Novigrad



Novigrad is a free city within Redania and 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.

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: Wild Hunt. 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 Redaniam 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 Giancardi Bank
 * Inns and taverns:
 * The Spear Blade
 * Hen Cerbin
 * Brothels:
 * Passiflora brothel
 * Other buidings:
 * 19 lombards
 * Manufactories of crackowes and broadcloth
 * Port cranes
 * The Borsodis' Auction House
 * Gnomish Invention Factory
 * Guardhouse

Novigrad plays a central role in The Witcher 3 and is fully explorable, it is part of the main region. 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.


 * Novigrad is only mentioned in passing in the original game. In Chapter I, one of the travellers walking on the roads recognizes Geralt, and comments how the witcher helped him with some garkains in Novigrad several years prior. However, he could not pay the witcher for his services at the time. Having recognized Geralt, he gives him 100.

The seventh episode, Dolina Kwiatów ("The Valley of Flowers"), begins in Novigrad.