The fortress is the heart of any visit to Staraya Ladoga. The stone walls and towers you see today largely date from the 15th and 16th centuries, but the site was fortified as far back as the 9th century — the very beginning of organized Russian statehood. Inside the walls stands the Church of St. George, built in the late 12th century, which contains some of the best-preserved medieval frescoes in Russia. The paintings are spare and powerful in the way of early Byzantine work, and it's remarkable to see them still in place after nearly nine centuries.
From the ramparts there are wide views over the Volkhov River and the flat surrounding countryside. There is a small museum on site with finds from local excavations. Entrance fees are modest and the site is generally uncrowded outside summer weekends.