Nizhny Novgorod is an amazing city with many beautiful places. In addition to numerous attractions, there are many interesting things. The city has long been famous for crafts. Local craftsmen make amazing items. Therefore, you will have many options for what to bring as a gift from Nizhny Novgorod.
A little bit about the place ...
A very ancient, beautiful city is located on the Volga coast. Once Nizhny Novgorod was one of the largest shopping centers in Russia. Crafts developed in the region, and items produced here, with the help of merchants, were distributed all over the world. Currently, many tourists come to the city to see its unique attractions. The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is known far beyond Russia. But the ancient city is also famous for folk crafts. The region produces unique souvenirs. Local craftsmen inherited the traditions of their manufacture from their ancestors. If you first decided to go to the cities and still do not know what to bring as a gift from Nizhny Novgorod, try to orient yourself in the variety of souvenirs. There are a lot of cute little things and useful household items in the city. In a nutshell, do not describe the entire variety of products. Tourists who decide to shop in Nizhny Novgorod will be pleasantly surprised by the colorful shopping. To return from the old city without unusual gifts simply will not work.
Painted souvenirs
What to bring as a gift from Nizhny Novgorod? Of course, painted Novgorod products, which are known far beyond the borders of our country. Famous Russian nesting dolls were born in the city of Semenov. In the region to this day they are made by painting with patterns. Such dolls are called Semenov painting.
If you do not know where to buy nesting dolls in Nizhny Novgorod, go to any gift shop. In each of them you will find an unprecedented variety of such souvenirs.
Gorodets painting
No less interesting is the Gorodets painting. With its help, local craftsmen conveyed a simple life in bright colors. The skill has not lost its significance to this day. As a gift, you can buy souvenirs depicting vibrant everyday scenes in Nizhny Novgorod: ladies with gentlemen, tea drinking, a table covered with rich treats, and more.
No less popular among Gorodets masters are animal images. The peculiarity of the painting is that all the drawings are very cheerful and vibrant. The technique is considered universal, because with its help they paint not only utensils, but also large objects, such as furniture.
The Volga region is considered to be the birthplace of technology, but in the 30s of the twentieth century it was widely used in the Nizhny Novgorod region. In those days, the master Vasilenko lived in the village of Gorodets, who loved his craft very much. It was he who managed to breathe new life into art, making it incredibly popular. And to this day in the region are made all kinds of objects that are useful in everyday life, which are decorated with Gorodets painting. Such things carry a large charge of positive, because they are created with love. Gorodetsky style is characterized by bright colors. Even if you do not want to purchase things made in this style, you can just admire them.
The most famous painting
One hundred years ago, Khokhloma painting became known throughout the world. The arsenal of masters is dominated by floral ornaments and natural motifs. Sometimes you can hear the expression "golden Khokhloma painting." Such a term appeared due to the bright color of dyes, which are made on the basis of aluminum paint and flax oil.
The painting appeared in the seventeenth century and even then gained popularity. It can be called unique, since there are no more analogues that can repeat the technique. As before, the goods decorated with Khokhloma are sold all over the world. Khokhloma painted souvenirs are most popular among foreigners coming from Western countries. Painted goods are sold in almost all Russian cities, but original gifts are best purchased in Nizhny Novgorod.
Khokhloma is a unique painting, which is based on contrasts. A black background, which is painted with gold and red patterns, is considered a classic. In their work, masters use natural motifs. They depict ornate flowers in a unique manner. The hallmark of Khokhloma is the golden color, which looks incredibly expensive and elegant.
Maidan painting
Polkhov-Maidan (or simply Maidan) painting appeared much later than others. But she also enjoys well-deserved popularity. The trademark of artists using this technique is the carelessness in writing rural landscapes, as well as the presence of bright fragments in the drawings. Polkhov-Maidan masters paint objects:
- Kitchen utensils.
- Matryoshka dolls.
- Balalaikas.
- Whistles.
- Samovarchiki.
Currently, there are not many artists who have the ability to perform such painting. Therefore, the Nizhny Novgorod souvenir with Maidan drawings will be a unique present.
Wooden crafts
Famous Nizhny Novgorod and souvenirs made of wood. In the city you can buy dishes, panels and other goods. Painted wooden caskets are especially popular. All items are handmade. In the city you can even see houses with carvings, which all tourists come to admire, invariably admiring the skills of the townspeople.
Carved wooden products are complex in execution. In the old days, they were very popular. Literally in every village there were craftsmen who could make something beautiful out of ordinary logs. Today, concrete and stone are used for construction, and plastic for the manufacture of household utensils. In such circumstances, the art of woodcarving is endangered. But Nizhny Novgorod masters have not lost their skills.
Kazakovskaya filigree
It is no secret that local craftsmen have long made beautiful objects from metal. One of the oldest methods of processing material is called Kazakov filigree. In Nizhny Novgorod, you can buy wonderful metal souvenirs. In Russia, filigree products have been made since time immemorial. Similar items are found in excavations dating from the ninth century.
It is worth noting that in Russia, one of the most famous centers of filigree production was the village of Kazakovo, where the name Kazakovskaya filigree came from. The first artel in the village appeared in 1939. During the Great Patriotic War, it did not stop its activities. They made epaulets, stars for them, cigarette cases. And in the postwar years, the production of forks and knives was established.
And now in the shops of the city you can buy beautiful souvenirs made of metal.
You will not find such beautiful things anywhere else. The peculiarity of the Kazakov filigree is that beautiful patterns are collected from small wires. Using this technique, vases, castles, panels, jewelry are created. Filigree forging is used to decorate chests. The craftsmen of the region forged an unusual filigree tree, which is located on the central square of the town of Pavlovo.
Wooden Toys
Novinsky wooden toys can be called a real masterpiece of masters. It may seem that such items look very simple. But in fact, the products undergo serious manual processing on the machine. Do not use bolts or nails to create wooden objects.
Sometimes glue is used in the manufacturing process. Each toy is equipped with wheels, and therefore can roll. In the modern world, a wide variety of plastic children's products are on sale. It may seem that wooden toys have not been relevant for a long time. However, this is not at all true. Wood items are much better and better than Chinese products. Toys are of high quality and safety.
Gold embroidery
No less popular souvenir is Gorodets sewing, which has long been famous in Russia. Its design and quality has not changed to this day. In the shops of the city you can find unique products.
Lace
In the seventeenth century on the Nizhny Novgorod lands began to weave the legendary Balakhna lace. Their appearance is associated with the advent of Western lace-making traditions on Russian lands. Finest work requires a lot of strength and great skill.
In those days, lace was very expensive. Only wealthy nobles and merchants could afford to carry them. Women from the poor could only use small lace inserts for dresses. Now Nizhny Novgorod lace can be purchased by everyone. They are sold in all stores in the city.
Guipure
Products from Nizhny Novgorod guipure are very beautiful. The tradition of its weaving appeared in the nineteenth century. People who are not versed in art can accept the finest lace with guipure. However, the latter is produced using a completely different technology. Masters use a special grid as the basis, on which the most complicated embroidery is applied. As a result of work, beautiful shawls and other accessories appear.
New Year's toys
In Nizhny Novgorod, the factory "Ariel", producing Christmas tree decorations. The company exists not so long ago, but its products are sold throughout the country.
Tourists in stores have the opportunity to purchase multi-colored balloons decorated with the finest patterns, as well as figures of fairy-tale characters. Such products are made of the thinnest glass, they look simply amazing.
Gingerbread cookies
Gingerbread fishing in the Nizhny Novgorod province was developed in different areas. But the largest center was Gorodets. Initially, the gingerbread cookies were baked at home, a little later appeared gingerbread establishments. At the end of the nineteenth century, fifteen bakeries were already operating in Gorodets. They baked numerous versions of Gorodets gingerbread. In Nizhny Novgorod, products were being prepared that were famous throughout Russia. Gorodets gingerbreads even competed with Vyazma. Local merchants delivered them to other cities for sale and even abroad. Gorodets was not only a center for the preparation of gingerbread, but also a center for woodcarving. Gingerbread boards were made here. Currently, the tradition of producing Gorodets sweets has revived again. The city even organized a museum dedicated to gingerbread.
Where to buy gingerbread cookies in Nizhny Novgorod? They are sold in any store with confectionery. The local factory even produces gift options Gorodets gingerbread. Such a delicious souvenir will appeal to children and all lovers of sweets.
Patterned-heald weaving
There are a lot of shops in Nizhny Novgorod with souvenir goods. In them you can buy unique towels, tablecloths and things made from natural materials - linen, wool. Such products are made according to the old methodology of pattern-heald weaving. Currently, most often use geometric ornaments, creating things in the national style. Such souvenirs are good in that they can not be easily admired, but also used for their intended purpose.
Felt Products
From time immemorial, the region has produced stunning products from felt. The main production centers are located in Borsky and Arzamas. In the past, hats and boots were worn by all village and city dwellers. But now, city guests can buy felt goods as souvenirs. Although the villagers to this day can find practical application of such things.
Sweets
If you do not know what to buy as a souvenir, pay attention to sweets. Many love them, and therefore every child will be happy with the gift. The famous Sormovskaya factory operates in the region, which began to work even before the war. Military action slowed down the development of production. But in the future, the factory began to work successfully, constantly expanding its product range.
In the city’s shops you can buy waffles, sweets, cookies, chocolate, gingerbread cookies and other sweet products that are famous far beyond the region.
Knives
You can buy good knives not only in Switzerland. Near Nizhny Novgorod is the town of Vorsma, which produces products of decent quality. Locals are famous for their skill in working with metal since the seventeenth century. In the city you can buy unique knives from Damascus, forged and spring steel, the handles of which are decorated with precious wood and typesetting leather. Such products may have the simplest design or resemble an entire work of art. Each model has a certificate.
City shops
Of course, in the modern city there are many shops that shopaholics will like. In them you can buy anything. Where in Nizhny Novgorod to buy perfumes, factory clothes or other things? For tourists there is a large number of hypermarkets, brand stores. But experienced travelers still recommend paying attention to traditional souvenirs from Nizhny Novgorod. What is the point of spending time shopping in the brand boutiques that are available in all cities?
It is easiest to buy gifts for relatives in specialized stores. Most of them are located on the pedestrian street of Nizhny Novgorod called Bolshaya Pokrovskaya. True, here the cost of souvenirs significantly exceeds their price in manufacturing factories.
One of the first in Nizhny Novgorod was opened a network of souvenir shops called “Crafts”. The large complex is located on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street.
Another souvenir shop located here is the Nizhny Novgorod Souvenir. In it you can purchase any goods made in the region, ranging from magnets to magnificent artworks.
On the main street there is also a “Gifts and Souvenirs” store. The assortment of his goods is very large. According to tourists, a very interesting place is the shopping and entertainment complex "Firebird". On its territory there is a folk craft store of the same name. Here you can see a lot of interesting items. On weekends, you can visit master classes in the salon, where you can get acquainted with the basics of Khokhloma painting.
In addition to traditional gifts in the city you can buy very colorful and informative books about Nizhny Novgorod. History buffs will love this souvenir. Gift options are especially interesting. Nizhny Novgorod landscapes are no less attractive. Pictures with local beauties will be a wonderful reminder of the trip. Such a gift will certainly appeal to lovers of painting and connoisseurs of beauty.
Now it’s clear what to bring as a gift from Nizhny Novgorod.