The Golden Ring of Russia is made up of twenty ancient Russian cities, which are located in the central part of the country, in the north-east of Moscow.
What cities are included in the Golden Ring?
Cities in the Golden Ring of Russia belong to the Moscow and Ivanovo, Vladimir and Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Tver regions. But the main of them is considered to be eight settlements. The rest are cause for discussion by specialists. The author of the expression "The Golden Ring of Russia" was the writer Yu. Bychkov, who in 1967 created a series of essays with the same name for the newspaper "Soviet Russia".
These cities really form a ring, and each of them surprises with its history and unique cultural monuments, which have no analogues anywhere in the world.
Each country keeps signs of antiquity, and they are in our vast Russia. These are cities that existed in ancient times, and still have not lost their color. You can read a lot, view photos, but it is better to go on a trip yourself to see the Golden Ring of Russia with your own eyes. Tours on this route are now available to everyone.
Someone considers Moscow to the cities of this group, someone believes that according to certain parameters it does not fit this definition. We will not discuss this issue. Our task is to introduce you (at least very briefly) to the ancient Russian cities. Which of these make up this magnificent Ring? The list will look like this:
- Suzdal.
- Kostroma.
- Rostov.
- Sergiev Posad.
- Yaroslavl
- Vladimir
- Pereslavl-Zalessky.
- Ivanovo
These are eight recognized "golden" cities of great Russia. In addition to them, there are many more that do not quite fit into the specified definition. But everyone can imagine many amazing masterpieces of Russian history and culture.
Gold ring of Russia. Moscow
Yes, experts will forgive us, but we decided to add our ancient capital to this list.
Moscow is located between the Volga and Oka rivers. The city covers an area of 1081 km². This is the largest transport hub in the country. The capital has developed many types of public transport, including the subway.
The old part of the capital has a circular layout. Its historical core is the ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square. This is the most beautiful square of the city, especially from the Resurrection Gate.
In our capital, many priceless historical and cultural monuments that are protected by the state have been preserved. Therefore, the capital is worthy of representing the Golden Ring of Russia. Moscow has changed, turned into a large European metropolis, but there are places in it that make it inimitable, where the monuments of our great history that are dear to every Russian are carefully preserved.
Kostroma
We continue our acquaintance with the cities that make up the Golden Ring of Russia.
Kostroma is a beautiful Russian city. It was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky. Kostroma was first mentioned in the Tver annals of 1213. By the middle of the XIII century, this city became central in the specific principality, and at the end of the XIV century. he became part of the principality of Moscow. In the XV century, Kostroma was subjected to numerous raids of the Tatars.
In the XVI-XVII centuries, crafts were actively developing in the city: blacksmithing, leather, silver, various types of textile crafts, painting and architecture. In 1751, the first linen manufactory appeared in Kostroma.
The city's attractions
Kostroma has a huge number of memorable places. To study them will require a lot of time. Protected by the state, many of the sights of the city. Kostroma is also represented by such sites that are under the protection of UNESCO. Today we will tell you only about some of them.
Church of the Resurrection on Debra
The word "wild" means a place overgrown with impenetrable dark forest. According to a legend that has survived to this day, once there was just such a forest. Here princes loved to hunt.
A huge contribution to the construction of this church was made by the rich merchant Kirill Isakov. This is the only surviving Posad temple, which the city of Kostroma is very proud of. It is decorated on three sides with porches with cupboards and tents. In the interior of the temple preserved paintings of V.I. Zapokrovsky - the famous Kostroma painter.
Monument to Ivan Susanin
Without this glorious Russian city, it is impossible to imagine the Golden Ring of Russia. Kostroma keeps the memory of its national heroes.
Ivan Susanin glorified his native city by the fact that in 1613 he led a detachment of Poles into a dense forest swamp, thereby saving the life of Tsar Mikhail, the first of the Romanov dynasty. His feat was immortalized in a stone monument, which today stands on the central avenue of the city.
Ipatiev Monastery
Temples and cathedrals are famous for many cities included in the Golden Ring of Russia. Kostroma is no exception. Ipatiev Monastery was built in 1330, it was erected by the Tatar prince Chet. Here Ivan Susanin is buried.
To this day, historical buildings have been preserved on the territory of the monastery: the Romanov chambers, a magnificent belfry, which was built at the expense of Godunovs, Trinity Cathedral. The walls of the monastery today housed the Kostroma Museum.
Anastasiin Monastery
Today, not only our compatriots, but also many foreign guests are studying the Golden Ring of Russia. Kostroma always hospitably meets everyone who wants to get acquainted with its history. Among the main attractions Kostroma usually demonstrate Anastasiin monastery.
Once upon a time there were three separate monasteries: Holy Cross Exaltation, Epiphany male and Anastasia female. The male (Epiphany) monastery was founded by the old man Nikita, who was a pupil of St. Sergius. In 1847, after a severe fire, it was abolished and transferred to the authority of the Holy Cross Exaltation (female) monastery.
Anastasiin monastery was created in the XV century. Its founder was the first wife of Ivan the Terrible Anastasia Romanovna. In 1764, this monastery was also abolished, and the nuns were transferred to the Holy Cross Exaltation. Today, the city of Kostroma has a restored and operating Anastasiin monastery.
Suzdal
We introduce you to Suzdal. It is hard to imagine the Golden Ring of Russia without this distinctive city. The Kremlin has existed here since the tenth century. It is located on the Kamenka River. It is distinguished from other ancient cities by preserved earthen moats and ramparts. The Kremlin houses the Bishops' Chambers, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, and the Nikolskaya Church.
Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin stands on the site of the temple, which was built during the time of Vladimir Monomakh. Its lower part, preserved from the 13th century, is decorated with fine carvings. The facades are decorated with a variety of images. Many are attracted by its famous monasteries of Suzdal. Some tourists begin to study the Golden Ring of Russia from this ancient city.
In the XIV century, a fortress was built in Suzdal to protect against enemies, which was subsequently converted into the Spaso-Efimiev Monastery. Around the same time, the Pokrovsky Monastery was also being built, which in two centuries would become a place of exile for boyar wives and disgraced queens. In those days, it was the largest in Russia.
The winner of the German crusaders, the famous Alexander Nevsky, founded the Alexander Monastery on the Kamenka River. Earlier, the Rizopolozhensky monastery was built here. Legendary and historical places in Suzdal are everywhere. For example, in the Vasilievsky monastery, Suzdal adopted Christianity.
Vladimir
Everyone who studies the Golden Ring of Russia should definitely visit this city. Vladimir was the capital of Northwest Russia, which was the core of the future of Russia.
The city has a huge number of very valuable monuments. For example, the Golden Gate is protected by UNESCO. They were built in the XII century, in the XVII-XVIII centuries. they were rebuilt. There were seven entrance gates in the fortress, but only one survived to our time - the main ones. Initially, they were covered with sheets of gilded copper. Very powerful, with perfectly proportioned proportions, with a small church upstairs. They were the main entrance to the princely part of Vladimir.
Not in vain this city is included in the Golden Ring of Russia. Vladimir delights everyone with his white-stone cathedrals. The five-domed Assumption Cathedral contains frescoes by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny, which were painted in 1408. At the end of the XII century the Dmitrievsky one-domed cathedral was erected, which is known for its exquisite carvings on the facades. These sites are also protected by UNESCO.
Towards the end of the 18th century, churches of the Assumption of the Virgin, St. Nikita, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and others appeared in the city. The governor's house of the 17th century has been preserved in Vladimir. Now here is the Center for Fine Arts.
Pereslavl-Zalessky
In ancient times, the city of Pereslavl was located on the Trubezh River . When the Russian pioneers began to develop territories located near the Volga River, another city with the same name appeared. But since it was built on impassable, overgrown with dense forest land, where the Vyatichi lived, it received the second part of the name - Zalessky. The founder of the city is considered Yuri Dolgoruky.
In 1152, the city began to build the Cathedral of the Transfiguration (of stone). Finished the construction of Andrei Bogolyubsky - the son of the Grand Duke. Steep slopes of the Kremlin shafts have survived to this day. And for more than eight centuries, a snow-white temple stands behind them, one of the oldest architectural monuments of Ancient Russia. This building delights all visitors of the city with its grandeur and perfect silhouette.
This cathedral is also dear to the believers of our country because here Sergius of Radonezh was ordained abbot. The temple survived the difficult times of the Tatar and Lithuanian invasions, the adversities of the Time of Troubles.
Rostov the Great
Today everyone can see with their own eyes the Golden Ring of Russia. Tours on this fascinating journey are sold by almost all travel companies in the Russian Federation. In our opinion, it is most convenient to go on such a trip from Moscow. Today, travelers are offered 53 bus tours of the cities of the Golden Ring. This is a great opportunity to spend a weekend in ancient places. You can go on a multi-day tour.
Well, we are going to Rostov the Great, which is located in the Yaroslavl region. In The Tale of Bygone Years, one of the oldest Russian chronicles, there is a record about this city dating back to 862. It says that the city was owned by Rurik.
Experts unite ancient cities in the central part of our country in the Golden Ring of Russia. Rostov the Great, in their opinion, is a "precious stone" in it. Many lovers of antiquity know the architectural monuments of this amazing city. First of all, this, of course, the famous Rostov Kremlin with its Bishops' Chambers, the belfry, which is famous for its thirteen domes of different weights. For more than three centuries, people have been heard by the sound of these bells.
Rostov Kremlin
It is located in the very center of the city. The Kremlin was erected in 1683 under Metropolitan Ion Sysoevich and became his residence. At that time, the era of such structures was already ending. After the residence was transferred to Yaroslavl, the Kremlin lost its significance and dilapidated. In the XIX century, the local merchants raised funds and restored the temples.
For anyone interested in the Golden Ring of Russia, Rostov with its extraordinary sights is especially important.
The Rostov Kremlin has many architectural monuments, but the most significant of them is the Assumption Cathedral. It very much resembles the Moscow Assumption Cathedral of the same name. This is a monumental five-domed structure. Its height (with a cross) is 60 m. It is made of brick, and the base is made of white stone. The building is distinguished by numerous decorative elements: arcature-columnar belts, horizontal rods, panels, etc. All this gives the appearance of the temple an unusual plastic expressiveness, stability and beauty today.
Ivanovo
Before the revolution of 1917, this city was called Ivanovo-Voznesensky. Weaving factories that were built in the nineteenth century still work here. Ivanovo-Ascension weavers became famous for their revolutionary moods. Therefore, there are many monuments dedicated to this time.
It is worthy of the Ivanovo Golden Ring of Russia. The city has many long-standing buildings. In its historical center are merchant houses of the XIX century. Of great interest to tourists is the Shchudrovskaya tent, built in the 17th century, as well as the Holy Vvedensky monastery, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.