ladoga Fortress is a museum. From the middle of the XXth century permanent restoration was being held there. Visitors can see two towers and a part of the wall. From the other tree towerls only bases are left. Inside fortress walls stands ancient Cathedral of St. George (XII century). It is famous for it’s fresco “St. George’s miracle of the dragon”.