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Any 3 countries included in the golden ring. Golden Ring of Russia: how many cities does it include? Yaroslavl - the true pearl of the Golden Ring

The term “Golden Ring of Russia” has existed for more than 40 years. It was invented by a certain Soviet writer Yuri Bychkov in 1967 and immediately became a successful tourism brand to attract foreign tourists to the then existing USSR.

In fact, the Golden Ring is a group of cities concentrated in the territory of Central Russia and representing a certain historical and cultural value. Connected by highways, they form a symbolic circle that has become the personification of the cultural heritage of our country. Moreover, many of its cities and their attractions are protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Fund.

Traditionally, the Golden Ring of Russia includes eight cities - Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov, Sergiev Posad, Suzdal and Yaroslavl. All of them are located on the territory of six regions - Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Yaroslavl. In addition to the main list of cities, there is another, so-called discussion list, which already includes more than 20 settlements. Visiting these places depends on the chosen tourist route and, as a rule, is determined by the organizing company.


The Golden Ring of Russia includes: the city of Alexandrov, the village of Bogolyubovo, the city of Gorokhovets, the city of Gus-Khrustalny, the village. Kideksha, Moscow, Murom, Palekh, Plyos, Rybinsk, Tutaev, Uglich, Yuryev-Polsky, Shuya and a number of other cities, villages and towns. Vladimir is considered the generally recognized capital of the Golden Ring of Russia. Here we will begin a brief overview of the main cities of the Golden Ring of Russia tourist route.

Vladimir - the pearl of the Golden Ring

The pearl of the Golden Ring of Russia and one of the most ancient Russian cities, of course, Vladimir. The city is located 193 km from Moscow on the banks of the Klyazma River. In the 12th century, Vladimir was the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, but over time it lost its importance and, during the growth of the Moscow state, even acquired the status of a provincial city. Today Vladimir is a large industrial and cultural center of the central part of Russia with a population of about 340 thousand inhabitants.

The city amazes with its pristine beauty and architectural monuments that have survived to this day, in particular numerous golden-domed temples and pointed wooden towers. The sights of Vladimir also delight with their diversity and uniqueness.


Among them: the Golden Gate, built in 1164, which at one time formed the main entrance to the richest and most noble princely-boyar part of the city; The Assumption Cathedral is a monument of Russian architecture of the 12th century, painted by Andrei Rublev, an Orthodox church and at the same time a state museum; Dmitrievsky Cathedral, the walls of which are decorated with white stone carvings, with images of people and animals, and much more.

Suzdal


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The term “Golden Ring of Russia” has existed for more than 40 years. It was invented by a certain Soviet writer Yuri Bychkov in 1967 and immediately became a successful tourism brand to attract foreign tourists to the then existing USSR.

In fact, the Golden Ring is a group of cities concentrated in the territory of Central Russia and representing a certain historical and cultural value. Connected by highways, they form a symbolic circle that has become the personification of the cultural heritage of our country. Moreover, many of its cities and their attractions are protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Fund.

Traditionally, the Golden Ring of Russia includes eight cities - Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov, Sergiev Posad, Suzdal and Yaroslavl. All of them are located on the territory of six regions - Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Yaroslavl. In addition to the main list of cities, there is another, so-called discussion list, which already includes more than 20 settlements. Visiting these places depends on the chosen tourist route and, as a rule, is determined by the organizing company.


The Golden Ring of Russia includes: the city of Alexandrov, the village of Bogolyubovo, the city of Gorokhovets, the city of Gus-Khrustalny, the village. Kideksha, Moscow, Murom, Palekh, Plyos, Rybinsk, Tutaev, Uglich, Yuryev-Polsky, Shuya and a number of other cities, villages and towns. Vladimir is considered the generally recognized capital of the Golden Ring of Russia. Here we will begin a brief overview of the main cities of the Golden Ring of Russia tourist route.

Vladimir - the pearl of the Golden Ring

The pearl of the Golden Ring of Russia and one of the most ancient Russian cities, of course, Vladimir. The city is located 193 km from Moscow on the banks of the Klyazma River. In the 12th century, Vladimir was the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, but over time it lost its importance and, during the growth of the Moscow state, even acquired the status of a provincial city. Today Vladimir is a large industrial and cultural center of the central part of Russia with a population of about 340 thousand inhabitants.

The city amazes with its pristine beauty and architectural monuments that have survived to this day, in particular numerous golden-domed temples and pointed wooden towers. The sights of Vladimir also delight with their diversity and uniqueness.


Among them: the Golden Gate, built in 1164, which at one time formed the main entrance to the richest and most noble princely-boyar part of the city; The Assumption Cathedral is a monument of Russian architecture of the 12th century, painted by Andrei Rublev, an Orthodox church and at the same time a state museum; Dmitrievsky Cathedral, the walls of which are decorated with white stone carvings, with images of people and animals, and much more.

Suzdal


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Of the many routes around Russia, tours along the Golden Ring have become especially popular. Even during the Soviet era, even foreign travelers showed interest in this destination - the Golden Ring was called the country’s tourist pride. Today, little has changed, except that the popularity of such tours has increased many times, and the program has expanded significantly.

Cities of the Golden Ring

Gold ring is a term that appeared in 1967. It was introduced by art critic and journalist Yuri Bychkov. In “Soviet Culture” he published essays about the cities of Ancient Rus', uniting them under the general title “Golden Ring”. A series of Golden Ring routes pass through cities that have preserved unique historical monuments, culture and crafts. The composition of the cities of each tour changes, but at the core there are eight main ones.

Kostroma- a city interesting for its monuments of provincial classicism and historical layout. Its main attraction is the Ipatiev Monastery, which is closely connected with key events in Russian history. Kostroma has also become famous for its churches and museums.

Pereslavl-Zalessky- a picturesque city with many museums. Among the most visited are the Historical and Architectural Museum, the Iron Museum, and the Peter I Boat Museum. It is worth visiting the Nikitsky Monastery, the Transfiguration Cathedral and Lake Pleshcheyevo. It is of glacial origin and is recognized as a protected area.

When mentioned Sergiev Posad The image of his shrine - the Trinity-Sergius Lavra - appears before your eyes. Thanks to her, the city attracts not only tourist groups, but also many pilgrims. This is the largest active monastery in Russia, which should be treated with special respect.

Ivanovo- not only the old Russian city. In the past, it was a center of constructivism, so here you can see a record number of buildings in this style. In Ivanovo, the Calico Museum, the Holy Vvedensky Monastery and the unique Church of the Assumption are of interest.

Pearls of the Golden Ring: the main cities of the route

Each of the cities of the Golden Ring is of great importance for the history of Russia. But there are real pearls for which tourists choose this route. The main place in the Golden Ring is reserved for Rostov the Great. Thanks to its abundance of monuments, it was destined to become a Russian center of tourism and pilgrimage.

The heart of the city is the Rostov Kremlin, built in the 17th century. The architectural ensemble unites the Assumption Cathedral and its belfry, the Church of Hodegetria, the Judgment Order, and the Holy Gate. It is impossible to see all the Kremlin buildings in a day. You need to study its architecture, its rich collection of icons and museum collections (exhibitions of Ancient Russian Art, Art Gallery) for a long time and thoughtfully.

Rostov is also famous for its monasteries. It is worth visiting the Borisoglebsky, Abrahamievo-Epiphany and Spaso-Yakovlevsky monasteries.

Yaroslavl- one of the oldest cities on the Volga, on whose territory there are 150 important architectural monuments. The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is worthy of attention here. He became famous for the fact that it was in him that “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” was discovered. The monastery houses rare frescoes from the time of Ivan IV, icons and objects of ancient Russian art.

The peculiarity of Yaroslavl is more than 30 ancient temples and churches. You won’t be able to see everything in a short time, but it’s worth visiting the Church of Elijah the Prophet. The city's rich history is reflected in the collections of its museums. Mainly in the exhibition of the Museum of the History of the City, where you can see ancient icons, ancient household items, coins and archaeological finds.

Vladimir- the city on which the Golden Ring “rests”. He preserved monuments of white stone architecture, examples of which were the magnificent Dmitrievsky and Assumption Cathedrals. It is impossible not to visit the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum with a priceless collection of Russian crafts, merchant household items and icons.

Suzdal- another city of the Golden Ring and an open-air museum. Its center was the Kremlin, which preserved the moats of the ancient fortress, several churches and bishops' chambers, in which a collection of jewelry, household items, coins and parts of cathedrals is exhibited.

The Spaso-Evfimievsky Monastery with its intact wall paintings and frescoes is of great interest to tourists. Also in Suzdal you can attend master classes on making clay products, weaving birch bark baskets and preparing traditional dishes.

At different times, many cities sought to become part of the Golden Ring - after all, this could guarantee a stable flow of tourists. Today the most complete list looks like this (with the exception of the main eight): Alexandrov, Bogolyubovo,

Golden Ring of Russia cities, attractions, history, photos

The Golden Ring of Russia is a famous tourist route that 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 the oldest cities in 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 of ancient architectural monuments and ancient Russian architecture, which are very popular among Russian and European tourists visiting Vladimir.

Famous Golden Gate

At the beginning of the last millennium, this gate served as a triumphal arch, served as the main main entrance to the Russian city, and was 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 the 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 funds 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 located 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 the 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-Preobrazhensky Monastery

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 by the film crew during the filming process.

An equally amazing place is the Intercession Convent, which became 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 a 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 this 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 supposed 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 distinguishes it from other white-stone churches of Rus'. Frescoes dating back to the second half of the 12th century were also discovered in it, and the icon of the Transfiguration, 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 Golden Ring is the main tourist route of the country, popular not only among Russian but also among foreign travelers. It includes ancient cities located relatively close to Moscow, in which medieval fortresses, monuments of church and civil architecture of the 12th-19th centuries have been preserved. The route is popular not only because of the unique attractions, but also due to transport accessibility and the convenient location of the cities of the Golden Ring relative to each other. Traveling along the Golden Ring of Russia allows you to see the oldest and most important monuments of Russian architecture in a short time, and visit those cities where the most important events in Russian history took place.



Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia

The list of Golden Ring cities is controversial. A number of cities are full participants in this “golden” community: , . It remains in doubt: this city cannot be compared with the history or number of monuments listed above; it has never been a princely capital.



On the other hand, tiny, but very ancient and interesting cities - , younger ones, and a number of others - are rightfully vying for inclusion in the Golden Ring route.

Sometimes cities from the main list are called the Big Ring of Russia, and settlements from the discussion list are called the Small Ring.

Tours and excursions along the Golden Ring

Excursions around the Golden Ring are very popular. Typically, tour operators offer bus tours. The cities are located nearby, so travel usually does not take more than 3-4 hours. This method allows you to see the main attractions in a short time. Typically excursions take from 3 to 7 days: it all depends on the number of cities included in the program.



River cruises along the Golden Ring are especially interesting. , and are located on the banks of the Volga, so it is very convenient to visit them while traveling by boat.



Traveling around the ring of Russia

You can organize a trip to the cities of the Golden Ring yourself. Even in small towns you can always rent a hotel, apartment or guest house. At the same time, there are no problems with transfers: settlements are connected either by rail or bus routes, or by both. In small towns, public transport does not seem to work very well, but this is not necessary: ​​one day is enough to explore all the sights of the city on foot, they are all concentrated in the historical center.



Sights of the Golden Ring

Each of the cities of the Golden Ring can boast a huge number of attractions - ancient churches, monasteries, fortifications and others.

In Vladimir, you should definitely see the Assumption and Demetrius Cathedrals, the Golden Gate, as well as the sights of the Vladimir suburb - the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl and the Bogolyubov Monastery.



There are several monasteries, as well as a nature reserve, an amazing natural monument. So here you can combine cultural and beach holidays.

Among the cities of the Small Ring, one of the most popular is: it is interesting not only for the events that took place here (the mysterious murder of the heir of Ivan the Terrible, the young Tsarevich Dmitry), but also for the temples that have survived to this day. However, if you have free time, it is worth visiting all the cities from the small list given above: each has its own zest and charm, this especially applies to the Volga cities.




Festival of active recreation "Winter Fun" in Uglich

Tourist route of the Golden Ring

The starting point for a trip along the Golden Ring is usually: the capital itself sometimes claims to be included in the “golden” list. Consider a long trip that allows you to see both the “big” and “small” cities of this route.

The first mandatory stop is located approximately 50 kilometers from Moscow. Another 65 kilometers along the M8 highway and you will find yourself in. Here you can stop for the night: even a cursory inspection of the monuments with a walk along the lake shore will take the rest of the day.



From Yaroslavl to only 85 kilometers. So you can spend the night in the homeland of the Snow Maiden, and the next day you can explore the city. From Kostroma to also about 85 kilometers. Even if you don't plan to explore the city, the road to Vladimir still passes through it. You can rent a hotel in Ivanovo, or already in Suzdal: it is located 75 kilometers from Ivanovo, with another 30 kilometers left.

One day is enough to explore tiny Suzdal. Then there are two options: if you want to see and, then immediately from Suzdal you need to make a 70-kilometer detour to visit. If not, then Yuryev-Polsky will be the last point of the route before returning to Moscow from Vladimir.

It makes sense to stay overnight in Vladimir. It will take 1-2 days to explore the city itself.

The most convenient way to travel around the Golden Ring is by car: this allows you to see more. On the other hand, you can travel along the indicated route by bus. Considering that the distances between points on the route do not exceed 90 kilometers, the road will be easily traversed. Traveling without a car will allow you to better feel the atmosphere of each city and get to know it better.

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