“The Golden Ring of Russia” was uttered more than 50 years ago for the first time, when the Russian art critic and journalist Yuri Bychkov thus characterized the largest cities of the northeastern part of Russia.
This name stuck and began to be used in line with the designation of excursion routes for those who want to visit these places.
The classic route includes 8 towns of Russia. If you travel to Russia for the first time, the route “Golden Ring” is the best way to know the culture of Russia.
The trip can be also a great addition to the full immersion course while learning Russian in Russia. You can see with your own eyes the famous ancient and sacred places of an amazing country.
SERGIEV POSAD
The only city in the Moscow region which is part of the Golden Ring. Its main attraction is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. There are about fifty white stoned buildings, which were being built by the best architects of the country for four centuries.
KOSTROMA
The main attraction of the city is the white-stone Ipatiev Monastery, “the cradle of the Romanov dynasty”, where Mikhail Romanov was elected to the kingdom. You can see the originals of the multicolored frescoes by Guriy Nikitin and the five-tiered golden iconostasis in the Baroque style in its main church, the Trinity Cathedral. The monastery library contains the Ipatiev Chronicle. It is one of the oldest and most significant historical documents. It tells about the history of Ancient Rus from the 9th to the end of the 13th century and covers almost 500 years.
PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY
There are six monasteries and nine churches in the city on the shores of Lake Pleshcheyevo. Among them there is the Transfiguration Cathedral. According to legend, Alexander Nevsky was baptized there.
The decoration of the temple differs from most Russian churches in asceticism: there is practically no decor, at least frescoes. The only exception is a copy of the icon “Transfiguration” by Theophanes the Greek over the marble altar.
IVANOVO
There are not so many ancient structures in Ivanovo, and the oldest of them is the stone Shchudrovskaya tent. The miniature pre-Petrine chambers now are the department of the Ivanovo Museum of History and Local Lore.
ROSTOV THE GREAT
One of the oldest cities in Russia was mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years, in the chronicle of 862. The Kremlin of the 17th century adorns Rostov. It was built not to protect the city, but as the residence of the metropolitan.
The Kremlin ensemble houses the Assumption Cathedral – one of the most beautiful churches in Russia. Its architectural style is reminiscent of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin in many ways.
YAROSLAVL
The first thing you should 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. Also the old frescoes and a baroque carved iconostasis of the 17th century have been managed to save.
SUZDAL
The Suzdal Kremlin was built in the 10th century, and, fortunately, almost all of its main buildings have survived to this day. Including the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin with a special deep blue dome with gold stars.
VLADIMIR
Vladimir for two centuries was the nominal capital of North-Eastern Russia. The Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was built to store the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, which was considered the patroness and defender of the state. Today the Assumption Cathedral is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Also there is ne of the most famous Russian churches on the flooded meadows near Vladimir – the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl.
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