Travel along the Golden Ring of Russia. Golden Ring of Russia: how many cities does it include? Write the names of the cities of the golden ring
Golden ring, known among foreigners as the Golden Ring of Russia, is a group of popular tourist routes passing through ancient Russian cities located in the territories of 6 Central European regions: Moscow, Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, as well as Tver and Yaroslavl.
The so-called classic Golden Ring is a route of eight points - Vladimir, Ivanovo, Sergiev Posad, Suzdal and. That is, this main cities of the Golden Ring of Russia.
In addition, when tour operators prepare excursion trips around the Golden Ring, the routes often include other no less interesting places: Alexandrov, Bogolyubovo, Gorokhovets, Gus-Khrustalny, Dmitrov, Kalyazin, Kideksha, Martynovo, Murom, Myshkin, Palekh, Plyos, Rybinsk, Tutaev, Uglich, as well as Yuryev-Polsky, Shuya and others. That is, these are additional cities of the Golden Ring of Russia.
In April 2016, the city of Kaluga was officially included among the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia.
The main thing that unites the first and second lists is that all these cities have unique architectural, historical or cultural attractions that reveal the diversity and richness of Russians folk traditions.
Main cities of the Golden Ring
Known for its Trinity-Sergius Lavra, considered the largest Orthodox monastery in our country. Is under the protection of UNESCO. Its numerous architectural structures were built by the best architects of the 15th-19th centuries. The monastery ensemble includes more than 50 buildings for various purposes. By the way, this is where the action of one of the episodes of “Ivan Vasilyevich Changing His Profession” takes place. In addition, the city has a wonderful Toy Museum, founded back in 1918.
In you can see Red Square, several interesting monastery complexes and churches, including the Transfiguration Cathedral, as well as the museum-estate “Boat of Peter the Great”, the Steam Locomotive Museum and the Iron Museum. By the way, it is believed that it was in this cathedral that many Pereslavl princes were baptized, among whom was Alexander Nevsky.
Travelers usually visit the Rostov Kremlin Museum-Reserve, as well as beautiful monasteries, including Spaso-Yakovlevsky and Avraamiev Epiphany. The wooden and stone buildings of the city (XVIII-XX centuries) are also of great historical value.
In, considered the oldest city on the Volga (1010), tourists can see an outstanding example of the urban planning policy of Catherine II - the historical center of the city, as well as Spaso-Preobra convent and the beautiful Church of Elijah the Prophet.
It is interesting, first of all, for its historical center with a historical planning structure approved by Catherine II, the basis of which is a radial grid of streets. The main city square is Susaninskaya, with beautiful historical buildings such as the Fire Tower, the former Guardhouse building, and the Trade Rows, which occupy quite a large territory. And, of course, the highlight of the Kostroma program is the Ipatiev Monastery.
Tourists usually visit the city of brides on a short sightseeing tour, during which they explore the historical center, where former merchant houses of the 19th-20th centuries have been preserved, as well as monuments of constructivism (30s of the last century of the 20th century), including the Ship House . You can also note the oldest civil brick building in the city - the Shchudrovskaya tent (17th century) and the Holy Vvedensky Convent.
This is, first of all, the famous Suzdal Kremlin, which is the oldest part of the city (early 11th century). The Kremlin has preserved earthen ramparts and ditches to this day. ancient fortress, as well as three churches, a complex of bishops' chambers and the Nativity Cathedral. In addition, there are five wonderful monastery complexes in Suzdal: Spaso-Evfimiev, Pokrovsky, Aleksandrovsky, Rizopolozhensky and Vasilyevsky. As well as many ancient churches, old shopping arcades and the wonderful Museum of Wooden Architecture.
Well, my main list ends - the main attractions of which are the fortress Golden Gate, the white stone Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedral s and several beautiful churches of the 17th-18th centuries. The Water Tower also deserves attention. By the way, it is in Vladimir that the maximum security prison praised by Mikhail Krug is located - Vladimir Central.
Additional cities of the Golden Ring of Russia
Along with the classic “eight-point” golden route, there are also more expanded ones - their composition depends only on the imagination of the tour operators. By the way, many additional cities are no worse than the main ones, that is, they are just as wonderful in terms of landscapes, culture and traditions.
I have already listed an approximate list of additional cities, so I see no reason to duplicate it here. Personally, I would advise you to at least visit:
Bogolyubovo– here the Holy Bogolyubsky Convent and the very picturesque Church of the Intercession on the Nerl are worthy of attention.
Kalyazin – business card This town is the Trinity-Makaryevsky monastery complex, which was flooded during the creation of the Uglich reservoir, with a 60-meter bell tower “floating” on a small island.
It is located next to Suzdal, and is famous, first of all, for its white-stone Church of Boris and Gleb, included in the UNESCO heritage list. This church was built in the 12th century and is considered the first white stone building in all of northeastern Rus'.
IN Myshkin You can see with your own eyes the exhibits of the only Mouse Museum in the world, and also visit the Russian Valenki Museum and a rather interesting historical and ethnographic museum under open air, with traditional folk buildings. Tourists also usually visit the Assumption Cathedral and stroll along the boulevard, where beautiful wooden buildings have been preserved.
A beautiful town comfortably located on the high bank of the Volga Plyos- was founded in 1410 and was sung by the brush of Levitan himself as a mirror of the Russian province and the key to understanding such a mysterious Russian soul.
It is famous for its historical center, where its main attractions are located - the Uglich Kremlin, the ancient Church of St. Dmitry on Spilled Blood (1692) and the Transfiguration Cathedral. In addition, there are three monasteries in the city - Resurrection, Epiphany and Alekseevsky. Also of interest are the civil buildings (merchant estates) and the ensemble Trade area with shopping arcades.
Well, I'll finish my list additional places The Golden Ring of Russia, the so-called “Pearl on the Volga” - the city. Its churches are picturesquely scattered along the hilly banks of Mother Volga, and it is the local landscape that attracts the attention of tourists who come here.
Useful information on the Golden Ring
Most convenient way to see the Golden Ring, especially if you don’t live in Moscow, is, of course, an organized excursion in which they will bring you, feed you, accommodate you and tell you about it. Its only drawback is the “gallop across Europe”. Such tours last on average from 2 to 5 days, but there are also 7 and 10 day routes.Quite often, the starting point for traveling along the Golden Ring is the city of Sergiev Posad, located approximately 54 km north of Moscow (from the Moscow Ring Road) and being its closest point to the capital. The most remote point in this group of routes is Kostroma, located 340 km from the capital.
There are many tour operators on the tourism market offering similar tours, but all prices are approximately the same, for example, the tour operator Rus - website www.rustouroperator.ru, minimum cost Such trips start from 3,990 rubles for 2 days with breakfast, and go up to 22,490 rubles for a 7-day trip with three meals a day.
Of course, it’s up to you to decide whether this is a lot or a little, but if you live in Moscow or the region and have a car plus a good guidebook, then it’s probably easier to go along these routes yourself, having previously compiled detailed route travel so you don't miss anything and understand the cost of admission and opening hours of the most important attractions.
You can't run over the Golden Ring by train, because Railway mainly connects only regional centers, such as Yaroslavl or Vladimir, and in many small points stations are often located at a considerable distance from tourist places, which is quite inconvenient.
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
Distinguished by as many as 140 cultural attractions ancient city Yaroslavl, which is the object World Heritage UNESCO. 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 the 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 take a look at such sights as the Assumption Cathedral with frescoes by Andrei Rublev, Dmitrievsky Cathedral with unique bas-reliefs and decorative carvings, as well as local triumphal arch- the fortress Golden Gate, and the house-museum of the Stoletov merchants.
Find out more about the Great Golden Ring of Russia, its secrets and various Interesting Facts you can by watching this video:
The cities of the Golden Ring of Russia are Rostov Veliky, Sergiev Posad, Yaroslavl, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Ivanovo, Suzdal, Kostroma and, of course, Vladimir. All these cities managed to preserve historical exhibits of Russian culture.
Every person should definitely visit all these great places, see the monuments of Russian history and feel this inspiring atmosphere. Further in the article there will be a basic description of the cities of the Golden Ring and their attractions, which are no less interesting than.
Rostov
This city is the richest in terms of historical values among all eight cities of the golden ring. It contains important cultural monuments not only Russian, but also European history.
The most popular attractions and cultural and architectural monuments are the Rostov Kremlin, the ensemble of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, the Rostov Bells and the Avraamiev Epiphany Monastery.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia – Sergiev Posad
Historically important buildings of Russian culture were not even erected in the 18th century, but were built throughout the 14th-17th centuries. That is, the Trinity Cathedral and the Lavra ensemble built around it are one of the oldest historical buildings in Russia.
It is also worth visiting such sights of Sergiev Posad as the Assumption Cathedral and the Spiritual Church.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Yaroslavl
It is the oldest of the cities that were built on the banks of the great Russian river Volga. The main and oldest attraction of this place is called the Spassky Monastery, namely the Transfiguration Cathedral.
It was erected at the beginning of the 15th century. Also an important monument of ancient Russian culture is the Church of the Prophet Elijah.
Pereslavl-Zalessky
This city is one of best places for creative people, as it is located on the shore beautiful lake Pleshcheyevo. The city is very rich in various monasteries, for example: Nikolsky, Feodorovsky, Sretensky Novodevichy, Nikitsky and Holy Trinity Danilov Monastery.
Diversity is also presented in the form of many museums of architecture, artistic activity and economic culture of Ancient Rus'.
Ivanovo
This city reflects the revolutionary history of Russia like no other. The number of monuments is amazing, as their number is second only to the capital and St. Petersburg. Ivanovo is also famous for its developed textile infrastructure.
The oldest sights of the city are the Shchudrovskaya tent, erected in the 17th century, and the Assumption Church, made not of stone, but of wood, built at the end of the same century, but, unfortunately, it burned down in 2015.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Suzdal
The peculiarity and highlight of this city, undoubtedly, is the architectural complex of the Suzdal Kremlin. It is believed that the Kremlin itself was built in the 10th century and is called the most the oldest building cities.
The Kremlin ensemble consists of such landmarks as St. Nicholas Church, Bishops' Chambers and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin.
Kostroma
The city preserves the memory of the reign of Catherine II, in the form of a construction plan approved by the empress. The main attractions of Kostroma are the ensembles of the famous Ipatievsky monastery and Susaninskaya Square.
The first complex includes the chambers of the Romanovs themselves, as well as the Trinity Cathedral, the Belfry, the Bishops' and Brothers' buildings, the walls and turrets of the Old City. By the way, here all year round you can visit the Terem and the Snow Maiden's Residence, which all the children are delighted with.
Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Vladimir
Undoubtedly, this city can be called holy. Since the number of white stone structures is quite large. The main attractions of Vladimir are the Golden Gate and the Assumption Cathedral. And also the no less important white-stone St. Demetrius Cathedral.
The cities of the Golden Ring of Russia reflect the culture and spirit of Ancient Rus'. To appreciate and feel the greatness of Russian history, you need to personally visit each of these eight cities.
The Golden Ring is the main tourist route of the country, popular not only among Russian but also among foreign travelers. Includes ancient cities located relatively close to Moscow, in which medieval fortresses, monuments of church and civil architecture of the 12th-19th centuries. 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 period of time, and visit the cities where events took place. major events national history.
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: , . There remains some doubt: this city cannot compare with the history or number of monuments listed above; it was never a princely capital.
On the other hand, tiny, but very ancient and interesting cities-, younger ones, and a number of others.
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 along the Golden Ring are very popular. As a rule, 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 transfer: settlements are connected either by rail or bus routes, or both at once. In small towns like public transport It doesn’t work very well, but it’s not necessary: one day is enough to explore all the city’s attractions 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 amount sights - ancient churches, monasteries, defensive structures 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 active rest"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 Snow Maiden’s homeland, 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, there are still 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.
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 Central Russia and representing a certain historical and cultural value. United highways, they form a symbolic circle, which has become the personification cultural heritage 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 central part of Russia with a population of about 340 thousand inhabitants.
The city amazes with its pristine beauty and preserved to this day architectural monuments, 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, Orthodox church and at the same time 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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