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 and populated by nearly 30,000 inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the North.

Like any true metropolis, Novigrad has many factories and is home to all manner of craftsmen offering every ware possible and one can even find the occasional con-man or shady dealer. The city is also home to numerous banks and even has a zoo. The Eternal Fire is said to protect the city's inhabitants from all evil, monsters included. The thick city walls have never been breached, as they were tactfully designed by the architects of the Oxenfurt Academy.

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 it does have a secret service, an ever-present Temple Guard, and a powerful Temple Fleet.

National emblems

One of the most recognizable emblems of Novigrad is a silver ring with three golden keys, symbolizing opening of the land, the sea and the river.^[2] Apart from it, various motifs of the city walls and the Eternal Fire are utilized.^[3][4]

Emblems displayed in the infobox are an attempt to compromise designs used in various sources.

History

First Landing

During the Conjunction of the Spheres, a magical passage opened at this site. Later, what began as a circle of monoliths^[4] turned into a small elven settlement.^[5] In this settlement, at the site of the passage, a temple dedicated to the moon was built.^[4] When the first human ships arrived in the Pontar Delta, the city was abandoned by the elves and it quickly became the capital of a new country created by King Sambuk, the ancestor of the first king of Redania.^[6]

Road to independence

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.^[7][8]

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.^[8]

Northern Wars

After the First Northern War in 1263, King Vizimir II of Redania forced Novigrad into ius stapulae, blocking all merchandise passing the city for inspection and sale within the city.^[5]

The Syndicate and Witch Hunts

Although Redanian kings are officially recognized as "kings of Redania and Novigrad", real authority is vested in the hierarch by the Electoral College. By 1275 the current hierarch was Cyrus Engelkind Hemmelfart.

However, it has long been known that the city is under the control of its criminal underworld, which even the Hierarch himself is not stranger to; by 1272, the city was in fact under the control of the Syndicate and eventually later by the Big Four.^[4]

Locations

Notable people

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Novigrad is one of the three main regions in the third game, with the other two being Velen and Skellige. The city's design has been described as based on medieval Amsterdam, with touches of Venice.

Map description

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

Trivia

• Novigrad as seen in third game is inspired by medieval Amsterdam and Gdańsk.^[9][10]
• Novigrad, or Novi Grad, means "Newtown", "Newcity" or "Newcastle" in various Slavic languages, and it is the name of different cities in various Slavic countries (such as Novigrad, Croatia).
• The concept of the Free City of Novigrad is mainly based on the historical Free City of Gdańsk, which was such a city-state twice between 1807-1815 and 1920-1939, but also had considerable independence as a royal city of Poland from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Like Novigrad, the city was also a large and rich port on the (Baltic) sea, with a very strong economical and cultural position. There were also witch trials in the town.

Notes

• In Chapter I of The Witcher, one of the travelers recognizes Geralt of Rivia, and comments on how the witcher helped him with some garkains in Novigrad several years prior. However, he couldn't pay the witcher for his services at the time but can do so now and gives him 100 .
• Mentioned several time before, Novigrad and its surroundings finally appear in Curse of Crows following the story of Ciri and Geralt.
• In The Hexer, 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.

Videos

Gallery

References

Regions in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Major regions White Orchard Royal Palace in Vizima Pontar Velen Novigrad Gustfields The Skellige Isles Kaer Morhen
Minor regions Isle of Mists Ddiddiwedht Desert Ice Plains Tir ná Lia
In expansions Realm of Rumination Toussaint Land of a Thousand Fables