Golden Ring of Russia cities, attractions, history, photos
Golden Ring of Russia - famous a tourist route, which includes 8 ancient Russian cities. These are Vladimir, Rostov Veliky, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Suzdal, Sergiev Posad and Pereslavl-Zalessky.
Such ancient cities as Moscow, Murom, Alexandrov, Gus-Khrustalny and others are also attributed to the Golden Ring, but their involvement in the route is controversial, so only the 8 above-mentioned cities are traditionally considered “golden” cities.
The Golden Ring of Russia is the unofficial name of the famous route. It first appeared in 1967, when journalist Yuri Bychkov wrote a series of essays about ancient cities Russia and combined them into one common name, which has since become popular among tourists. The author of the sensational term is no longer alive, but his “brainchild” still attracts millions of tourists every year.
Trips along the Golden Ring of Russia for travelers are an exclusive opportunity to see several magnificent pearls of our country at once. Moreover, bus tours around the Golden Ring of Russia are in greatest demand. Such tours allow you to see not only the sights of amazing Russian cities up close, but also use the services of a guide.
Excursions along the Golden Ring help to better understand the history of such a great power as Russia, to experience it from the moment it turned from a pagan country into a Christian one. Several centuries later, the era of feudal fragmentation led to the Mongol-Tatar invasion, and centuries later the unification of Russian lands contributed to the overthrow of the yoke and the liberation of the country. The princely title changed to royal, royal to imperial. Much water has passed under the bridge over the past millennium, but the sights of the golden eight cities easily restore the chain of events of rich Russian history.
That is why tours along the Golden Ring will be an amazing revelation for tourists, helping them to love and understand all the power and beauty of the country, which acquired the glory of an invincible power and which neither Napoleon nor Hitler could break.
1. Vladimir
The majestic Vladimir was built at the beginning of the 12th century on the initiative of Vladimir Monomakh, who decided that he could not find a better place than on the banks of the Klyazma River to build a defensive fortress. However, Monomakh did not have time to complete the construction of the fortress, so after his death the work was continued by his grandson Andrei Bogolyubsky. Thanks to the efforts of Bogolyubsky, the famous city became not only a defensive fortress, but also the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. This was the time of growth and prosperity of Vladimir as a large trading and craft city.
During the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the city was burned almost to the ground and rebuilt stone by stone by the Russians. This did not prevent Vladimir from becoming a city with a unique cultural heritage in the form ancient monuments architecture and ancient Russian architecture, which are very popular among Russians and European tourists, visiting Vladimir.
Famous Golden Gate
At the beginning of the last millennium, these gates served as triumphal arch, served as the main front entrance to the Russian city, and were also part of a defensive fortress that protected the city from enemies. Now they are painted white, but at the time of Andrei Bogolyubsky, who built them, they were golden and shone dazzlingly in the sun.
White stone Assumption Cathedral
Andrei Bogolyubsky also had a hand in the construction of the cathedral. For a long time, the temple served as a place where Russian princes were married. The Assumption Cathedral was erected in record time - literally in three years, but after a fire that happened a quarter of a century after its construction, it was subjected to a thorough reconstruction. After the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the temple again underwent reconstruction. In the 15th century, Andrei Rublev himself restored the frescoes there. However, the restoration of the Assumption Cathedral did not end there: the cathedral was repaired several times and today is not only the cathedral of the Vladimir Metropolis, but also a museum of ancient Russian architecture.
Dmitrievsky Cathedral
The ancient Dmitrievsky Cathedral was built at the end of the 12th century by Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. The cathedral is popular due to its white stone carvings, which have been preserved almost in their original form. The frescoes of the Last Judgment, painted under Vsevolod, have also survived to this day.
2. Rostov Veliky
The first mention of Rostov dates back to the 9th century, when it was recorded in chronicles. Historians are inclined to believe that the city was named Rostov in honor of a prince named Rost, but this is just a guess. Glory came to Rostov in the 10th century, when Yaroslav the Wise began to reign in the city. It was from the time of his reign that the prosperity and development of the city began. The flourishing was largely facilitated by the active trade conducted between merchants.
In the 13th century, Rostov became one of the first cities in which stone buildings began to be erected. But, like other cities of the Golden Eight, it suffered greatly as a result of the Mongol-Tatar invasion and only after the overthrow of the yoke it again turned into a rich and prosperous city.
The Rostov Kremlin is the most striking landmark of Rostov
In the 17th century, during the years of its construction, the Rostov Kremlin served as the metropolitan court, but already in the 18th century it lost its functions after the metropolitan court moved to Yaroslavl and was almost sent for demolition. The iconic building (better known to us from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession”) was saved by a miracle.
The Kremlin was restored and turned into a museum in the 19th century. Today the Rostov Kremlin consists of 11 towers and adjacent architectural structures, among which are the Assumption Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Senya and other monuments.
3. Kostroma
The Golden Ring of Russia also includes the city of Kostroma. Kostroma was founded in the middle of the 12th century and its formation as a city is associated with the reign of Yuri Dolgoruky. At first, Dolgoruky ordered the construction of a defensive fortress on the Kostroma River, but later a whole city arose next to the fortress, in which trade began to be actively conducted. Kostroma was built entirely of wood and therefore burned more than once. The fires stopped when the Russians learned to build houses from stone.
Kostroma became the refuge of the future Tsar of Russia. In the Ipatiev Monastery, young Mikhail Romanov, who became the founder of the Romanov dynasty, which existed until 1917, hid from boyar disgrace. It was there that the boyars bowed their heads before him and called on him to put an end to the Troubles, forgive them and return to Moscow as God’s anointed king.
Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery
The monastery, which became a temporary home for Mikhail and his mother, was built in the 14th century by the Tatar Murza Chet, who, having escaped from the Mongol-Tatars, asked for shelter from the Russian prince and was baptized under the name Zacharias. Zachary was seriously ill, but was healed after he saw a prophetic dream in which the Mother of God herself appeared before him. In gratitude, the man built the Ipatiev Monastery.
The monastery was rebuilt during the time of Boris Godunov, it became stone and acquired a modern appearance. Boris Godunov personally donated villages to the monastery and allocated cash for restoration.
Monument to Ivan Susanin
In the 19th century, a monument to Tsar Mikhail and the national hero Ivan Susanin, who gave his life for saving Tsar Mikhail during the Time of Troubles, was built in Kostroma. During his disgrace, Mikhail and his mother hid in Domnino. A Polish-Lithuanian detachment was looking for them. The young heir to the throne was ordered to be taken prisoner. However, the Poles did not know the exact location of the future king and asked the peasant for directions. Ivan Susanin was not at a loss and led the detachment away from Mikhail’s refuge, having managed to warn his relative about the danger approaching the king. A relative of Susanin conveyed this news to the king. Mikhail and his mother managed to escape and hide in the Ipatiev Monastery. As for Susanin, when the Poles and Lithuanians realized that they had been fooled by an ordinary peasant, they began to cruelly torture and torture him. Susanin was adamant and did not reveal the location of the royal persons, for which he paid with his life.
After the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty, the monument was completely destroyed by revolutionaries, but half a century later it was rebuilt. This time the sculptors erected a monument to only one Ivan Susanin. This monument is the national pride of Kostroma.
4. Yaroslavl
The ancient city was founded in 1010 by Yaroslav the Wise and, of course, was named after this great prince. In the same year, Yaroslav passed away, but the Yaroslavl Kremlin, founded at the intersection of the Kotorosl and Volga rivers, became the beginning of grandiose construction. During the Mongol-Tatar invasion, Yaroslavl, unlike other cities included in the Golden Ring of Russia, was not damaged. This is due to the fact that at the beginning of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, one of the relatives of the Khan of the Golden Horde began to rule Yaroslavl, and the city began to prosper and develop.
Yaroslavl endured the Time of Troubles - the troops of False Dmitry II, who decided to seize power in the country, stayed there, and later the people's troops of the second militia of Pozharsky and Minin were stationed in the city, which defeated the Polish invaders. After the Time of Troubles, Yaroslavl began to develop rapidly, and various crafts were especially developed.
But during the years of Soviet power the city suffered greatly: during civil war many houses burned down, a large number of people were killed and many historical monuments were destroyed.
The grandiose restoration of the city and economy began after the Great Patriotic War, during which there were also casualties and destruction.
Spaso-Preobra convent
One of the oldest monasteries built in Yaroslavl was Spaso-Preobrazhensky. It was founded in the 12th century and for a long time remained the main spiritual abode of Orthodox Russians. In the 13th century, the Transfiguration Cathedral was built, then the Holy Gate, the Church of the Nativity of Christ, the belfry and other buildings and churches were built. In the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the people's militia received a blessing when they set out to save the country from the Polish-Lithuanian intervention. In the same monastery, young Mikhail Romanov signed his first letter of consent to become Tsar of Russia.
Now the monastery houses a state museum-reserve.
In addition to the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery and the Yaroslavl Kremlin, “cold churches” built in the 17th century are very popular among tourists - these are the churches of Elijah the Prophet, John Chrysostom, John the Baptist and others. And, in principle, the whole city consists of only attractions - there are over 700 of them in the city, so one day is not enough for tourists to see all the treasures of ancient Yaroslavl.
5. Ivanovo
The young city, famous for its beautiful brides and rich variety of textiles, first made its presence known in 1608, when it was recorded in the chronicle. At that time it was still just a fragile village, but it had already found itself in the thick of events during the Time of Troubles. A camp of Polish interventionists was located in Ivanovo. During the revolutionary years (at the beginning of the 20th century), a revolutionary camp was formed here. But it was not the rich history that became the adornment of the city, but the engineering enterprises and textile factories that made the city a Russian celebrity.
Shchudrovskaya tent
The Shchudrovskaya tent is one of the oldest monuments preserved in Ivanovo. Appearing in the 17th century as an order tent, the building today is a local history museum. It is an excellent example of stone construction from the 17th century.
Revolutionary monuments
The monument to the fighters of the 1905 revolution and the Krasnaya Talka memorial are the main attractions of the city. Despite their “youth”, the monuments became a vivid reminder of the feat of working youth who decided to overthrow the tsarist government and liberate the country.
6. Suzdal
The founding of Suzdal is associated with the name of Prince Vladimir Monomakh. It was Vladimir who began the construction of a defensive fortress on the Kamenka River, which became the beginning of the construction of a beautiful and amazing city, which received official status only in the 18th century under Catherine II. Vladimir Monomakh fell in love with Suzdal and poured his soul into the majestic Suzdal Kremlin he created. He also built the Assumption Cathedral, which, although restored several times, preserved ancient frescoes from the time of the Mongol-Tatar invasion and the Time of Troubles.
Yuri Dolgoruky continued the work started by his father. Under him, Suzdal acquired the status of a spiritual center of Orthodox Christians. During the years of the Mongol-Tatar yoke and the Time of Troubles, the city was severely destroyed, but quickly recovered from its losses and became a city-reserve.
Suzdal Kremlin
The Kremlin is crowned by the Nativity Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church and the Bishop's Chambers. As already noted, the Suzdal Kremlin was founded by Vladimir Monomakh. At first it was a log fortress with towers, surrounded by ditches and earthen ramparts; later construction of the main architectural structures of the Kremlin began. The stone Suzdal Kremlin and churches, earthen ramparts and ditches remaining from ancient times have survived to this day.
An excursion with a visit to the Shchurov settlement is very popular. This popularity is largely due to the release of Pavel Lungin’s historical film “The Tsar,” which attracted the attention of television viewers to the settlement of the ancient Slavs due to the wooden scenery installed film crew during the filming process.
No less amazing place The Pokrovsky Convent is considered to be the refuge of many famous historical figures who were sent to prison for political reasons. Among the most famous are the wives of Vasily III and Ivan the Terrible, who fell into disgrace due to the fault of their crowned spouses.
7. Sergiev Posad
Sergiev Posad is a city that millions of Orthodox believers dream of visiting. It was founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh back in 1337. As a youth, Bartholomew (the future Saint Sergius of Radonezh) and his brother Stefan settled on the banks of the Konchura River, deliberately making this quiet, deserted place their refuge. Here they built a church in honor of the Trinity and monastic cell. The chronicles say that Dmitry Donskoy himself, going to the famous battle, came to bow and for a blessing to Sergius of Radonezh. The devotees of Radonezh continued his holy work and today this church has turned into the world famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra. And a whole city grew up around the church, officially receiving city status during the reign of the deeply religious Empress Catherine the Great.
16 years after the death of St. Sergius, the monastery was burned to the ground by the Tatar Khan Edigei and restored under Abbot Nikon of Radonezh. From then on, the monastery began to flourish. Under Ivan the Terrible, the monastery began to grow and turned into a powerful fortress, and under Catherine it became a Lavra. Now the Lavra consists of 50 different buildings.
As for the city itself, it arose thanks to rumors spreading at the speed of light about healing miracles occurring in the monastery. Elders, pilgrims and simply believers began to flock to the walls of the monastery and stay here permanently. The next systematic step was the development of trade and crafts, which brought Sergiev Posad closer to receiving city status.
The main and most significant asset of Sergiev Posad, of course, is the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius with a rich historical past. It includes more than a dozen churches, among which are the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Assumption Cathedral, the Church of St. Sergius and other buildings. The future Emperor Peter I hid within the walls of the monastery several times: the first time to escape the Streltsy riot, the second time - from his sister, Princess Sophia.
Remember the famous nesting doll? The birthplace of this wooden doll, beloved by Soviet children, was Sergiev Posad. Meanwhile, although the nesting doll was released only at the beginning of the 20th century, Sergius of Radonezh planed various wooden toys and distributed them to children, thereby blessing the future city for further production of toys.
8. Pereslavl-Zalessky
The fairy-tale city arose on the shore of Lake Pleshcheevo. Its inclusion in the Golden Ring of Russia is not accidental. Yuri Dolgoruky himself (the founder of the capital of Russia - Moscow) had a hand in the construction of this city in 1152. According to the prince's plans, Pereslavl-Zalessky was to become the capital of North-Eastern Rus'. Already in those days, Pereslavl-Zalessky was a city of impressive size, although it was located in a swampy area.
In that amazing city Alexander Nevsky, the famous commander who repelled the attacks of the Swedes, Lithuanians and Germans, was born and reigned. He also managed to establish peaceful relations with the Golden Horde. The people literally idolized the prince and considered him the defender of Rus'. In memory of him, the Alexander Nevsky Church was erected in Pereslavl-Zalessky.
Red Square
Since Pereslavl-Zalessky was to become the capital, it could not do without Red Square. On Red Square there are famous architectural monuments and churches - the same Alexander Nevsky Church, the Transfiguration Cathedral and others.
The Transfiguration Cathedral, like the city itself, was founded by Dolgoruky in 1152; now it is a museum-reserve. Its main advantage is that it has survived to this day in its original form and this differs from other white-stone churches of Rus'. Frescoes dating from the second half of the 12th century were also discovered in it, and the “Transfiguration” icon, painted in the 15th century by Theophanes the Greek, was found.
The decorations of Red Square are the monument to Alexander Nevsky and a huge boulder, which is 2 billion years old and was found on the banks of the Trubezh River. The boulder is better known as the Blue Stone, which fulfills the most cherished desires and heals diseases.
All the oldest Russian cities included in the Golden Ring of Russia are united by a unique history, rich cultural heritage, amazing natural beauty and unique charm, which have preserved the remnants of antiquity, greatness and glory of the Russian state.
The cities of the Golden Ring of Russia are Rostov Veliky, Sergiev Posad, Yaroslavl, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Ivanovo, Suzdal, Kostroma and, of course, Vladimir. All these cities managed to preserve 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 attractions and cultural and architectural monuments 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 buildings of Russian culture were not even erected in the 18th century, but were built throughout the 14th-17th centuries. That is, the Trinity Cathedral and the Lavra ensemble built around it are one of the oldest historical buildings 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
It is the oldest of the cities that were built on the banks of the great Russian river Volga. The main and oldest attraction of this place is called the Spassky Monastery, namely the Transfiguration Cathedral.
It was erected at the beginning of the 15th century. Also an 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 of the beautiful Lake Pleshcheyevo. The city is very rich in various monasteries, for example: Nikolsky, Feodorovsky, Sretensky Novodevichy, Nikitsky and Holy Trinity Danilov Monastery.
Diversity is also presented in the form of many museums of architecture, artistic activity and economic culture of Ancient Rus'.
Ivanovo
This city reflects the revolutionary history of Russia like no other. The number of monuments is amazing, as 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.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Suzdal
The peculiarity and highlight of this city, undoubtedly, is the architectural complex of the Suzdal Kremlin. It is believed that the Kremlin itself was built in the 10th century and is called the most the oldest building cities.
The Kremlin ensemble consists of such landmarks as St. Nicholas Church, 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' buildings, the walls and turrets of the Old City. By the way, here all year round you can visit the Terem and the Snow Maiden’s Residence, which all the children are delighted with.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Vladimir
Undoubtedly, this city can be called holy. Since the number of white stone structures is quite large. The main attractions of Vladimir are the Golden Gate and the Assumption Cathedral. And also the no less important white-stone St. Demetrius Cathedral.
The cities of the Golden Ring of Russia reflect the culture and spirit of Ancient Rus'. To appreciate and feel the greatness of Russian history, you need to personally visit each of these eight cities.
The Golden Ring of Russia is a famous tourist route with a length of more than 1000 kilometers, which passes through the ancient cities of Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow Rus'. The route includes about 20 cities in the Moscow, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Tver regions. Historical and architectural monuments of the 12th-18th centuries are concentrated here, which constitute a treasury of Russian culture. These unique sights are protected by the Russian state and UNESCO. The term “Golden Ring” was attached to this tourist route in the 60s of the last century. Then journalist Yuri Bychkov made a series of essays on the pages of the newspaper Soviet Russia about eight cities northeast of Moscow, which stand out for their rich cultural and historical heritage. Today this phrase, first used in 1967, is widely known in Russia and abroad. The Golden Ring includes eight main cities: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal and Vladimir.
The idea to “ring” ancient Russian cities belongs to the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments. In 1974, the first guidebook “Around the Golden Ring of Russia” was published.
It will take almost a month to complete the entire route. Therefore, it is better to travel around ancient Russian cities on small tourist routes that take 2-3 days. Moscow will be your starting point. The most convenient way, of course, is to travel by own car. Then you will not be tied to a tourist group and will be able to visit those cities and towns along the way that are not included in the traditional route. We assure you that these places are no less attractive for tourists. In addition, this way you can fully enjoy the beauty of the Golden Ring.
Travelers are amazed by the very atmosphere of Russian provincial cities, the lack of fuss and the regularity of life. Wonderful nature pacifies with its discreet beauty. The picturesque places of the Volga coast, the Kotorosl River, Lake Pleshcheevo, and Lake Nero are especially attractive. The nature of central Russia is attractive at any time of the year. There is plenty of space on the banks of rivers and lakes for walks and picnics. All stages of the development of ancient Russian architecture are represented in cities and villages: majestic white-stone churches of the 12th-13th centuries, tent-roofed buildings of the 16th century, buildings of the 17th century, creations of architectural and painting schools of Rostov, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Vladimir.
Numerous historical monuments- fortresses, monasteries and temples, testify to the great importance of each of the cities of the Golden Ring in the ancient and royal periods of history. Each city has its own unique style of ancient architecture. The myriad of Orthodox monasteries, shrines and temples located in this region attracts a large number of pilgrims. And Suzdal and Rostov the Great are real museums under open air. In Suzdal, for example, there are practically no cars. On the streets of the city you will meet mainly pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages. This is a reserve of old, pre-Petrine Rus' with the Kremlin, Pokrovsky and Spaso-Evfimievsky monasteries, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and a museum of wooden architecture.
In addition to architecture and holy places, during your trip you can get acquainted with the folk crafts of the Russian people. Museums in many cities contain examples of ancient artistic crafts: wood and bone carvings, products of skilled lacemakers and jewelers, lacquer miniatures and enamel painting (enamel) and much more.
IN Lately In the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia, the tourism business is intensively developing, so in almost any city you can find excursion services, an acceptable hotel, cafe or restaurant. They say that the best way to understand and experience great Russia, to feel the real Russian soul, is to drive through the historical places of the Golden Ring, see historical monuments with your own eyes, enjoy ancient architecture, art and painting, and see ancient icons of ancient Russian masters.
The most popular excursion route in the country - Gold ring Russia - known far beyond the borders of our homeland. Visit and look at the sights of times ancient Rus' Tens of thousands of foreigners come every year. But even such popularity still cannot answer the main question - how many cities are included in this route?
There are only 8 officially recognized cities of the Golden Ring, but some sources call 12, and some even double this figure. The Vipgeo portal offers you to familiarize yourself with the list of cities of the Golden Ring of Russia and find out what you can see in them?
Sergiev Posad
As soon as Sergiev Posad is called as part of the route - the pearl of the Golden Ring, and its heart, and the unofficial capital. And all these epithets will be true - any organized tour will begin with Sergiev Posad, whether you like it or not.
Of course, the central attraction of the city is the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, which gave its name to the settlement that arose around the monastery of one of the most revered Russian saints. Excursions are held here regularly, and the number of pilgrims and ordinary tourists at any time of the year is so large that in any case you will have to endure queues and other inconveniences.
You can walk around the monastery itself in a couple of days, but the Toy Museum will take you much less time. But it’s worth a visit if you’re interested in the history of this fishery.
Important: Works on the territory of the Lavra own hotel, receiving not only pilgrims, but also tourists. Therefore, if you want to stay in Posad for a few days and learn more interesting things about the monastery, it is better to stay there.
Vladimir
The one who will tell you what to visit old City Vladimir stands only for the Golden Gate of the 12th century - he simply did not study history. Today there are several dozen architectural monuments of federal significance in the city. Among them, in addition to the Gate, there are also UNESCO sites:
The Assumption Cathedral is one of the few churches of pre-Mongol Rus';
Dmitrievsky Cathedral is also an architectural monument of the 12th century.
In addition, on the territory of Vladimir and in its suburbs there are several very specific museums, for example, the museum at the Vladimir Central prison or the interactive exhibition area Borodin's Forge.
What exactly to dedicate your visit to Vladimir - modernity or antiquity - is up to you to decide. But any excursion can harmoniously combine these directions.
Suzdal
Without visiting Suzdal for at least a few hours, it is impossible to visit Vladimir, even if you are exploring the Golden Ring on your own. The cities are 30 km apart from each other, so there will be no problems with logistics.
The core of the city and the key attraction is the Suzdal Kremlin, built, according to the most conservative estimates, in the 10th century. Of course, the Nativity Cathedral and the Bishops' Chambers appeared much later, but the first earthen fortifications date back to the dawn of the Russian state.
Pilgrims and admirers of Orthodox architecture will find plenty of peace in Suzdal - within the city alone there are as many as 6 monasteries, and this takes into account the fact that you can walk from the center to the outskirts in literally an hour.
Among the secular buildings of Suzdal, you should definitely see the Trading Rows and unique Museum wooden architecture.
Rostov Veliky
Everyone knows that Rostov is not only on the Don, but also a little further north - on the route of the Golden Ring. And yes, there is also a Rostov Kremlin here, which is the main point of any excursion. Many people take it from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession,” but few people thought that on its territory there are several important architectural monuments:
Assumption Cathedral of the 16th century and Belfry of the 17th century;
Church of the Savior on Seny;
Church of St. John the Evangelist;
Red Chamber of the 17th century.
Rostov the Great also became famous for its “home” museums - exhibition venues located in historical mansions or in antique-style houses:
Museum of Rostov Merchants;
Museum of the Rostov Enamel Factory;
Horse Gallery;
Lukova Sloboda;
Academy of fish soup “Pike Dvor”;
Craft yard "Firebird".
Pereslavl-Zalessky
For pilgrims, Pereslavl-Zalessky is 4 operating and two more Orthodox monasteries converted into museums. It is deservedly considered the most spiritually rich city of the Golden Ring after Sergiev Posad.
The city's shrines are:
Holy Trinity Monastery;
Nikolsky Monastery;
Feodorovsky Monastery.
But it is the closed monasteries that have always attracted more interest among tourists:
Sretensky Novodevichy Convent;
Goritsky Monastery.
And, like Rostov, Pereslavl has its own thematic museums, which sometimes have no analogues in the world, for example:
Iron Museum;
Teapot Museum;
Kvass Museum;
Tea Museum.
Yaroslavl
There are hardly many cities in the world whose entire areas would be recognized by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage of Humanity, but our Yaroslavl is among them. Historical Center The city is a subject of special protection for the world's defenders of antiquity and at the same time is the main place for all excursions related to the Golden Ring.
Of course, acquaintance with Yaroslavl most often begins with the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, which appeared in the city during the reign of Ivan III. It has reached our time in a fairly reconstructed form, but this has not diminished its value. Many tourists always climb the belfry of the main cathedral to view almost the entire city from its height.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
In addition, particularly valuable architectural monuments of Yaroslavl include:
Gostiny Dvor;
Demidov pillar;
Zatrapeznov Estate;
Vakhrameev mansion;
Rozhkov's house.
At the same time, no one cancels walks along the Volzhskaya embankment, or Strelka, as it is commonly called here. Three key museums of Yaroslavl are within walking distance from it:
Art Museum;
Museum of History;
Museum "Music and Time".
Kostroma
Kostroma was once famous for its Kremlin and the exploits of the legendary Ivan Susanin, but now people come here as part of the Golden Ring of Russia route for peace, Volga landscapes and ancient architecture that survived the turbulent beginning of the 20th century.
Now all official excursions in Sovereign Kostroma begin with a tour of the territory of the Ipatiev Monastery - the pearl of 17th-century architecture. Among the key objects of the monastery:
Chambers of the Romanovs;
Catherine's Gate;
Archimandrite Corps.
The museums of Kostroma are known far beyond the borders of Russia - these are exemplary exhibition complexes from a historical point of view, dedicated to the people's most beloved crafts, famous personalities and even folklore heroes. The following are considered mandatory visits:
Museum of Flax and Birch Bark;
Museum of Peter's Toy;
Museum of Wooden Architecture;
Romanov Museum;
The Snow Maiden's Tower.
Ivanovo
The favorite saying that Ivanovo is the city of brides has already settled so deeply in the minds of any Russian-speaking person that many are beginning to forget about the true historical significance of this place. Of course, sewing factories have long turned into modern factories, but it is not for them that thousands of tourists come here every year.
The specific format of excursions around Ivanovo is a march through museums, including:
Ivanovo Calico Museum;
Museum of the First Council.
But the architectural delights of Ivanovo no longer belong to antiquity, but to the era of industrialization - in the 1930s, the city was actively built up, including experimental projects by outstanding Soviet architects. Tour groups are brought to such objects as:
House-Ship;
House of the Collective;
Horseshoe House;
Regional Bank;
Ivanovo Post Office.
The oldest building in the city, and one of the few pre-revolutionary buildings, is the Shchudrovskaya Tent, built in the 17th century.
Cities included in the Golden Ring
In addition to the main 8 cities of the official Golden Ring of Russia route, the following cities are often included in it:
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Yuriev-Polsky;
Alexandrov;
Gus-Khrustalny;
It is best to visit each of the cities on your own, so as not to be limited in time and in the excursion program.
Is it worth visiting the cities of the Golden Ring during the holidays? (opinion)
You can often see questions on travel forums about whether it is worth going to the popular cities of the Golden Ring of Russia for the holidays - New Year, Christmas and Easter? And no less often are the answers that this is absolutely impossible to do - there are too many people, prices are skyrocketing, etc.
In fact, as those tourists who independently built their travel route by car say, on holidays each of the ancient Russian cities has a unique atmosphere. Yes, there are quite a lot of people, but this is not comparable to the excitement at night sales or the notorious queue at the Mausoleum. Even if many people come to a festive service at the Lavra or any other large temple, no crowds have been observed for the last 10 years.
And about prices, those tourists who are used to eating or living directly in tourist area. Of course, restaurants near the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius or the Rostov Kremlin will be indecently expensive, especially on holidays. But if you literally cross the street, it’s quite possible to find an inexpensive cafe or hotel with reasonable prices. Another thing is whether there will be free places there.
Also, experienced guests of the Golden Ring warn about problems with transport in holidays and weekends - sometimes you have to wait for hours for intercity buses. Therefore, it is worth thinking about a car tour.
Hello friends! In 2017, the Golden Ring of Russia turned 50 years old. For more than half a century we have been traveling around the most beautiful cities, we admire their architectural monuments and the beauty of nature. Many of you have probably been to at least some of them and can tell you a lot of interesting things. historical facts. We are waiting for them in the comments. We will briefly tell you which cities are included in the Golden Ring of Russia and about tourist routes along it. About who came up with the first route and when the first trip took place. There are many worthy cities in Russia. You can travel around the Ring, or you can travel to individual places - those where your heart draws you.
Interesting moment. First, 8 ancient Russian cities were united into a single route:
- Vladimir (Vladimir region)
- Suzdal (Vladimir region)
- Ivanovo (Ivanovo region)
- Kostroma (Kostroma region)
- Rostov Veliky (Yaroslavl region)
- Pereslavl-Zalessky (Yaroslavl region)
- Yaroslavl (Yaroslavl region)
- Zagorsk (Sergiev Posad) (Moscow region)
These cities are located on the same loop route. For a long time this association was called the Golden Ring of Russia. Before Perestroika it included Uglich (9th city).
Then confusion began, and we still did not understand which departments it was connected with. Many worthy cities began to be called the city of the Golden Ring. The list has expanded. This is understandable - in Russia there is much more unique places and beautiful ancient cities that are a must see.
Whether such a branded prefix officially appeared for the city or whether travel agencies began to do it themselves, we still don’t understand. But over time the first eight added 4 more:
- Uglich;
- Ples;
- Yuriev-Polsky;
- Alexandrov.
- Dmitrov;
- Bogolyubovo;
- Moore;
- Kideksha.
The prefix City of the Golden Ring helps cities. Tourists, hotels, shops, souvenirs, excursions, restaurants - everything brings a pretty penny to the budget. The list was expanded for a reason. This is all the territory of ancient Rus', the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. The basis of the future state.
In January 2018, a forum of small towns and villages of cultural and historical significance was held. From the speech of the Minister of Culture, it became clear that there is a “geographical ring” of 8 cities, and there is a tourist brand of the city (more on this later).
Sightseeing buses with tourists began to travel along new routes. However, cities with almost a thousand years of history and important historical places, anyway, much more.
There are cities in which monuments of ancient Russian architecture, traditions of folk craftsmanship that have survived to this day, jewelry making, painting, birch bark and linen production have been preserved.
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Big Golden Ring by region
Thus, for the convenience of tourists, the first list of 8 cities was called the Small Golden Ring. The second list began to be called the Great Golden Ring.
The list has not been officially approved. Disputes about which cities to include in it continue to this day. It is much easier (for orientation and for drawing up a travel route) to list the cities that claim it by region:
Moscow region
- Dmitrov;
Vladimir region
- Yuriev-Polsky;
- Alexandrov;
- Bogolyubovo;
- Gorokhovets;
- Gus-Khrustalny;
- Moore;
- Kideksha (4 km from Suzdal)
Yaroslavl region
- Uglich;
- Rybinsk;
- Myshkin;
- Tutaev is nearby (36 km from Yaroslavl);
Ivanovo region
- Plyos;
- Palekh;
Tver region
- Kalyazin;
Ryazan Oblast
- Kasimov
Historical meaning
If we talk about the first 8 cities, then you definitely need to visit them. The “traditional” Golden Ring boasts buildings from the pre-Mongol period. There are very few of them left even on maps and in historical documents, let alone real ones.
- Suzdal was the capital of several large principalities;
- Rostov - was capital city Rostov-Suzdal Principality;
- Pereslavl-Zalessky is the birthplace of Alexander Nevsky. At that time - the largest of the cities in the region;
- Vladimir - for a long time remained the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.
Who was the first to drive around the Ring?
This dear route appeared only in the 60s. It was organized by journalist Yuri Aleksandrovich Bychkov, an employee of the newspaper “Soviet Culture”. According to the plan, the trip began in Moscow and ended in Suzdal.
The journalist was given the task of talking about Suzdal tourism. Bychkov got into the car and drove off. On the way I saw a sign for Ivanovo. I decided to stop by. This is how the story began. From one city he rode to another, paving a path that would later be repeated by millions of people.
Later, Yuri Alexandrovich was joined by his wife, then a photographer and a couple of volunteer assistants. The route turned out to be both picturesque and interesting. At that time it was not yet a tourist destination, so the company experienced many exciting moments. Pioneers, what can I say.
They had driven halfway through the route, but they no longer wanted to go back the same way. This is how Kostroma and Yaroslavl appeared on the Golden Ring map.
The travelogue was published in 1967. It included photographs, reviews, stories, and tips for tourists. The essay was called “The Golden Ring.”
After 2 years, Bychkov joined the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical Monuments. He offered to organize a tourist route to the places he had studied. I immediately liked the idea, but the road needed to be explored, to think about where else travelers could go, what to show. So first a scientific expedition was created.
But really, what should a tourist pay attention to?
- Vladimir: amazing temples from Italian masters, amazing stone carvings here.
- The temples of Yuryev-Polsky and Kidekshi were built much earlier than the beginning of the Mongol era. And they are well preserved.
- Films about the history of Rus' were created in Suzdal. Find familiar places from scenes from your favorite movies.
- The New Year's comedy “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession” was filmed in Rostov the Great. Do you recognize the colonnade along which the film's characters ran back and forth?
And that is not all!
Cities not included in the main list
There are many beautiful cities in our country that we just want to add to our route. Their historical significance is enormous, and just looking at all this beauty is tempting. Unique places!
- Sergiev Posad
The monastery of Sergius of Radonezh is a city within a city. There is a Theological Seminary, a monastery, churches, ancient icons, and sources of holy water. There's a lot to do - it's a trip of several days.
Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra
- Rybinsk
An ancient city of the late 11th century. It has important archaeological significance for scientists and historians. But it is not included in the route.
If you are driving along the ring yourself, be sure to check out these cities.
A few words about Pereslavl-Zalessky
Not as legendary as Rostov or Suzdal. It has never been the capital of any principality. Why is he of such interest?
Pereslavl was one of the most major cities Northeast. It was not the capital, but was conceived and built as a capital city. There were buildings from the Golden Horde period here, but they have not survived. Probably due to the fact that the city was destroyed many times and then rebuilt.
From the surviving antiquities:
- Rampart;
- Transfiguration Cathedral.
The cathedral was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky. It was completed under Andrei Bogolyubsky. There are also 5 monasteries here, and the earliest buildings are from the 16th century.
Another significant religious site is the Feodorovsky Monastery. It stores unique ancient icons of the 18th century. These are the Vvedenskaya and Kazan icons of the Mother of God.
Throughout the entire period of the reign of the Rurik dynasty, architecture flourished here. Pereslavl was big city, but fate decreed it so - it did not fulfill its purpose, did not become the capital.
The House of Romanov also did not forget about Pereslavl. It was here that Peter I built his famous fleet. The bot "Fortuna", which is called the "grandfather of the Russian fleet", has been preserved.
This city is the closest to Moscow. Only 2.5 hours by bus, and if you have a car - only 1.5 hours.
In addition to major historical attractions, there are several unique museums:
- Iron;
- Kettle;
- Center for Folk Traditions and Crafts;
- "Berendey's House"
And also, near Pereslavl there is the village of Gorodishche, which boasts the Blue Stone. During pagan times, people came to bow to the Blue Stone. They tried to put him to sleep many times, but he appeared again, as if by magic.
Now they also come to him, lie on him, make wishes. They say they come true. You just need to really want it, lie down on a stone and ask with all your heart.
Golden Circle Expansion
There are many small towns and villages in Russia of great historical and cultural significance. The Russian government has plans to include these places in the Golden Ring.
Things to remember!
The words “Golden Ring of Russia” have two meanings:
- Cities united by a ring route (Yaroslavl and Vladimir regions).
- Brand name. Officially it sounds like “A city included in the Golden Ring of Russia.” This means that the city is of cultural and historical value, but it may not be on the ring route.
In our country there is an association of small towns that claim to be the City of the Golden Ring of Russia. Getting on this list is prestigious and very profitable. But this obliges the city authorities to carry out serious restoration work and prepare everything to receive tourists.
The Russian government allocates subsidies for the needs and development of small towns and villages. Alas, often the money does not reach its destination. We will see if anything changes in this situation.
In January 2018, a forum was held in Kolomna, which was attended by V.V. Putin. The question also arose about Uglich, which before Perestroika was included in the route of the Golden Ring, but then for some reason fell out of this list.
What the President, the Minister of Culture and representatives of cities and towns agreed on:
Uglich now lives with the hope of entering the Golden Ring of Russia. The day before, Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky said that the ring would be expanded - they intend to add one city per year.
We included eight old cities in this list (see the beginning of the article)- from the old Soviet list - and now we will add to it,” Medinsky confirmed. “But we want it to be prestigious, let the cities fight for a high rank.”
Let us remind you once again that there is a tourist route “Golden Ring of Russia”, consisting of 8 cities, to which Uglich will be added (it is included in the ring route).
And more will be added every year new town. It will have the brand “City of the Golden Ring”, but this city does not necessarily have to be included in the “geographical ring”. So Kolomna stands apart from the Golden Ring route, but competes for the title “City of the Golden Ring of Russia”.
In our opinion, Kolomna really deserves the attention of tourists. But won't we get confused by the names? Maybe the ministry will come up with another nomination so that we don’t have a mess in our heads.
The operator helped us understand this confusing issue travel company"Rostislavl" Irina. By the way, the company’s website with their bus tours we liked it. They offer interesting routes and reasonable prices. We haven’t used the services of Rostislavl yet, but we’ve made plans to do so. If you have already traveled with this company, write your reviews in the comments - we will be glad.
Do you want to take a ride around the Ring? We want it too. This means we can meet at one of its iconic points. We are waiting for your stories about your trip around the Golden Ring!
If you live in one of these cities and would like to spread the word, we would be very happy to help. Send your story to our mailing address: [email protected]
