The city of Vladimir is located 180 km north-east of Moscow, on the banks of the Klyazma River. It is the administrative center of the Vladimir region. Population 339.8 thousand people (2009). Vladimir enters gold ring of Russia and is popular tourist center Russia.
History of the city of Vladimir
The ancient Russian city of Vladimir was founded in 990 by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. In history, he was known as Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko. In 1108, Prince Vladimir Monomakh made the city a stronghold for the defense of the Rostov-Suzdal principality from the south and east. A fortress was erected. From the south it was protected by the Klyazma River, from the north - by the Lybed River, and from the west and east there were deep ravines. During the reign of Yuri Dolgoruky's son, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality was moved to the city of Vladimir. It was the city's heyday. Palaces and temples were erected, construction was underway. V Suzdal and Vladimir formed an all-Russian school of icon painting.
In 1238 the city suffered greatly from the invasion of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. In 1293 he was ravaged by Duden's army. These invasions have been repeated over the years. At the beginning of the 18th century, the city was the center of the province. Its construction was carried out in the style of classicism. The city is being reborn. After the 1917 revolution, most of the monuments were reconstructed. Vladimir is famous for its sights. Dmitrievsky and Uspensky cathedrals are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Sights of the city of Vladimir
Among the sights of the city there are monuments of church architecture, numerous museums.
Golden Gate in the city of Vladimir
The main street of the old city is Moskovskaya. In its western part in the 12th century were built Golden Gate... Unfortunately, the silver gates installed in the eastern part have not survived. The Golden Gate was built for 10 years during the reign of Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky. The walls of the gate are made in the form of a powerful hewn box white stone... And its inside is filled with large debris rocks and a strong lime mortar. The gate was part of the fortress's defensive system. The platform, which is now an observation deck, used to be a combat one. They fired at enemies from it, threw stones. One more observation deck named "Old Vladimir" is located on Kozlovy Val - the southern fortification of the city.
Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir
One of the main squares of the city of Vladimir is Cathedral Square. There is a monument in honor of the 850th anniversary of the city of Vladimir. This is a truncated three-sided pyramid of white stone. It depicts milestones in the history of Vladimir in the form of allegories. On the Cathedral Square the entrance to Assumption Cathedral.
The cathedral is a complex of buildings from different periods, the first of which began to be built in 1158. It was the burial vault of many representatives of the Vladimir Grand Duke's house. Initially, the Assumption Cathedral was small and single-domed. The fire of 1185 destroyed almost all of the interior decoration of the temple. Only the external painting of the temple in the form of peacocks (symbols of the Resurrection) and the prophets holding scrolls with texts glorifying the Mother of God have survived to this day. Under Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, the area of the cathedral doubled. There was a new altar and galleries around the temple, the interior frescoes were updated. The cathedral became five-domed. After the fire of 1238, the decoration Assumption Cathedral had to be restored again. In 1408, Prince Vasily Dmitrievich decided to update the frescoes of the cathedral. The work was carried out by the 38-year-old monk Andrei Rublev and his friend Daniil Cherny. They painted almost the entire cathedral. The cathedral is the most a large number of frescoes by the genius artist of the Middle Ages Andrei Rublev. His merit is the painting of the huge iconostasis, the icons of which are now in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Russian Museum.
Dmitrievsky Cathedral in the city of Vladimir
Dmitrievsky Cathedral was founded in 1194 at the direction of Vsevolod the Big Nest. A feature of the temple is the sculptural decorations that adorn the walls of the temple. There are more than 600 bas-reliefs depicting stories from the life of King David, as well as images of mythical animals and plants. Some of the reliefs have disappeared from the walls of the temple. Some have been replaced with new ones. In the center of the composition of each facade is depicted the son of King David - King Solomon, who is the ideal for a wise ruler. On the northern facade, facing the city, we see the figure of a man holding a child in his arms - the image of Vsevolod the Big Nest and his son Vladimir. On the southern facade there is a bas-relief "Ascension of Alexander the Great", and on the west - the image of Hercules, borrowed from Greek mythology.
The interior of the cathedral is interesting for fragments of the frescoes "The Last Judgment" and "Paradise", "Procession of the Righteous to Paradise", as well as icons. Here is the most famous of them, brought from Thessaloniki, depicting St. Dmitry Thessaloniki.
For tourists, admirers of church architecture, attractions such as Rozhdestvensky monastery, The Building of Public Places, as well as the Knyagin's Cathedral and Gostiny Dvory; churches Cover on the Nerl, Nikita the Martyr and the Holy Trinity. There are many museums in the city that will tell guests about the culture and history of the city.
The cities of the Golden Ring of Russia are Rostov the Great, Sergiev Posad, Yaroslavl, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Ivanovo, Suzdal, Kostroma and, of course, Vladimir. All these cities have managed to preserve the historical exhibits of Russian culture.
Every person should definitely visit all these great places, see the monuments of Russian history and feel this inspiring atmosphere. Further in the article there will be a basic description of the cities of the Golden Ring and their attractions, which are no less interesting than.
Rostov
This city is the richest in terms of historical values among all eight cities of the Golden Ring. It contains important cultural monuments not only of Russian, but also of European history.
The most popular sights and monuments of culture and architecture are the Rostov Kremlin, the ensemble of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery, the Rostov bells and the Avraamiev Epiphany monastery.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Sergiev Posad
Historically important structures of Russian culture were not even erected in the 18th century, but were built over the course of the 14th-17th centuries. That is, the Trinity Cathedral and the Lavra ensemble built around it are among the oldest historical structures in Russia.
It is also worth visiting such sights of Sergiev Posad as the Assumption Cathedral and the Spiritual Church.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Yaroslavl
This is the oldest of the cities that were built on the banks of the great Russian Volga River. The main and most ancient attraction of this place is called the Spassky Monastery, namely the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral.
It was built at the beginning of the 15th century. Another important monument of ancient Russian culture is the Church of the Prophet Elijah.
Pereslavl-Zalessky
This city is one of best places for creative people, as it is located on the shore beautiful lake Pleshcheyevo. The city is very rich in various monasteries, for example: Nikolsky, Feodorovsky, Sretensky Novodevichy, Nikitsky and Holy Trinity Danilov monasteries.
Diversity is also presented in the form of many museums of architecture, art activities and economic culture. Ancient Rus.
Ivanovo
This city reflects the revolutionary history of Russia like no other. The number of monuments is amazing, since their number is second only to the capital and St. Petersburg. Ivanovo is also famous for its developed textile infrastructure.
The oldest sights of the city are the Shchudrovskaya tent, erected in the 17th century, and the Assumption Church, made not of stone, but of wood, built at the end of the same century, but, unfortunately, it burned down in 2015.
The cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Suzdal
A feature, a highlight of this city, undoubtedly, is architectural complex Suzdal Kremlin. It is believed that the Kremlin itself was erected in the 10th century and is called the most the oldest building cities.
The Kremlin ensemble consists of such sights as the Nikolskaya Church, the Bishops' Chambers and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin.
Kostroma
The city preserves the memory of the reign of Catherine II, in the form of a construction plan approved by the empress. The main attractions of Kostroma are the ensembles of the famous Ipatievsky Monastery and Susaninskaya Square.
The first complex includes the chambers of the Romanovs themselves, as well as the Trinity Cathedral, the Belfry, the Bishops 'and Brothers' corps, the walls and turrets of the Old City. By the way, here all the year round you can visit Terem and the Residence of the Snow Maiden, from which all the children are delighted.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Vladimir
Undoubtedly, this city can be called a saint. Since the number of white-stone buildings is large enough. The main attractions of Vladimir are the Golden Gate and the Assumption Cathedral. And also the no less important white-stone Dmitrievsky Cathedral.
The cities of the Golden Ring of Russia reflect the culture and spirit of Ancient Rus. To appreciate and feel all the greatness of Russian history, you must personally visit each of these eight cities.
Russia is extremely rich in sights. The centuries-old history, powerful culture and distinctive cities make up the true glory of the country. To obtain general idea about the specifics of Russian culture, it is worth seeing at least Small Golden ring Russia. The list of cities included in the itinerary may vary from agency to agency, but traditionally it includes the eight greatest Russian settlements.
What is the Golden Ring
The Big and Small Golden Ring of Russia are tourist routes through ancient Russian cities. appeared in the 60s of the 20th century, when the mass tourism of Soviet citizens across the expanses of their homeland began. The author of the name was journalist Yuri Bychkov, who in 1967 published in the newspaper "Soviet Culture" a series of literary and artistic essays about the cities of Ancient Rus. Later, this name was officially assigned to the route through the famous cities.
Route features
The specificity of the route lies in the fact that there is no single list of cities included in it, and the exact sequence of their inspection. Differences start from the starting point. Where does the Small Golden Ring of Russia route start from? St. Petersburg or Moscow are the starting points for the Big Ring. Small, however, usually begins in Sergiev Posad or Vladimir. A feature of the route is also not only the ability to make a circular movement from city to city, but also radial exits from large cities. For example, you can stay in Suzdal and from there go to Kideksha and Yuryev-Polsky. Almost all famous cities participating in the Golden Ring have such outstanding satellites.
List of cities
The Small Golden Ring of Russia route, the list of cities for which differs slightly in each agency, traditionally includes eight main ancient Russian capitals. These are Vladimir, Rostov the Great, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Suzdal, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Sergiev Posad.
However, the route may additionally include small towns such as Aleksandrov, Bogolyubovo, Ples, Uglich. Some agencies refuse to visit Ivanovo, the historical and cultural significance of which is significantly lower than other capital cities of the Russian principalities. Sometimes routes are built around two or three nearby cities and their environs. For example, in the vicinity of Vladimir there are 23 more cities of significant interest to tourists.
Vladimir
The Maloye Golden Ring of Russia route, whose cities are the pearls of Russian culture, often starts from Vladimir. It was founded by the Grand Duke in 990. The development of the city is associated with the names of Vladimir Monomakh and Andrey Bogolyubsky. The main attractions not to be missed are the Golden Gate and the Assumption Cathedral, an outstanding monument of ancient Russian architecture. Several frescoes by Andrei Rublev have survived in the church.
In total, 10 monasteries and churches of different historical periods have survived in the city, which are the pride of Russian culture. These are the Dmitrievsky Cathedral and the Nativity Monastery, the Trinity Old Believer Church and other buildings. Vladimir is interesting because on its territory there are more than 200 cultural monuments of different significance, some of them are included in the UNESCO list. There are many legends about the city, they tell about how the Golden Gate was created, that a ghost lives in the governor's house and that not a single successful escape was made from the Vladimir Central. The city captivates with its architecture of different periods and special atmosphere.
Pereslavl-Zalessky
This ancient Russian city is included in the Small Golden Ring of Russia route thanks to its ancient monasteries. There are 6 of them in the city, 4 of them are active. The complexes of monasteries are magnificent examples of ancient Russian temple architecture, and they can be used to study the history of Russian architecture. The city is located on the shore, which itself is a landmark. It is about 30 thousand years old, its depth is 25 meters, and its area is 50 square meters. km. Not far from the city lies the Blue Stone, this 12-ton boulder reflects the sky and is shrouded in a number of mysteries and myths. Interestingly, the stone is not covered with snow, next to it there is a Wish-fulfilling Tree. Legends say that the stone moves in a particular direction. The city fascinates with its regularity and tradition of life, here the peculiarities of the Russian character are revealed in the best possible way.
Suzdal
Another outstanding city included in the Small Golden Ring of Russia route is Suzdal. This quietest city has retained the spirit of Ancient Russia, there are no high-rise buildings and noisy highways, you can endlessly wander along the narrow streets, breathing in the "air of deep antiquity." The Spaso-Efimievsky Monastery is over 600 years old; on its territory you can see 30 cathedrals from different historical periods.
There are 5 monasteries in Suzdal, the most interesting museum wooden architecture, in which you can see the buildings of ancient masters, created without a single nail. Suzdal, which is almost 1000 years old, keeps many architectural monuments of the 12-19th centuries. Every July there is a unique and very funny Cucumber Festival. And the city is also a recognized center for the production of mead; there is a plant here that produced this drink for the royal table.
Kostroma
A tour of the Small Golden Ring of Russia would be incomplete without a visit to Kostroma. This ancient city on the Volga is considered the birthplace of Ivan Susanin and is proud of its history. Kostroma was founded in 1152 by Yuri Dolgoruky. The city gained particular fame during the Time of Troubles, when the heir to the throne, Mikhail Romanov, was rescued from the Poles by Ivan Susanin and hidden in the Ipatiev Monastery. In subsequent years, Kostroma enjoyed the special favor of the royal family. Two outstanding monastic complexes have survived in the city: Ipatievsky and Epiphany. Kostroma is considered here even to have her tower, which is visited with pleasure by children and adults. Unhurried walks along the Volga give Kostroma a special charm, the ship offers magnificent views of this ancient city.
Yaroslavl
The route of the Golden Ring of Russia (Big and Small) necessarily runs through ancient city Yaroslavl. The settlement in this place existed in the Neolithic era. But the formation of the city is associated with the name of Yaroslav the Wise. There is a legend about the appearance of the city - here, supposedly, Prince Yaroslav defeated the bear; in honor of this event, the city's coat of arms is decorated with a bear with an ax. Historians doubt this version and say that the city was founded by a completely different prince with the same name. The oldest attraction in the city is the Transfiguration Cathedral in the Spassky Monastery, which dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. The churches of Elijah the Prophet and John the Baptist are the subject of special pride of the city; they are outstanding examples of the famous Yaroslavl architectural school. The unique Tolgsky Monastery has been operating in the city since the 14th century and is one of the oldest in Russia. Ancient churches and buildings in Yaroslavl are at every turn, the city preserves the atmosphere of antiquity, many historical films were filmed on its streets.
Sergiev Posad
The Small Golden Ring of Russia route often starts from the city of Sergiev Posad, which is located on a convenient route from Moscow. The main attraction of the city is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, one of the oldest stauropegic monasteries in Russia. It was founded in 1337, Ivan the Terrible was baptized here, and the history of the monastery is closely connected with Russian history.
The city is also proud of the magnificent old Ilyinsky Church, which stands on the bank of the Kelarsky pond. Pilgrims are attracted by the miraculous one, which is not only a masterpiece of ancient Russian architecture, but also a place for prayers and fulfillment of requests for healing. A miracle of nature is the Key in the suburb of Sergiev Posad. The city is considered the heart of Russian Orthodoxy, and there is a special spirit of faith and grace.
Rostov the Great
Rostov Veliky is a real gem of the Small Golden Ring of Russia route. Reviews of tourists about visiting this city are filled with delight and vivid emotions. Indeed, the city has something to show.
Founded by Rostov in 862, it has always played a prominent role in the life of the Russian state. More than 300 survived in the city historical monuments different eras... Tourists are especially interested in visiting the ancient white-stone Rostov Kremlin. Also, several of the oldest Russian monasteries continue to operate in the city. Extraordinary views can be photographed on the shores of Lake Nero, which is more than 500 thousand years old. Interesting: in Rostov there is an unusual Museum of Jam and the Museum of the Frog Princess.
Many people living in Russia, and in other countries, know that there is the Golden Ring of Russia, and many would also like to visit cities that fit in the Golden Ring. But few people know what these cities are and thanks to which they were placed in the Golden Ring of Russia.
What it is?
The Golden Ring of Russia is called a route created for tourists, it connects oldest cities Russia, these cities are historical value for Russia, they also carry cultural heritage Russia, these cities are the oldest and rarest of their kind monuments. Among the many cities, there are eight main ones. Cities belong to the territory of Moscow and neighboring regions:
- Pereslavl-Zalessky;
- Sergiev Posad;
- Yaroslavl;
- Rostov the Great;
- Suzdal;
- Ivanovo;
- Kostroma;
- Vladimir.
There is also controversy over other cities whose heritage is of immense importance to Russia, and it is not uncommon for visits to such cities to be part of some round-the-clock tours.
Back in 1967 a Moscow journalist was sent to make a short report about the city of Suzdal, and the journalist wrote not only about Suzdal, but also about other ancient cities that are located along the Yaroslavl highway. In the article, Yuri Bychkov used the name of the route invented by himself - the Golden Ring of Russia.
To all travelers in the beautiful country of Russia just need to make a visit to the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia. The frescoes of the Assumption Cathedral are only a small part of all the architectural structures of Ancient Russia.
Traveling a long route
We propose to consider in more detail this tourist route. To begin with, it should be noted some terminology features. The specificity of the tourism business gives rise to many names for tourist routes.
Without going into details, we note that initially there are eight cities in the Golden Ring. This route is classic, but now it is often called the Small Golden Circle.
It is not difficult to understand, if there is a small ring, then there is also a large... Indeed, such a route exists and includes about twenty cities. Moreover, the composition of this route may vary, there is no such accuracy as the classic version.
What's in the extended lineup?
Each city is interesting in its own way, let's note the most interesting sights of the cities of the Big Golden Ring.
Let's start with most ancient monastery in Russia preserved from 1371.
This building is located in the long-suffering Uglich, which was repeatedly completely burned down and although it is one of the most ancient cities (the first mentions in 900 AD), it has mainly preserved the buildings of the 16th century, in addition to the previously mentioned Alekseevsky Monastery.
Let's continue in Veliky Ustyug, which is also sometimes referred to as the Great Golden Ring. Of course, it is most interesting to go here with children, who will be able to visit Santa Claus in winter and summer. Although adults are also interested here: there are more than enough beautiful churches, as they say, and in addition there is an opportunity to purchase magnificent handicrafts made of silver, birch bark and other materials.
If we further talk about living attractions, such as Santa Claus, then we should continue with the so-called Rostov bells... This term refers to bell ringing different churches and cathedrals that have amazing sound.
In almost every city on the route there are magnificent Orthodox monasteries... There is an amazing, pacifying atmosphere, if you are limited in time, you can visit only the main ones (believe me, you will have enough positive impressions):
- the Paraclite deserts and the Chernigov temple not far from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra;
- Goritsky, Danilov, Fedorovsky, Nikitsky monasteries in Pereslavl-Zalessky;
- Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery in Yaroslavl;
- Ipatievsky in Kostroma.
Undoubtedly, in Sergiev Posad you should see the work of Andrei Rublev.
Popular travel options
There are several options for traveling along the Golden Circle. Some people generally prefer to hitchhike. Basic options the following:
- by car;
- on buses alone or as part of a tourist trip;
- to hitchhike;
- on trains;
- cruise along the Volga (in summer).
The most interesting and convenient options car trip and cruise look. We will consider these options further.
Want to hitchhike? Useful Tips especially for you - in the next one.
By car by yourself
The car option is attractive because of the ability to choose a route. Try whenever possible make a route in such a way that for each city you have about two days to stay. When it comes to accommodation, there are quite a few affordable options.
Of course, the possibilities of such a trip would be practically endless if it were not for the characteristic feature of Russia - the quality of the roads.
Federal highways are not everywhere, and roads are not ideal for your car. This fact when planning a route should be considered and choose the most convenient tracks for you.
For example, not the most people lead to Pereslavl-Zalessky and Veliky Rostov best roads... If the suspension of your car is not a standard of strength, it is quite possible to go from Sergiev Posad to Yaroslavl, but first things first. For example, let's take a classic route.
The first point is Sergiev Posad, from which to Pereslavl-Zalessky about seventy kilometers. Nevertheless, at least two hours should be allocated for the road, due to the quality of the track. This is followed by Veliky Rostov to which there is not much more than sixty kilometers from the previous point, but here again you should give a margin in time.
From Rostov the Great the path runs to Yaroslavl, is replete with traffic police posts and is about 60 kilometers. From here the road leads to the cozy Kostroma, which is located 86 kilometers away, and then a little over a hundred kilometers to the city of weavers Ivanovo.
Although the roads to Ivanovo are of tolerable quality, traffic inspectors, who in this city are actively interested in visitors from other regions, may be inconvenient, perhaps guarding their maidens for marriage.
Now we have to go to Suzdal - one of the most interesting cities on the route, about eighty kilometers from Ivanovo. Completes the journey the road from Suzdal to Vladimir, which is a little more than 30 kilometers and differs high quality.
Boat cruise
As well as in the previous version, here tourists can vary the content of the route... Some travel companies offer only eight "classic" cities, others in every possible way complement the trip with other cities and attractions. To the delight of tourists, almost completely the cities of the route are framed by rivers, motor ships ply along the rivers:
- Volga;
- Moscow;
- Oka.
Accordingly, which trip to choose depends entirely on you. As a rule, Moscow tour operators offer more interesting and varied options, but then you need to go to Moscow, where the cruises start. At the same time, it is quite possible to start a journey from other cities that have their own river ports, for example, from or or Yaroslavl.
V excursion program some cities from the main route are always included, which can be supplemented by others ancient cities Russia. For example, travel often includes Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan or Kasimov.
It should be noted that there are various thematic tours, which are much more interesting to ride.
Of course, for a long two or more week trip, you can fully explore the cities of the route and learn a lot of new things, but often it is possible to spend no more than a week on a cruise, or even less. Then we advise you to choose a thematic tour that is dedicated to a specific area, some historical events or has an interesting specifics.
If you evaluate attractiveness of cruises, then they, of course, represent almost the best option for summer tourism. Traveling along rivers creates a certain atmosphere and allows you to better experience the route.
Small Tour Guided Tour - Classic Eight
As mentioned earlier, this term refers to the classic "eight" cities.
One of the most enticing cities- Sergiev Posad, he was also given the name "Russian Vatican". Sergiev Posad attracts with its history, directly related to religion. But in turn, he is indebted to the Trinity Monastery. Since the construction of the Trinity Monastery was the reason for the construction of the city of Sergiev Posad.
Also one curious city is Pereslavl-Zalessky. V modern times it is a large industrial city, but it never ceases to attract a lot of people.
It attracts with its unhurried life, comfort and silence. In this city there are monasteries, erected in the 14-17 centuries: Goritsky Uspensky, Troitsky Danilov, Fedorovsky, Nikitsky monasteries.
Many monuments are in the city of Ivanovo, in the year there are architectural structures of many eras, they are not as well known as in other cities of the Golden Ring, but they also attract a large number of people with their antiquity. Ivanovo is also known as the “city of brides”.
Rostov the Great is a city-museum. Although many have not been there, they have repeatedly seen the Rostov Kremlin, because it was there that Gaidai's famous comedy about Ivan Vasilevich was filmed. In addition to the Kremlin, there is a huge number of attractions, many of which are more than a thousand years old.
Yaroslavl considered one of the most beautiful cities route. In the center of the city there is a huge number of buildings from the 16th century. You could also see the sights of this city without visiting the city, since a bill of one thousand rubles is dedicated to Yaroslavl.
Suzdal was previously major center crafts and trade, although now it is difficult to imagine this, because the city is home to no more than a couple of tens of thousands of people. Numerous historical buildings are the only evidence of its former greatness. A considerable number of films were filmed here and an excellent mead is made.
Vladimir is home to several magnificent 12th century cathedrals and magnificent ancient gates. The city is protected by UNESCO.
In Kostroma many architectural ensembles the era of the middle ages. The central part of the city includes ancient temples and monasteries. The city is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the Moscow region.
Which city is the most beautiful?
It is difficult to name any specific city, because each is distinctive and unique, and in the aesthetic sphere there are no such precise definitions. Here, it looks more relevant to focus on personal preferences.
For example, for someone more beautiful cozy and sparsely populated Suzdal, which lacks tall buildings. Someone like big cities in which it is possible to feel the majesty of Russia, for example, Vladimir, which was previously the capital of an ancient state.
An overview of the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - in the following video:
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