Novigrad

Novigrad is a free city within Redania and is therefore not subject to the rule of that kingdom. It is one of the major ports on the continent. Populated by nearly 30,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest cities in the North. It's located on Pontar Delta, on the northern shore of the river Pontar, west of Tretogor and north-west of Oxenfurt. Novigrad is home to all manner of craftsmen offering every ware that could possibly find a buyer. One can even find the occasional conman or shady dealer. The Eternal Fire is said to protect the city's inhabitants from all evil, monsters included.

Novigrad is inhabited by an unusually colorful group of both permanent residents and those in town on long and short-term visits. Most eye-catching amidst the throngs of common townsfolk, stall-keepers, and craftsmen are those practicing the more roguish professions. There is no army in the city but a powerful Secret Service and its ironfist, Temple Guard and powerful Temple Fleet.

Heraldry


The coat of arms for Novigrad is not actually described in the novels. This particular coats of arms are based on images from The Witcher 3. For a different take on the coat of arms, we have the Czech concept, concept of our resident heraldry and Witcher expert Mboro and version from the second issue of "Biały Wilk" (The White Wolf) magazine.

History
Before the First Landing, Novigrad was a small elven settlement. When the first human ships arrived in the Pontar Delta, the city was abandoned. It quickly became the capital of a new country created by king Sambuk, the ancestor of the first king of Redania.

During the reign of Vestibor the Proud, Novigrad was conquered by Temeria during the Seven Years' War. The capital of Redania was then moved to Tretogor and Novigrad became a Temerian city for a long period.

The situation changed during the reign of Vestibor's grandson, Radovid III the Bold. After long negotiations, a compromise was reached and the metropolis was acclaimed as a free city.

Although Redanian kings are officially recoginized as "kings of Redania and Novigrad", real authority is vested in the hierarch elected by the Council of Electors. The current hierarch is Cyrus Engelkind Hemmelfart.

Places

 * Main Street (linking the market square and the largest temple)
 * Market square
 * West Bazaar
 * Old Town
 * New Town
 * Seaport
 * Zoo

Buildings
According to the short story "Eternal Flame", Novigrad has four watermills, eight banks, nineteen lombards, thirty five inns and taverns, twelve brothels and nineteen temples. Some examples:

Large buildings

 * Hierarch's castle
 * City hall
 * Grand Picket - probably the largest temple in Northern Kingdoms

Banks

 * Main branch of Vivaldi Bank
 * Main branch of Cianfanelli Bank
 * Main branch of Zammorto Bank
 * Branch of Redanian Post Bank
 * Branch of Giancardi Bank

Inns and taverns

 * The Spearhead
 * Hen Cerbin

Brothels

 * Passiflora brothel

Other buidings

 * 19 lombards
 * Manufactories of crackowes and broadcloth
 * Port cranes
 * The Borsodis' Auction House
 * Gnomish Invention Factory
 * Guardhouse

The first part of the episode Dolina Kwiatów takes place in Novigrad, where Geralt and Dandelion encounter a doppler impersonating Dainty Biberveldt, a halfling merchant. During episode they also bump into Chappelle.

Then they leave Free City of Novigrad and head for Valley of Flowers.

In Chapter I, one of the travellers walking on the roads recognizes our main hero Geralt of Rivia, and comments on how the witcher helped him with some garkains in Free City of Novigrad several years prior to events of first game.

However, he could not pay the witcher for his services at the time. Having recognized Geralt of Rivia, he gives him 100.

Free City of Novigrad is one of four main regions, other three are Toussaint, Velen and Skellige Islands, in third game. The city's design has been described as based on medieval Amsterdam, with touches of Venice.

Map description

 * Once a part of Redania. Novigrad now has the status of free city. It is the largest city and, without a doubt, richest as well. Cradle of the cult of the Eternal Fire, it is now home of the church of the same name. It is ruled officially by the head of the church, reffered to as the hierarch, thought its underworld crime bosses also have a great deal of say in matters.

Mentioned several time before, Novigrad and surroundings finally appears in comics The Witcher: Curse of Crows following story of Ciri and Geralt. When they are aproaching the city, Ciri describes it with following words:

Trivia

 * Novigrad as seen in third game is inspired by medieval Amsterdam.

Notes & references
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