Nizhny Novgorod Fair

The Nizhny Novgorod Fair (Nizhegorodskaya yarmarka) occupies a large neoclassical building complex on the low-lying land across the Oka from the Upper Town — the same floodplain that was for centuries the site of the greatest trade fair in Russia, if not the world. The surviving Main House, built in 1890, is now used for exhibitions and events, and the restored Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (completed in 1881) stands beside it.

The fair ran from August to October every year from the early 19th century until the revolution, and the name "Nizhny" became synonymous with commerce throughout the Russian Empire. The current exhibition complex still hosts trade fairs and public events. The surrounding area has been cleaned up somewhat and there is a pleasant walk along the riverbank toward the cathedral, whose twin spires are one of the landmarks of the lower town.

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A story
At its peak in the 19th century, the Nizhny Novgorod Fair was the largest trade fair in the world. Every August, more than 100,000 merchants descended on the floodplain below the kremlin, bringing cotton from Central Asia, silk from Persia, furs from Siberia, and manufactured goods from across Europe. The annual turnover exceeded the total state budget of several European countries. Maxim Gorky, who was born in Nizhny Novgorod, called it "the bazaar of bazaars."

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