Yaroslav's Court and the Trade area is a historical architectural complex located on the trading side of Veliky Novgorod. In the past, it was the residence of Yaroslav the Wise, where the Novgorod assembly gathered and active trade took place, while numerous ships stood by the riverbanks. This site is protected by the state and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Veliky Novgorod is rich in historical monuments, and Yaroslav's Court is one of the unique structures not only in the city but in all of Russia. The complex is named after Prince Yaroslav, who later ruled in Kyiv and became known as the Wise. Historically, the trading part of the city was located on the right bank of the Volkhov River, where merchants settled and assemblies were held since ancient times. Archaeological excavations show that there were no buildings or traces of human presence in the area of the Court until the 10th century.

In the early 11th century, Prince Yaroslav built a palace here that was unmatched even in Europe. Archaeological studies conducted after the war confirm that traces of a large wooden building were found in the area between the Nikolsky Cathedral and the Gate Tower of the Merchant Court. The excavations at Yaroslav's Court and the Trade area were led by Professor A. V. Arcihovsky, who suggested that the discovered foundation might belong to the princely chambers. Further work was suspended until archaeologists could obtain better equipment for the preservation and detailed study of the site.

By building the palace, Prince Yaroslav found himself at the center of the business life of Veliky Novgorod. The first mentions of the complex in chronicles date back to 1030, when the city was an important part of the trade route from Scandinavia to Byzantium. Numerous docks lined the trading shore, where goods from all over the world, including gold, fabrics, and spices, arrived.

The people of Novgorod treated Yaroslav with respect and love. After the prince refused to pay tribute to Kyiv, the residents helped him twice in his struggle for the Kyiv throne, which ultimately led to his victory. This attitude may be related to his closeness to the people and constant communication at the Ancient Trade area. Yaroslav's Court, in addition to its representative and trading functions, served as a place for the Novgorod assemblies. Meetings took place on a small plot near the Nikolsky-Dvoriщensky Cathedral. Some historians believe that only representatives of noble families, known as the '300 golden belts,' gathered at the assembly, and the ringing of the assembly bell signaled the gathering.

In the 15th century, Veliky Novgorod lost its independence. Yaroslav's Court passed to Prince Ivan III, who took the assembly bell to Moscow and began to develop the territory at his discretion. From the 16th century, after the appearance of grand princely governors, the Court began to be called 'The Sovereign's.' Several legends are associated with the bell. According to one, it shattered into thousands of small bells on Valdai, which still glorify Novgorod's freedom. According to another, the bell was installed on the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin in Moscow and warned the people of disasters, but fell and broke during a fire, after which Peter I ordered a new one to be cast from its parts.

Russian statehood originates from Veliky Novgorod. Over time, Yaroslav's Court merged with the Ancient Trade area, a place of active trade and the emergence of merchant class. Novgorod's Trade rivaled the largest markets in Europe and Asia. The lively river route and well-trodden paths brought Novgorod merchants to Tsargrad and Persia, as well as to England, Flanders, and German markets. Ships from the Baltic and White Seas docked at the Trade area.

Preserved documents testify to the civilized trade of Novgorodians with foreign lands, including contracts for supplies and mutually beneficial cooperation. Local traders were a kind of monopolists, as foreign goods were not sold beyond Novgorod's Trade, and the merchants themselves distributed them throughout Rus.