This lecture is devoted to the architectural monuments of the Novgorod area. The author provides examples of buildings starting almost from the first ones: Saint Sophia Cathedral in the Detinets, St. Nicholas’ Cathedral near the palace of Mstislav I at Yaroslav's Court, as well as St. George’s Cathedral. Some emphasis is laid on the birth of Old Russian icon-painting, the icons of St. George’s Cathedral serving as examples. Alongside with Novgorod, the architectural monuments of the ancient Pskov, that have their own peculiar style, can be spoken about in this context.