What is the largest city in the golden ring. Gold ring of Russia. Tours and excursions along the Golden Ring
In 1967, art critic Yuri Bychkov, on instructions from the newspaper “Soviet Culture,” set off in his “Muscovite” to the cities of the Vladimir region to write a series of articles about the trip. In the end, he decided not to return along the same path, but to pass through Yaroslavl, thereby enclosing his route in a ring. A series of his travelogues was published under the title “Golden Ring”. This is how the famous route of 8 cities appeared: Sergiev Posad - Pereslavl-Zalessky - Rostov the Great - Yaroslavl - Kostroma - Ivanovo - Suzdal - Vladimir.
“I fell into a thoughtful state and wandered around Moscow. The weather was in contrast to the five sunny days of the recent trip - the sky was clouded with a gray veil. I raised my eyes upward, and my gaze met the dome of the bell tower of Ivan the Great, melting into the ghostly heights, golden through the curtain of drizzle slowly falling from the sky of rain dust. Like an electric shock: “Golden!” This “golden” immediately connected with the road. It turned out - “Golden Ring”.
Yuri Bychkov
SERGIEV POSAD
The only city in the Moscow region as part of the Golden Ring. Its main attraction is the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. There are about fifty white-stone buildings that were built by the best architects of the country over four centuries. So it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to see them all in one excursion.
The Trinity Cathedral houses the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and hundreds of pilgrims flock here every day. The cathedral is famous for its horizontal iconostasis, which was created by a team of craftsmen under the leadership of Andrei Rublev. On one of the doors of the temple there is a hole from a cannonball - a trace from the siege of the Lavra by the troops of False Dmitry II.
In the vicinity of the city there is the ancient Abramtsevo estate. Here Nikolai Gogol read to the owners of the estate, the Aksakov family, the second volume of Dead Souls; Valentin Serov wrote The Girl with Peaches, and Andrei Tarkovsky filmed some scenes of Solaris.
As a souvenir from Sergiev Posad, you can bring a Bogorodsk toy - a carved wooden bear or a colorful bird - which is driven by a secret mechanism.
PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY
In the city on the shore of Lake Pleshcheevo you can see six monasteries and nine churches. Among them is the Transfiguration Cathedral, in which, according to legend, Alexander Nevsky was baptized. The decoration of the temple differs from most Russian churches in its asceticism: practically no decor, a minimum of frescoes. The exception is a copy of the Transfiguration icon by Theophanes the Greek above the marble altar.
You definitely need to visit Lake Pleshcheyevo itself. It was here in the 17th century that Peter I began the construction of the “amusing flotilla,” the ancestor of the entire Russian fleet. Today, the “Boat of Peter I” is open here - a museum where the only boat “Fortune” that has survived from Peter’s times is exhibited. There is also a Blue Stone on the lake - it was used during rituals by the pagan Slavs. When it rains, the color of the stone changes from gray to blue - hence the name. Tourists make a wish at the Blue Stone and, to make it come true, tie a bright ribbon to a nearby bush, and leave a coin on the stone itself.
ROSTOV VELIKY
One of the oldest cities in Rus' was mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years - in the chronicle of 862. Rostov is decorated with the 17th century Kremlin, which was built not to protect the city, but as the residence of the metropolitan. He was made famous throughout the country by Leonid Gaidai: along the passages of the Rostov Kremlin, the main characters of the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession” ran away from pursuit.
In the Kremlin ensemble there is the Assumption Cathedral - one of the most beautiful churches in Russia. Its architectural style is in many ways reminiscent of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. According to legends, the rector of this cathedral was the father of the hero Alyosha Popovich. The famous Rostov belfry with fifteen bells is also located near the cathedral. The largest of them - and the most major in sound - is “Sysoy”. It weighs 32 tons - it takes two bell ringers to rock this giant.
Rostov the Great is famous for traditional Russian cuisine. A favorite among city guests is the tender dumplings stuffed with pike - the main treat of local cafes and restaurants in the Russian style.
YAROSLAVL
The first thing to do in Yaroslavl is to go to the historical center of the city to the Church of Elijah the Prophet. The elegant facade of this temple with snow-white walls, green domes, carved arches and colorful platbands has survived to this day almost in its original form. Ancient frescoes and a baroque carved iconostasis from the 17th century also survived. However, they are opened for visitors to the temple museum only in the warm season: damp and cold weather can cause irreparable damage to the images.
IVANOVO
“Moscow and Ivanovo... were built anew”, wrote Mayakovsky. In fact, not many ancient buildings have survived in the city, and the oldest of them is the stone Shchudrovskaya tent. The miniature pre-Petrine chambers now house a department of the Ivanovo Museum of History and Local Lore.
There are many more examples of architectural constructivism in the city. For example, the residential “House-Ship”, built in 1930 by architect Daniil Fridman. The shape of the building really resembles a ship thanks to its rounded walls and beveled end. The panoramic glazing of the first floor imitates the water on which the house “floats”.
One of the largest museums in the city is the Ivanovo Calico Museum. Almost half a million textile samples are collected here - from ancient homespun fabrics to the most modern factory samples. The museum also houses an exhibition of works and sketches by the famous Ivanovo-born fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev.
SUZDAL
The Suzdal Kremlin was built back in the 10th century, and, surprisingly, almost all of its main buildings have survived to this day. Including the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary with a special dome of rich blue color with gold stars. The Kremlin ensemble also includes the Bishops' Chambers: in ancient times, these stone buildings were used as residential and utility rooms, and today they house an exhibition dedicated to the history of the region.
The Suzdal Open-Air Museum of Wooden Architecture contains authentic buildings from the 17th–18th centuries. Peasant huts, merchant houses and even mills are open to the public. The museum staff recreated their interior decoration down to the smallest detail.
The Shchurovo Settlement Museum is a reconstruction of the settlement of the ancient Slavs. In 2008, she became the scenery for Pavel Lungin’s film “The Tsar”. Today, in the interactive museum, visitors are introduced to the life of the inhabitants of ancient Suzdal, taught how to bake bread in a real oven, shoot a bow and hold a sword correctly.
VLADIMIR
For two centuries, Vladimir was the nominal capital of North-Eastern Rus'. It was here, in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that the great princes were married. This temple was built to store the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, which was considered the patroness and protector of the state. Today the Assumption Cathedral is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its white stone walls are covered with frescoes of the finest work - among them there are works by Andrei Rublev.
The Vladimir Golden Gate was built in the 12th century by Andrei Bogolyubsky. He wanted to show that the city is not inferior to Kyiv in influence and wealth. The gate became not only a beautiful architectural monument, but also a powerful defensive structure. They withstood the onslaught of the Tatar hordes during the siege of the city of Batu.
Also on the water meadows near Vladimir is one of the most famous Russian churches - the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. The elegant temple looks light and weightless thanks to the combination of narrow and elongated decorative elements. The walls of the church are decorated with plot carved reliefs. The central motif of three of them was King David seated on the throne, surrounded by lions and doves.
The most famous tourist route in Russia is called the “Golden Ring” for a reason. The route leads through the oldest Russian cities, where the most ancient sights have been preserved - cultural monuments, historical places. The term “Golden Ring” appeared more than 30 years ago thanks to essays in the newspaper “Soviet Russia”. The Golden Circle includes eight main cities, which you will learn about in this topic. If you look at the cities on the map, it becomes clear why the tourist route was named that way; the cities are located in a kind of ring to the northeast of Moscow
They say that the best way to understand and experience great Russia is to travel along its Golden Ring. The cities of the Golden Ring preserve historical and architectural monuments of Ancient Rus'. The Golden Ring includes eight cities - Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal and Vladimir. Later, several more cities were included in the list, but this list has not yet been approved and is controversial. The route along the “Golden Ring of Russia” is suitable for any time of year. Traveling along the Golden Ring gives everyone who is interested in the history, culture and present day of Russia the opportunity to get to know its ancient capital and other cities where the past centuries have left their mark 
Gold ring of Russia and its history is very eventful. Many books are devoted to the history of the Golden Ring, but at the same time, the history is very tragic - due to the indifference and indifference of people, due to active construction, many unique sights, cultural and historical monuments were completely lost. However, most of the monuments have been preserved and are protected by UNESCO and the Russian state
The Golden Ring is famous for its masterpieces of folk art. 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, and much more. If you are planning a trip around the Golden Ring of Russia, then you should spend at least two days getting to know each of the cities. It is most convenient to travel along the route in your own car; finding a hotel will not be difficult, but you will not be tied to any of the excursion routes, which are hastily compiled and do not allow you to experience all the beauty of the Golden Ring. 
In the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia all stages of the development of ancient Russian architecture are represented: 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. 
So, more about each of the cities included in the Golden Ring... Let's start with Rostov the Great, since it is one of the oldest cities in Russia. Rostov the Great is the most popular city of the Golden Ring. The enormous cultural potential of the city has made it one of the great centers of tourist pilgrimage. Rostov is included in a special program of interaction between the Council of Europe and Russia for the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Rostov's significant past has determined its abundance of historical and cultural monuments. One of the most important monuments is the landscape of the lake basin and the surrounding area, rich in archaeological monuments. The sights of Rostov the Great, in particular the buildings of the former Bishop's House of the 17th century, have become classics not only of Russian, but also of world art. - Rostov Kremlin.
The stone and wooden buildings of Rostov from the 18th to 20th centuries are of enormous value. The property of world culture is the Rostov bells - a set of musical works of the 17th-19th centuries, inseparable from an outstanding musical instrument - the famous Rostov belfry. Each of the 13 bells of the belfry, from the largest, weighing 32 tons, to the smallest, sounds special. 
The next city in the Golden Ring of Russia is Sergiev Posad. The city is famous primarily for the ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra monastery, consisting of more than 50 buildings. The earliest building in the monastery is the cross-domed Trinity Cathedral made of white stone, built in 1422 on the site of a wooden church of the same name; one of the few surviving examples of Moscow white-stone architecture of the 14th-15th centuries. The architectural ensemble of the Lavra gradually formed around the Trinity Cathedral. Built by the successor of the founder of the monastery, Nikon, “in honor and praise” of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and founded in the year of the latter’s glorification as a saint. The famous Russian icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny worked on the iconostasis of the cathedral; For this iconostasis, Rublev painted the “Holy Trinity” icon.
All the sights of Sergiev Posad are in one way or another connected with the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. They either were part of it, or are still part of it. The city is truly unique and attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year 
Pereslavl-Zalessky is famous for being one of the first white-stone churches in North-Eastern Rus', which have come down to us almost completely preserved. IN Gold ring of Russia Pereslavl-Zalessky is included due to its rich historical and cultural heritage. The attractions of Pereslavl-Zalessky include monuments of church architecture: six architectural complexes of monasteries and nine churches. In the center of Pereslavl, the city rampart surrounding the historical center of the city has been preserved. Rybnaya Sloboda stretches along the Trubezh River. 2 kilometers northwest of Pereslavl there is an archaeological monument “Kleshchinsky complex”; the center of the complex is the ancient city of Kleshchin, from which the ramparts of the 12th century have been preserved. The object of pagan worship has been preserved - the Blue Stone, a large dark blue boulder weighing 4 tons. 
Yaroslavl is the oldest city of the Golden Ring of Russia, one of the most beautiful cities in the Volga region. There are 140 architectural monuments and attractions on the territory of Yaroslavl. The most striking sights of Yaroslavl are the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the Church of Elijah the Prophet and the Tolgsky Monastery. Since 2005, Yaroslavl is one of 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia according to criteria II - the development of the center of Yaroslavl, which developed in the 17th-18th centuries, is an outstanding example of mutual cultural and architectural influence between Europe and Russia, and IV - a striking example of the urban planning reform of Empress Catherine Great, carried out across Russia between 1763 and 1830.
Kostroma is also part of the Golden Ring of Russia. In the old part of the city, the historical planning structure has been preserved (the master plan of the city was approved by Empress Catherine II in 1781). The basis of the city's layout is a radial grid of streets; the center of Kostroma is open in relation to the Volga. The most significant of Kostroma's monuments is the Ipatiev Monastery, founded in the 1330s. Also interesting in Kostroma are the Epiphany-Anastasinsky Monastery and Trading Rows 
Have you ever heard about the city of brides Ivanovo? If you haven’t heard, then you haven’t had a chance to travel around the Golden Ring of Russia yet. Architecturally, Ivanovo is known primarily for monuments dating back to the era of constructivism (30s of the 20th century): a ship house, a horseshoe house, etc. A large number of historical and revolutionary monuments were built in Ivanovo, giving the city an original flavor. The historical center of the city is interesting, consisting mainly of former merchant houses of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The industrial architecture of the 19th century is also of particular interest. (several textile factories dating back to this period have remained practically intact in the city, but free access to them is limited). Other attractions include the Shchudrovskaya Tent, which was built in the 17th century, and the complex of the Holy Vvedensky Convent, the main part of which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. If you are wondering why Ivanovo was nicknamed the city of brides, then this is another story that has nothing to do with the Golden Ring. You can find out about this using the link above. 
The famous city of Suzdal is also part of the Golden Ring of Russia. The city of Suzdal is a museum-reserve protected by the state and UNESCO. The oldest part of the city is the core of Suzdal - the Suzdal Kremlin. The Kremlin has preserved the earthen ramparts and ditches of the ancient fortress, several churches and the ensemble of the bishop's courtyard with the ancient Nativity Cathedral. On the spot where the Suzdal Kremlin Museum is now located, once upon a time, in the 12th century, Suzdal began to be built 
Vladimir is also included in the approved list of cities of the Golden Ring. In total, there are 239 state-protected buildings of the 18th-19th centuries in Vladimir. Among the attractions of Vladimir are the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical and Art Museum-Reserve - a museum that combines exhibitions and interiors of the Assumption and Demetrius Cathedrals, the "Old Vladimir" museum, a military-historical exhibition in the Golden Gate, the house-museum of the Stoletov merchants, the exhibition "Crystal, lacquer miniature, embroidery" in the Old Believer Trinity Church, etc. 
You can find out more about each of the cities of the Golden Ring using the links in the topic. The Golden Ring is the pride of Russia. The entire culture of our ancestors, our entire historical heritage is concentrated here. Our task is to understand how important it is to preserve such places for the future, to teach our children a decent attitude towards the history of our homeland.
December 8, 2010 | Categories: Places , History , Architecture
Rating: +15 Author of the article: Bergman Views: 320636The number one direction near Moscow, which ensured a stable influx of foreign currency into the state treasury back in the days of socialism, the Golden Ring on the map rather resembles a calligraphic capital “O”, striving to break away from noisy Moscow and rush into the foggy distance of the glorious history of Rus' and the blessed silence of the outback.
8 ancient cities with majestic monasteries and golden-domed churches, chambers of commerce of Volga merchants and workshops of famous folk crafts - the brilliant crown of the mother throne. Not visiting them means missing out on a lot of interesting and important things from the eventful Russian past.
But you shouldn’t think at all that there is nothing to do here besides walking around religious and secular architectural complexes - on the contrary! For example, in Yaroslavl you can eat to your heart's content with perhaps the most delicious donuts in the central region, and from Kostroma you can take away a couple of heads of cheese in a Kostroma birch bark container; Suzdal will lift your spirits with the International Cucumber Festival, and Pereslavl-Zalessky will enchant you with the blue expanses of Lake Pleshcheevo. In addition, the path to this fairy-tale kingdom is not far at all: just a couple of hours from Moscow, and the tourist infrastructure is fully developed - you can eat and spend the night in style and for a reasonable price.
What is the Golden Ring: cities and monasteries
First, let's define the terminology. The classic Golden Ring is 10 cities, significant for their historical and cultural monuments, located on a virtual circle to the northeast of Moscow. Clockwise from the city closest to the capital these are: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov the Great and Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal and Vladimir. In 2015, the city of Kasimov joined them, and in 2016, Kaluga.
Along with the classic route, there are also expanded ones, depending on the imagination of the tour operators, including neighboring cities (by the way, no less remarkable in terms of landscapes, traditions and culture): Kalyazin, Murom, Plyos, Rybinsk, Gus-Khrustalny, Palekh, Alexandrov, etc. Let us forgive them for such confusion of thoughts: in the territory of the central regions of Russia there really is something to see, and in spirit these settlements fit well within the framework of the Golden Ring - cozy towns topped with domes glowing in the sun, rich Central Russian landscapes around and magnificent examples of applied art as a calling card - let's take, for example, Gusev's crystal or a lacquer miniature of Palekh.
Rostov Veliky
Routes along the Golden Circle
There are a lot of options for excursion programs around the Golden Ring. In addition to the classic “ten” mentioned above, an extended route with a loop around the Yaroslavl region is popular - with a visit to Myshkin, Rybinsk and. Its length is about 1000 km.
You can travel along the Golden Ring not only in a circle, but also radially: for example, from Rostov the Great - to the Boris and Gleb Monastery, from Yaroslavl - to Tutaev, from Kostroma - to Plyos and Shchelykovo, from Ivanovo - to Shuya and the places of folk crafts Palekh, Kholui and Mstera. Most often, such mini-programs include visits to only 4-7 cities.
In terms of duration, trips can be designed for either 2-3 days (weekend tours) or for a full 9-10 days required to explore the main cities and other “cherubim like them”. The most popular options are from 2 to 5 days, although there are also many who want to embrace the immensity, especially in the summer.
What to ride
The most convenient way to travel around the Golden Ring is an organized excursion. Despite the inevitable “gallop across Europe” in such cases, the advantages of this option are obvious: they will bring you and take you away on schedule, accommodate you, feed you and tell you about it.
Travelers on their own should rely on personal vehicles (ideal) or intercity buses. The railway is more suitable for individual visits to the cities of the Golden Ring, since it only connects regional centers (which is convenient, say, for Yaroslavl or Vladimir). In many small towns, stations are located tens of kilometers from tourist spots. To quickly get to the opposite side of the “ring”, you can use an airplane: for example, flights from Moscow Domodedovo depart to Kostroma twice a week. Travel time is just under 1.5 hours.
- Which cities of the Golden Ring can you visit by boat during a cruise?
Golden Circle Cards
Communications and Wi-Fi
Finding a free Wi-Fi hotspot in the cities of the Golden Ring is not a problem. The Internet is not available everywhere, but we can’t even talk about a shortage; after all, it’s a tourist route. So, in small towns like Sergiev Posad, access is available in central cafes and well-known restaurants. Some establishments offer free Wi-Fi only to clients, so you need to make an order to receive a password.
In larger cities, such as Vladimir, the net can be caught in large squares and around attractions.
As for hotels, it is better to study this issue when booking. Tourists from big cities, spoiled by the default service, may encounter partial or no Wi-Fi coverage. Access problems may arise in small mini-hotels or guest houses.
Golden Ring Hotels
Fortunately, the times when a trip to the Russian outback was invariably fraught with difficulties in finding a suitable hotel (more precisely, with a complete lack of decent accommodation options) have sunk into oblivion. Today, in any city of the Golden Ring there are at least a couple of nice hotels, as well as many options in the private sector: from cozy mini-hotels with homely furnishings to apartments and even cottages for daily rent. There are also business hotels designed for wealthy foreigners.
A pleasant highlight and, if you like, exotic even for us, residents of big cities, is accommodation in old houses in suburbs or real village huts.
Accommodation prices range from 550-1500 RUB per room in the private sector, sanatorium or tourist center to 2400-5100 RUB for a well-furnished room in a modern hotel or well-kept private hotel. Business accommodation will cost 6,000-10,000 RUB for a double room with breakfast. Prices on the page are as of November 2019.
What to bring
Handicrafts and souvenirs from the cities of the Golden Ring are perhaps more attractive to travelers than monasteries, temples and museums. In addition to the standard assortment - all sorts of things depicting local architectural monuments - almost every town is famous for the exceptional products of its craftsmen. In Kostroma, for example, they make magnificent birch bark items - tueski and boxes, boxes and baskets. Linen clothing and home textiles are also brought from here - regular and embroidered. From Pereslavl-Zalessky it is worth grabbing wonderful interior and kitchen items made of carved wood. Vladimir is famous for patchwork, enamel and jewelry made from semi-precious stones, and Suzdal is famous for tapestries. In Ivanovo, be sure to pay attention to the products of local weavers - calico and printed fabrics, textiles for the home and bedroom. The towns of the “big” Golden Ring - Kholui, Mstera, Palekh - are famous throughout the world for the art of lacquer miniatures.
Traveling through the cities of the Golden Ring
Cuisine and restaurants of the Golden Ring
Thanks to the unabated tourist interest, largely from foreigners, there are no problems with nutritional establishments on the Golden Ring. From sandwich shops and wine bars (and you say, exotic - abroad!), where you can kill a worm, say, with meat and potatoes in a pot and have a glass “for sightseeing,” to restaurants of Russian haute cuisine in the spirit of the famous Moscow “Cafe Pushkin” .
In the cities of the Golden Ring, you should definitely try local gastronomic delights: in Yaroslavl - donuts, in Kostroma - cheese, in Suzdal - mead and cucumbers in all forms - from fresh to pickled, in Rostov the Great - pike dishes.
It is worth noting that in inexpensive establishments they serve food in a native way: the products are fresh, the portions are impressive, the prices are affordable - the soulful Russian hinterland, after all, is not the shameless shawarma makers of megacities. Buffets are rarely offered in hotels: breakfasts are usually continental, and dinner can be ordered à la carte in the hotel restaurant.
The best photos of the Golden Ring
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What to see
Vladimir continues the theme of New Year's miracles, where even fairs in winter turn into theatrical stages, and the main enemy of New Year's matinees, Baba Yaga, rules the ball. In the children's favorite fairytale museum "Grandma-Yagusya" miracles happen - the hook-nosed old woman suddenly becomes kinder and even treats guests with sweets.
People have noisy fun on New Year's days in the Birth of a Fairytale complex, 25 km from Pereslavl-Zalessky (website). It’s worth returning to this city in the summer to visit the Russian Park, which offers dozens of programs for children’s recreation.
A unique place in Suzdal is the Shchurovo Settlement Museum, where the atmosphere of ancient Russian life is recreated. At the beginning of spring, a unique festival “Russian Fairy Tale” takes place here.
In Yaroslavl, children are accepted into heroes at the Aleshino Compound museum-theater. The zoo and dolphinarium are worthy of attention.
Luxurious Kremlin Christmas trees are organized in Rostov the Great. It would be a good idea to take a look at the Lukovaya Sloboda museum and the Pike Dvor fish soup academy in the Rostovsky complex (website).
Ivanovo and Sergiev Posad cannot boast of such an abundance of entertainment, but there is something to do here too. The Ivanovo Zoo, for example, is home to more than 800 representatives of the animal world (website). And in Sergiev Posad, an excellent place for a family holiday is the “Wonder Park” amusement complex.
Holidays and Events
In the cities of the Golden Ring they live and have fun in the best Russian traditions - to the envy of the residents of megalopolises, they ride sleighs, noisily see off the winter by burning effigies, have round dances, and dress up in all sorts of ways.
The most vibrant folk festivities take place in the regions on New Year and Christmas. In this regard, Vladimir, Kostroma, Rostov Veliky and Yaroslavl delight with entertainment programs. A complete immersion in the atmosphere of fair life is guaranteed on Maslenitsa weekend. Celebrations are accompanied by songs, noisy performances and eating pancakes with dozens of fillings. The demand for the Golden Ring and Easter is high.
In an age when Easter cakes are bought in supermarkets, a trip to the bell-ringing city of the Golden Ring on Easter will give you an unforgettable experience.
The summer season on the Golden Ring opens with the May holidays and continues with night festivities on Ivan Kupala. A spectacular event on Yaroslavl soil in July is the Aeronautics Festival. In Vladimir, at the beginning of autumn, the “Princely Fun” competition of heroes takes place.
Suzdal boasts a kaleidoscope of holidays. In mid-summer, tourists from all over the country come to the city to celebrate Cucumber Day. Local bast racing competitions are widely known.
Climate and season
The climate in the cities of the Golden Ring is classic, moderate with a pronounced seasonality - warm in summer, cold in winter, stormy in autumn and spring.
High season is the end of December-January, when crowds of tourists flock to the outback to celebrate New Year and Christmas. Winter here is “correct” - with frosts that decorate the windows, snowdrifts and crunchy snow, without which the tourist attractiveness of the cities would probably suffer greatly. It’s crowded on the Golden Ring and on Maslenitsa, when people rush to take part in colorful folk festivities.
In spring, as in autumn, life in the cities calms down - the route is slushy and it rains. The flow of tourists resumes in May. Summer in ancient Russian cities is undoubtedly the ideal season for relaxation. Firstly, trees grow here, not high-rise buildings, and it’s beautiful. Secondly, there are a lot of street festivals on the Golden Circle at this time of year - they're fun. Well, the not-Moscow-style clean rivers and lakes found along the route will significantly brighten up the holiday for those who like to swim.
For many years this route has been one of the most attractive not only for foreigners who decide to visit this huge country, but also for Russians who want to get to know the history and culture of their homeland better. Which cities are included in the Golden Ring of Russia? Where did this term come from? What are its main attractions? We will tell you further in order.
How did the term “Golden Ring” come about?
The author of this term 50 years ago was the Soviet journalist Yuri Bychkov. One day he decided to visit those cities of Russia in which, as he considered, the most significant sights of the country, both cultural and historical, were preserved. The journalist’s journey began from Moscow to Zagorsk, which is now called Sergiev Posad, and continued in Pereslavl-Zalessky, then in Rostov the Great, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo and Suzdal. And the last point of the route before returning to Moscow was the city of Vladimir.
Returning home, Bychkov created a series of essays about these places with a rich cultural and historical heritage, published in 1967, to which he gave the name “Golden Ring”. He named his route that way for a reason: if you connect these cities with lines on the map, you will get a solid loop, reminiscent of a ring. Bychkov’s essays attracted the attention of the authorities, who took advantage of the journalist’s experience and laid out a tourist route through the cities described, giving it this apt name. And, I must say, the idea turned out to be very successful: a ticket to the Golden Ring tour in those years was very difficult to get - this circular route turned out to be so popular both among Soviet citizens and among foreign tourists.
So, to summarize: as we have already found out, the Golden Ring of Russia includes the following 8 cities:
This is a classic version of the circular route, the so-called Small Golden Ring of Russia. Small because subsequently, in order to expand tour operator activities and increase tourism income, other cities of the ancient Vladimir-Suzdal principality began to be included in this route, for example, Bogolyubovo, Martynovo, Alexandrov, Uglich, Tver, Myshkin and others. The extended route was called the Great Golden Ring of Russia. Travel agencies offer different routes with a different set of cities, and there are about 20 of them in total. Moreover, the addition of cities continues to this day: in 2016, the idea was approved to include the city of Kaluga in the Great Golden Ring of Russia.
Let's now walk through the cities of the classic Golden Ring of Russia and their main attractions, which everyone should definitely see.
Sergiev Posad
You can get to Sergiev Posad from Moscow in just an hour and a half, and to see the main attractions, one day is enough: the city cannot be called large, its population is just over one hundred thousand people, but in the 15th century it was the cultural and political center State of Moscow.
Here you should definitely look at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, around which the town itself was subsequently built. It is connected with many historical figures: it was founded by Sergius of Radonezh, Ivan the Terrible was baptized in it, and it also served as a refuge for Peter I, who was hiding in the monastery during the Streletsky revolt.
In addition to the Lavra, it will be interesting to look at Krasnogorskaya Square located opposite it with colorful shopping arcades decorated in the “Russian” style, and also visit the Toy Museum.
Pereslavl-Zalessky
And here is the birthplace of Alexander Nevsky himself and the city where one of the first white-stone churches in Rus' appeared - the Transfiguration Cathedral of the 12th century. And it’s not for nothing that the city’s coat of arms depicts two vendace, because Pereslavl stands on the shore of Lake Pleshcheevo, where this remarkable fish was caught right for the royal table.
A visit to the local Steam Locomotive Museum will also be an interesting experience, and those who want to see a monument to the pagan culture of Rus' should go not far outside the city and visit the Blue Stone, shrouded in ancient secrets and legends.
Rostov Veliky
We have finally reached the most popular destination that the Small Golden Ring of Russia can boast of - Rostov the Great, one of the oldest cities in Russia and an important cultural and historical center, on the territory of which there are more than 300 cultural monuments. But, despite the name, this city is very small, with a population of only 30 thousand people.
A must-see is the Rostov Kremlin, which is distinguished by its decorative appearance among other similar buildings in the country. By the way, it was here that some scenes from the popular Soviet film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession” were filmed. There are really a lot of monasteries here: among them are Spaso-Yakovlevsky, Abrahamievo-Epiphany and Borisoglebsky, but besides them you can be distracted by the famous museum of Rostov enamel.
Yaroslavl
The ancient city of Yaroslavl, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features as many as 140 cultural attractions. There really are a lot of churches here! In particular, we suggest taking a look at the Spaso-Preobrazhensky and Tolgsky monasteries - on the territory of the latter you can also look at the beautiful cedar forest, where 193 cedars grow.
The chapel of Our Lady of Kazan and the Church of John the Baptist, founded in the 17th century and also the largest in the city, also attract attention. Here you can also visit the Museum of Music and Time and the Einstein Museum.
Kostroma
Next, the Golden Ring of Russia leads us to Kostroma. It stands on the banks of the Volga, so historically its entire layout was built in relation to the river, representing a radial grid of streets - Catherine II herself decided to make the city resemble a fan. During its existence, Kostroma experienced many events, including two fires - one was set by the Rostov prince Konstantin, the other by the troops of the Mongol-Tatars.
Now the main attraction of the city is the Ipatiev Monastery - a key historical monument, which includes the Trinity Cathedral, the Belfry, the Romanov Chambers, as well as the Bishops' and Fraternal Corps. Don’t forget to look at the monument to Ivan Susanin, the savior of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich.
Ivanovo
If other cities of the Golden Ring of Russia may be unfamiliar to you, then you have probably heard about Ivanovo - in the sense that it is generally called the “city of brides”. This statement dates back to ancient times, when light industry, in particular textile, developed in the city, where mostly women worked, and was aggravated by the Great Patriotic War, when the male population decreased significantly.
But the city itself also has other distinctive features and attractions: visit the Vvedensky Monastery, museums of industry and art, as well as the museum of the famous Ivanovo chintz. The Horseshoe House, the Ship House, as well as the Shchudrovskaya Tent - a workshop and one of the oldest stone buildings - will attract attention.
Suzdal
Next we move on to the city of Suzdal with a population of 10 thousand people, standing on the Kamenka River. Archaeological research has shown that it began to be built back in the 10th century - and even now it looks like a real ancient Russian city, so it will leave an impression on itself for a long time. Although it is considered provincial, it is not lacking in charm and beauty.
Arriving in Suzdal, you can’t help but look at the Suzdal Kremlin, which is about a thousand years old. And there is no need to even talk about the lack of monasteries here - there are a ton of them here: Pokrovsky, Aleksandrovsky, Vasilievsky, etc. Be sure to stroll through the shopping arcades to look at such traditional things as a kokoshnik, an embroidered tablecloth and a Russian shirt.
Vladimir
And the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia end with a popular tourist center - Vladimir with a huge cultural heritage - there are more than 200 historical monuments protected by the state. During your trip, we recommend that you definitely look at such sights as the Assumption Cathedral with frescoes by Andrei Rublev, the Dmitrievsky Cathedral with unique bas-reliefs and decorative carvings, as well as the local triumphal arch - the fortress Golden Gate, and the house-museum of the Stoletov merchants.
You can learn more about the Great Golden Ring of Russia, its secrets and various interesting facts by watching this video:
Travel along a unique route - Golden Ring of Russia– this is an acquaintance with the unique atmosphere of the most ancient Russian cities, as well as a great opportunity to get to know the country better, get acquainted with its history and culture. A visit to ancient cities, where the most important events in the history of the country took place, will definitely leave a lasting impression.
Information about the Golden Ring of Russia
Being the most popular tourist route, which has almost 50 years, the trip gives foreign tourists the opportunity to get to know the Russian hinterland better, discover perfectly preserved sights, monuments of religious and civil architecture of the 12th-19th centuries. Due to its close location to, residents also like to travel along this route.
During the trip, important stops are such legendary cities as Vladimir, and. The main reason why they were included in the list of cities of the Golden Ring of Russia is the presence of unique architectural, historical and cultural attractions that reveal the richness of Russian traditions.
While visiting cities, you can get acquainted with all stages of the development of ancient Russian architecture. There are white stone and wooden temples here XII-XIII centuries, the buildings 16th century, works of architecture and painting. In addition, the atmosphere of the Russian province is striking, the lack of fuss and orderliness, the most wonderful nature, attractive at any time of the year.
Sergiev Posad is an important center of Orthodoxy
The journey begins from Sergiev Posad, a legendary city famous for Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which was founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh about 700 years ago. Constantly developing, the city has turned from a small settlement into a center of the Orthodox faith and culture, attracting people from all over the country.
Numerous architectural structures were built here by the best architects in XV-XIX centuries. The monastery ensemble includes more than 50 buildings, each of which has its own purpose. The snow-white Refectory and the Metropolitan's Chambers especially stand out from the others. You can admire this splendor by climbing to the observation deck of Pancake Mountain.
There are other interesting places outside the Lavra:
- Museum complex "Horse yard";
- Toy Museum in Sergiev Posad.
You can discover a lot of educational things in the outskirts of the city, for example, here is Gethsemane Chernigov Skete, which previously was not inferior to the Lavra in terms of the number of pilgrims.
Pereslavl-Zalessky - Birthplace of Prince Alexander Nevsky
The second point on the route is Pereslavl-Zalessky, an ancient city so rich in attractions that exploring them can take the whole day. It has its own Kremlin and several Old Russian churches surrounded by ramparts. The most famous of them is Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, based on the birthplace of Alexander Nevsky.
On the territory of the city there are 5 monasteries with powerful walls and towers:
- Nikitsky;
- Goritsky (not active);
- St. Nicholas;
- Holy Trinity Danilov;
- Feodorovsky.
From the bell tower of the Goritsky Monastery you can discover the best bird's eye views of Pereslavl.
In Pereslavl-Zalessky there is a picturesque and mysterious Lake Pleshcheyevo– the place where Tsar Peter I staged “Funny Fights”. In the southern part of the city you can find interesting museums, and in the northern part you can get acquainted with well-preserved traces of pagan times (Blue Stone and Alexander Mountain).
Rostov the Great - the oldest city of Kievan Rus
The first mention of Rostov the Great dates back to 9th century, or rather by 862. Since that moment, the city has acquired and preserved to this day many architectural monuments, numerous museums and exhibitions reflecting the centuries-old history of not only Rostov, but throughout Rus'.
The main treasures of Rostov the Great are, of course, its numerous temples, churches, cathedrals and monasteries. This city was the center of the spread of Orthodoxy in North-Eastern Rus'. There are religious buildings on its territory dating back to 991.
Located in Rostov Metropolitan Court, better known as Rostov Kremlin. Its walls were not intended for defense, but were erected as a decorative decoration of the princely residence, for this reason they have been perfectly preserved to this day. Here, at different times, the sons of Vladimir Krasnoye Solnyshko occupied the throne, and in our days the famous chase from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession” was filmed.
Yaroslavl - the true pearl of the Golden Ring
This city is worth a visit to get to know, first of all, the incredibly well-kept and festive village, as well as the historical center, protected by UNESCO. It is located around 800 monuments of ancient architecture, perfectly preserved to this day! During its history, this city managed to be a rich and influential center of Rus', and in troubled times - the de facto capital of Russia.
Worth seeing in Yaroslavl:
- Historical city center;
- churches and towers of pre-Petrine times;
- Volzhskaya embankment;
- Governor's Garden;
- Museum of City History;
- Millennium Park of Yaroslavl.
The ancient churches located in Yaroslavl are one more beautiful than the other. All that remains is to admire their whiteness, exterior decoration and golden domes.
It's also nice to stroll around Pervomaisky Boulevard– a popular place among tourists and locals. Each building located on its sides has historical value, and many interesting stories are associated with the boulevard itself.
Kostroma - the birthplace of the royal dynasty and the Snow Maiden
Kostroma is one of the largest river ports on the Volga, as well as the oldest cities in Russia, founded in 1152 Yuri Dolgoruky. Here, the classical architecture of the 16th century has been perfectly preserved to this day, adjacent to examples of ancient Russian wooden architecture.
Kostroma’s business card – Ipatiev Monastery- a historically important place in which the first tsar from the Romanov dynasty lived and was later called to the throne. After Mikhail Fedorovich was elected to the throne, members of the royal family began to venerate the monastery as a family shrine.
Near the monastery there is a famous Museum of Wooden Architecture, where the ancient architecture of poor and rich peasants is collected in large quantities. Here you will find houses, barns, churches, mills, chapels and churches. All this is in such a picturesque setting that you instantly lose the reality of time.
Kostroma is considered the jewelry capital, so a visit to the factory here will be interesting. Also in this city there is the Snow Maiden's tower, a zoo and a moose farm.
Ivanovo is the textile capital of Russia
The youngest city on this route cannot boast of an extensive number of historical attractions, but there is also something to see here. Behind 300 years Since its existence, a couple of notable museums have opened here.
A diverse collection of weaving traditions with 17th century and is still represented in the Calico Museum to this day. In this place you can see ancient looms, a variety of fabrics and ways of creating them. The Museum of Industry and Art, located opposite, has an impressive collection from around the world, from fans to astronomical clocks by Parisian masters.
In terms of architecture in Ivanovo the following will be interesting:
- Shchudrovskaya tent;
- house "Ship";
- House "Podkova".
Most of Ivanovo's architecture dates back to the era constructivism- Soviet avant-garde style, developed in 20-30 years last century. But you can also find typical merchant houses and industrial architecture here.
Suzdal - an ancient Russian city-museum in the open air
Suzdal is considered a quiet and cozy city, which has the largest number of religious buildings compared to other cities of the Golden Ring. You won't find high-rise buildings or modern buildings here. The incredibly picturesque and well-kept streets have perfectly preserved architecture from past centuries. For this reason it is called an open-air museum.
In the center of Suzdal is located Suzdal Kremlin, which is an outstanding architectural monument. On its territory, earthen ramparts and ditches, churches, a complex of bishops' chambers and the luxurious Nativity Cathedral are perfectly preserved.
In the city you can find more 40 churches, some of which are built of wood. There are also several monasteries with fortress walls and towers: Spas-Evfimiev, Pokrovsky, Aleksandrovsky, Rizopolozhensky and Vasilievsky.
Vladimir is a treasure trove of history and culture
Vladimir is the oldest city in Russia, in which every stone preserves a part of the centuries-old history of more than one century. There are unique wooden and white stone historical and architectural monuments here. 12th century included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as ancient buildings XVII-XVIII centuries.
Walking around Vladimir, you get the impression that every building here is an important part of the history of the former capital of North-Eastern Rus'. Here is the legendary Assumption Cathedral with an iconostasis and frescoes of the 18th century, which were painted by the great master Andrei Rublev himself. Another important object is the Dmitrievsky Cathedral with unique carvings from the 12th century. The scale of work on its decoration is impressive - it contains 200 scenes and 2000 carved stones.
Of the old buildings are perfectly preserved Golden Gate created in the 12th century. The main purpose of this structure is to protect the Vladimir settlement and create a solemn appearance in it. In total, five such gates were built in the city, but only this design has survived to this day.
The article does not pretend to cover all attractions; it reflects the individual experience of our blogger.