Tours to «Golden Ring»

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«Golden Ring»

«Golden Ring», — these two words unite a group of ancient Russian towns to the northeast from Moscow. As maps show, the towns, making a curved line, lock up in Moscow. These ancient towns, which have been experiencing a long–long life full of interesting and fascinating events, rises and falls, preserve the memory about the most important and significant events in the Russian history. In our days the towns are often called «an open–air museums» where the unique monuments of Russian architecture of the 12th–17th centuries are collected, reminding about the dramatic events and fabulous people.

Sergiev Posad

Sergiev Posad was named after Saint Sergey who was born in Radonezh (a city situated next to Zagorsk) and was known as Sergey Radonezhsky. He founded a monastery there in 14th century that became then one of the greatest and biggest monasteries in Russia. Nowadays the monastery carries the name of Lavra that translating from Greece means «main and most important monastery». There are four lavras in Russia, but the Trinity Lavra of St.Sergey (full name) is considered to be «Russian Vatican» and besides our patriarch's temporary residence is situated there.

Visitors enter the monastery through the main Red Gates also named Saint Gate, and at once their attention is attracted by frescos that represent the different scenes of St.Sergey's life concerning the period before the monastery exists, building the monastery and historical events of state importance.

The most beautiful part of the monastery is represented by the two similar constructions one of which is the Ecclesiastical Academy and Seminary and the other — the Refectory with the Church of St.Sergey that is visited inside. Besides, there are some other interesting objects to see in the monastery such as the royal temporary residence, monastery hospital which is one of the first constructed in Russia, and the monkery cells.

Pereslavl–Zalesski

Pereslavl–Zalesski was founded by Prince Jury the Longhand in the first half of the XII century. Seven centuries later the first Russian Emperor Peter the Great, being a teenager built the first Russian battle ship in this city on lake Plesheevo. After this the first Russian fleet was built.

Ancient town on the banks of Plesheevo Lake was founded in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy — the Moscow Prince — and it is only 5 years younger than Moscow. The town is very small, but the great history and outstanding names are connected with it. The outstanding Russian commander Alexander Nevsky was born there. Peter the First founded the Russian fleet, starting from the «poteshny flotilla». Now you can see the elegant and austere Spasso–Preobrajensky (Transfiguration) Cathedral of 1157, splendid churches and monasteries (three of XVI–XVII c). Visiting to Goritsky monastery you can see the wonderful collection of ancient icons in the Art and Historical Museum. The place, where Peter the First had builds the flotilla — now used as the Estate–Museum «Botik» (boat). There is the unique exhibit — the only unique served ship from Peter's shipyard.

Rostov the Great

Rostov the Great is one of the ancient and most beautiful towns of the Russian land (it was called Rostov the Great in 12th–17th centuries). The town stands on the bank of Nero Lake with water of striking pearl, gray and blue shades. These color shades are amazingly depicted by the fine collection of ancient icons displayed in the local museum. The town was established much earlier than Moscow. The first written mention about Rostov dates by the year of 862 A.D. In the 13th century the town was one of the centers of the new Russian state formed in the northwest part of ancient Russia. Up to the end of the 18th century Rostov remained one of the biggest and the richest towns of Russia. In 1589–1788 it was the residence of the Russian Metropolitan. The town has its own peculiar structure. The main streets meet at the historic center, where, built in the 16th century, the Dormition Cathedral stands, with its bell tower erected in the 17th century. The bells of tower play one of the most fascinating chime or bell music. The local Kremlin had been called «Bishop's House» up to the 19th century. The architectural ensemble built in 1660–1680 by the order of Metropolitan Ivan Sysoyevich as a Metropolitan residence is in excellent condition. It includes 5 churches, palaces and estates. The inner walls have wonderful wall paintings, which also remain bright and attractive. It looks like the whole ensemble rushes up into the skies; its walls bear the trait of the ancient times. There are so–called «trading line» structures (classical style, 1830) close to the Kremlin and the Church of Savior with the golden stars on bright–blue domes. The Church of Ascension stands a bit away from the line. There are two convents located on the banks of Nero lake to the left and to the right of the Kremlin: the St. Abraham Convent to the north–east (16th–19th cent.) and Yakovlevsky Convent (17th–19th cent.) to the southwest.

Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl. The city was founded about 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise on the bank of the Volga River. In the 17th century Yaroslavl was the biggest trading town in the northern Russia. Those were the times, when many new buildings were built there; the town had its own, peculiar school of architectural styles and construction. The Yaroslavl churches of the 17th century differ by great dimensions, multiple domes, picturesque asymmetry created by side–chapels, vestibules and porches. The churches are strongly decorated by tiles and figured carving. On the whole, this is the style called «the Russian style», unique and inimitable. The interior of Yaroslavl churches display multiple wall–paintings, very picturesque, symmetric and musical, having nice, cheerful and bright combination of clean, and open shades: blue, red and golden. The wall paintings of the church of Elijah the Prophet are the best, as well as those of the Church of John the Baptist in the village of Tolchkovo. These churches are extremely interesting in the point of view of their architectural styles. Moreover, there are some other interesting monuments related to the 17th century, these are the architectural ensemble in Korovniki, the Church of Nicola Mokry, the Palace of Metropolitan and the Church of Savior in Town. The embankment of the Volga River is very beautiful; local citizens admire this place. The former Savior Resurrection Convent (Cathedral and walls built in the 16th century) is located in place, where river Kotorosl flows into the Volga. That was here, when in the 18th century, the last Archimandrite of the convent, found the manuscript of «The Lay of Igor's Host» in the library of convent. This is the most significant literature monument of the ancient Russian culture. Nowadays the walls of ancient convent preserve the collection of icons, embroidery, church plates and ancient church books. There is also the Art Museum in town located on the Volga embankment. The museum collection includes icons, including the icon of Savior dated by the 12th century, the pictorial image of Yaroslavl the Wise, the Tolgskaya Icon of the Virgin, the finest collection of Icons of the 17th century, which all belong to the Yaroslavl school of icon painting. The display shows provincial portraits and Russian paintings of the 18–19th.

Uglich

Uglich — the chronicles first say about it in 1149. The Uglich has been the capital of a small principal for many centuries. Prince Dmitri, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, found his mysterious death in this city, and that caused the great strife in Russia, because the Tsar had no successor. One the oldest town of Russia has such a difficult and dramatic history, that it raised many mysterious and romantic legends of people and events, which took place here. You'll learn the story of the principality: how it was bought by Moscow Grand Prince Ivan Kalita in XIV c, the dramatic story of the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible — Dmitry, who was killed here (that happened in the end of the XVI c). You'll visit the Kremlin that is situated on the bank of Volga River with the cathedrals and chambers. You will visit the unique Museum of Vodka, where you'll learn the history of a very popular drink — Russian vodka — and taste the famous kinds of it.

The town itself has always been among the most beloved in old Russia. Legends have come to us about the exiled bell of Uglich, which gave the alarm on the day of the Tsarevich's assassination. Poems are still being written about it.

Kostroma

Kostroma — the city of monasteries and great Russians Kostroma was established in the 12th century. During the time of Polish–Lithuanian intervention in the beginning of the 18th century Kostroma played a prominent role in the formation of people's volunteer corps leaded by Minin and Pozharsky. Another representative of Kostroma, peasant Ivan Susanin took the enemies to thick woods and deadly swamps, where he met his death, but where the enemy troops vanished, too.

The Central district of Kostroma comprises the buildings and structures built in a classic architectural style during the period between 1770–1830. It's a fine example of unique, monolithic urban architectural complex. Kostroma is famous with its wonderful architectural monuments, Ipatyevsky Convent (16th–17th cent.) and the Church of Resurrection on Debra River (1652). Ipatyevsky Convent is located in a beautiful place, where the Kostroma River flows into Volga. The St. Trinity Cathedral of Convent is a powerful, monumental structure beautifully ornamented and decorated with the wall paintings of Sila Slavin and Yuriy Nikitin and their team. The wall paintings look amazingly inspiring and display fantastic artistic flair of the artists, who managed to express the richest gamut of human feelings raised by the awe of God and anxious expectation of talking with God.

There is a museum on the territory of convent with an interesting collection of icons of the 16th–19th centuries, needlework, books, church plates and some exhibits representing the art of provincial painting of the 18th–19th centuries. The best Russia's museum of nature with fine collection of butterflies is located there. Moreover, this is a place where one can find a wonderful collection of stuffed animals and birds — representatives of local fauna.

Wooden churches and chapels built in the 18th–19th centuries were moved to Ipatievsky Convent from the nearest villages.

The Museum of Arts is located in Kostroma, not far from the town center. The collection comprises fine pieces of painting of the 18th–19th centuries. The Museum also has an interesting collection of the Russian art of the first years of the 20th century.

Vladimir and Suzdal

Vladimir and Suzdal were the capital of the Vladimir–Suzdal Principat. The ancient great town Vladimir is situated 45 km to the south from Suzdal. Prince Vladimir Monomakh founded it in 1108. In 1157 Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the capital of Vladimir–Suzdal Principality to Vladimir. The capital was moved there, because the sacred icon of Our Lady, which once had been brought from Constantinople, was also moved to Vladimir. The icon got the name of «Our Lady of Vladimir». In the year of 1299 the town also became the residence of the Russian Metropolitan. By the middle of the 14th century Vladimir had lost its political importance and Moscow had become the main political center of the Russian state. The ancient monuments dated by the 12th century remain in town and its suburbs. The great Cathedral of Dormition stands in the town center. It was built in 1158–1160 by the order of Andrei Bogolyubsky. The interior of Cathedral displays the ornaments and wall paintings, which go back to the 12th–13th centuries and the wall paintings of the 15th century by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Chyorny. The Church of St. Demetrius stands close to the Cathedral. The Church was built in 1194–1197 by the order of Prince Vsevolod The Big Nest (1170–1212), who was baptized as Demetrius. Fine white–stone carving ornaments the facades of the Church. The Golden Gates (1158–1164) are located close to the town center. However, the Gates were rebuilt many times. There is also a white–stoned Arc of Triumph with half–encompassed ceiling and the Church over the Gates.

The seat of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was located in a small town Bogolyubovo, which is located close to Vladimir. The remains of Prince Palace, dated by the, the 12th century are still there. There is a church not so far from Bogolyubovo, which is considered a real masterpiece of the ancient Russian architecture. This is the Church of Intercession on Nerly built in 1165 by the order of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. The moderate tracery ornament contributes to the quiet beauty of the Church. The delicate proportions of facades turn us to a romantic story of the old times. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was one of those, who admired the cult of Our Lady and introduced it actively in Russia. He was the first one, who introduced the Holiday of Intercession of Our Lady (October 14) and in the first written mention of Suzdal dates back to the year of 1024. In the 12th–14th centuries that was one of the most powerful towns of the ancient Russia. In Suzdal, Vladimir and in the neighboring territories a peculiar school of architecture appeared. The major monuments representing this peculiar architectural style are still with us. The architectural style of Vladimir and Suzdal is characterized by sophisticated proportions (the use of «golden section»), fine design of facades with the arc belt as the necessary element.

One of the latest monuments of the above architectural style, the Church of the Nativity is located in Suzdal, it was built in 1222–1225 but later it was rebuilt and some wall–paintings were added in the 13th, 15th and 17th centuries. The sight of Suzdal strikes by numerous churches and convents. Prince D. Pozharsky is buried in Saviour–Epyphany Convent. The Resurrection Cathedral was built in Suzdal in the 16th century; it was decorated and painted by Yuriy Nikitin in. The Monastery of the Deposition of the Robe is famous with its Church over the Gates, while the Monastery of Intercession has its wonderful Church of the Annunciation over the Gates, built in 1518. The walls of ancient Kremlin envelop the historic center of Suzdal. The museum of wooden architecture and peasant life is located close to the town center. The branch of Vladimir–Suzdal historic–architectural and arts Museum–national Park is open in one of the monasteries of Suzdal. The exhibition displays icons, fine pieces of folk art, painting, and drawings.