The federal program for preserving and developing historical towns in Russia will be resumed, Minister of Culture and Mass Communications Alexander Sokolov said on Saturday during his visit in ancient Gorodets on the Volga River.

At present, “it is necessary to attune regional and federal possibilities and harmonize regional programs with the federal program,” the minister said.

The minister examined the

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Nizhny Novgorod regional program of the comprehensive Gorodets development that, according to the program’s authors, will turn this town in an active tourist attraction, the visiting card of the Nizhny Novgorod soil and will guarantee the inflow of investments. Under the project ‘the Knyazhy (Grand Prince’s – Itar-Tass) town’ will be built in 2008-2010 and will become a historical and tourist center in the wooden architecture style with the modern infrastructure. About 14 billion roubles are planned to be channeled for the program from Nizhny Novgorod enterprises and private companies.

Alexander Sokolov noted that the development of the state-private partnership in culture is a promising direction. In his view, the Gorodets project may be put on the list of pilot towns, where the cultural heritage support model will be practiced. “Towns already prove their unique attractiveness for the tourism business and may be targets of massive investments,” the culture minister said.

Gorodets, where not more than 50,000 people live now, is dated back in the twelfth century. Grand Prince Yuri Dolgoruky (Long-Handed) founded the town, Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky deceased in the town. About 200 cultural heritage sites are situated in the district. Gorodets is called the Nizhny Novgorod museum capital and the homeland of many crafts, including famous Gorodets frescos and gingerbreads.

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, December 9 (Itar-Tass)