In the Middle Ages Torzhok was considered the key to Novgorod as whoever controlled Torzhok controlled Novgorod’s imports of grain and thereby exerted great influence over the republic. It later became an important stop-off point on the journey between St Petersburg and Moscow and the likes of Aleksandr Pushkin stayed here en route several times. The introduction of the railway ended this status and now Torzhok is a sleepy provincial city, but thanks to its surviving old buildings it has been named a Historical City of Russia.