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WHAT IS IT: The so referred to as “Golden Ring of Russia” is a symbolical ring connecting historic cities and cities to the North-West of Moscow. They symbolize 1,000 years of wealthy Russian historical past written in stone and wooden, from a 850-year previous church in Rostov to a Nineteenth-century log home within the Suzdal’s open air museum. Every of the “golden” cities as soon as performed an necessary position within the historical past of Russia and was linked in a technique or one other with well-known historic figures similar to Alexander Nevsky, Ivan the Horrible, Peter the Nice and lots of others.
WHAT TO SEE: The cities and cities of the Golden Ring are listed right here in alphabetical order:
Aleksandrov (based in 1530, inhabitants 68,000) – The city is located 100 km from Moscow on the crossway of historical roads from the most important historic facilities of Russia – Vladimir and Suzdal, Rostov and Yaroslavl, Sergiev Posad and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. In 1564- 1581 the city was the residence of Ivan the Horrible. The very first in Russia publishing home was established in Aleksandrov in 1576. One of many main textile manufacturing centres in Russia within the Nineteenth century.
Bogolubovo (based in 990, inhabitants 4,000) – a tiny quiet city close to town of Vladimir. The city was named after the Russian prince Andrey Bogolubsky (God-loving) who constructed the primary fortified settlement right here in 1165. Vacationers can see stays of the Andery Bogolubsky’s residence together with some residential chambers of the Twelfth century and the gorgeous Church of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Nerl (1165) which is taken into account to be one of many most interesting specimens of previous Russian structure.
Gorohovets (based in 1239, inhabitants 30,000) – The city was based underneath Vladimir prince Andrey Bogolubsky. The city is picturesquely settled on the excessive financial institution of the Klyazma River. Performed position as a fortified forepost till 1600-s. Reached its developmental choose within the 17-th century as an area centre for blacksmithing, textile-making and making of leather-based and in addition as an agricultural commerce centre for grains and flax.
Gus-Khrustalny (based in 1756, inhabitants 80,000) – Over 200 years in the past a service provider constructed right here the primary workshop of glass casting. As we speak the city is likely one of the district facilities of Vladimir area, well-known in Russia and overseas because the nationwide heart of glassmaking. The title Gus-Krustalny may be actually translated as Chrystalline Goose. The previous a part of the city is a workmen’s settlement of 1900-s. with its personal Church of St. Joachim of 1816.
Kholuy (based 1650, inhabitants 1,000) – The village of Kholui didn’t start producing lacquered miniatures till the Thirties, and although iconography had been an necessary commerce within the area in earlier centuries, Kholui was by no means certain to any explicit creative custom. Reasonably, Kholui miniatures share some traits with each Palekh and Mstera artwork, but keep a particular lyrical high quality of their very own. Generally, as with Palekh miniatures, Kholui miniatures will embody some advantageous gold and/or silver ornamentation inside the portray, and Kholui artists can create incredible border ornaments on par with these of Palekh.
Kostroma (based in 1213, inhabitants 300,000) – Prior to now Kostroma was generally known as “the flax capital of the north”; it provided Europe with the world’s most interesting sail-cloth. Town has been additionally referred to as because the “cradle of the Romanov dynasty”. Mikhail Romanov, the primary of the Romanov dynasty, left the Ipatievsky Monastery for Moscow in 1613 to turn into tsar of Russia. Through the Polish intervention within the turbulent years of the early seventeenth century Kostroma was a big stronghold for the resistance motion. These days Kostroma is a crucial industrial heart (textile, metallic works), a capital metropolis of the Kostroma province.
Mstera (based in 1628, inhabitants 6,000) – the city takes its title from the little Msterka River, which flows by means of it merging with the Kliyazma. It’s in Vladimir Area, however not removed from the border with Ivanovo Area, south of Palekh and Kholui, in breathtakingly stunning countryside – the one which types the backdrop to its work. Mstera was a revered heart of icon manufacturing till the commerce was banned after the Revolution of 1917. Since then its artists has been creating world-famous masterpieces within the type of lacquered miniatures.
Murom (based 862, inhabitants 145,000) – one of many oldest Russian cites stretched alongside the left financial institution of the Oka river. The city’s title originates from “muroma”, one of many Finno-Ugric tribes lived right here 15 centuries in the past. Each Russian is aware of the title Ilya Muromets. He was a legendary epic hero defending folks of Russia and later grew to become a synonym of superior bodily and non secular energy and integrity, devoted to the safety of the Homeland. The city survived three Mongol invasions. Within the seventeenth century Murom grew to become an necessary centre of varied crafts – constructing, portray, sawing.
Palekh (based 1600, inhabitants 6,000) – the village is located about 400km (250 miles) from Moscow within the Ivanovo area. Within the fifteenth century it was one of many first facilities of icon drawing commerce. After the 1917 communist coup, when the icon enterprise went down, Palekh masters tried to brighten wood toys, dishes, porcelain and glass. Lately the title of Palekh is sort of synonymous with the artwork of Russian lacquer.
Pereslavl-Zalesskiy (based in 1152, inhabitants 45,000) – one of many oldest Russian cities, the birthplace of the well-known Russian prince Alexander Nevsky, who defeated a military of German knights in 1242. Zalessky means “behind the woods”. That’s the place, behind the dense forests, historical Slavic tribes retreated looking for refuge from hostile nomads coming from the South-East.
Ples (based in 1410, inhabitants 4,000) – this quet little historic city is positioned on the financial institution of the mighty and exquisite Volga river. Through the reign of Ivan the Horrible Ples was one of many largest river firsh suppliers to the kings’ courtroom. Within the 18-Nineteenth centuries the city grew to become generally known as a well-liked resort and was usually referred to as “Russian Switzerland” for the fantastic thing about its surroundings. Quite a few Russian artists together with the well-known grasp of landscapes Levitan used to come back right here to work.
Rostov Veliky (Rostov the Nice, based in 862, inhabitants 40,000) – one other pearl of historical Russian tradition. In previous Russia solely two cities had been referred to as veliky (nice). One was Novgorod, the well-known commerce centre of the Russia’s north, the opposite Rostov. Within the Twelfth century Rostov grew to equal Kiev and Novgorod in measurement and significance. Fashionable Rostov is a sleepy previous city with some magnificent buildings subsequent to the shallow Nero lake.
Sergiev Posad (based in 1345, inhabitants 115,000) – the non secular heart of Russia, residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, the place the stays of the primary nationwide saint, Sergei Radonezh, rests. Within the coronary heart of Sergiev Posad is a well-preserved splendid architectural ensemble of over 50 historic buildings, in addition to magnificent artwork collections together with previous Russian portray and the treasures within the vaults of the previous Trinity Monastery.
Suzdal (based in 1024, inhabitants 12,000) – this little quiet city is an actual gem, probably the most stunning within the Golden Ring assortment of citeis and cities. Within the eleventh century Suzdal grew to become the very first forepost of Christianity within the North-Japanese Russia and considerably affected the spiritual life in Russia till the top of 19 century. Right here you will discover over 100 church and secular buildings courting from the mid-Twelfth to the mid-Nineteenth century crowded right into a space of 9 sq. km.
Uglich (based in 937, inhabitants 38,000) – the city was constructed on a serious commerce route. In its historical past Uglich has survived destruction by the Mongols and lived by means of the devastation of fires and plagues. Uglich is legendary for Russia’s darkest secret – the demise of younger Prince Dimitri, son of Ivan the Horrible who is usually referred to as Tsarevich (a inheritor to the throne) Dmitry. The middle of the city is also a historic and architectural landmark. The streets are huge, with numerous church buildings standing facet by facet alongside the highway.
Vladimir (based in 1108, inhabitants 400,000) – one of many oldest Russian cities, was based by the Russian Prince Vladimir Monomakh on the banks of the Kliazma river. Town actually blossomed within the Twelfth century throughout the reign of Prince Andrey Bogolubsky, who strengthened its defences, welcomed architects, icon-painters, jewellers from different nations, constructed new palaces and church buildings so magnificent that vacationers compaired them with those within the “mom of all Russian cities”- Kiev. Till the center of 14th century town had been an administrative, cultural and non secular heart for North-Japanese Russia.
Yaroslavl (based in 1010, inhabitants 600,000 ) – because the legend goes it was based by the well-known Russian prince Yaroslav the Smart as a fortified settlement on the Volga river. After an enormous hearth of 1658 that turned many of the metropolis into ruins, Jaroslavl was rebuilt in stone and reached the height of its architectural improvement with palaces and church buildings richly adorned with stunning frescoes and ornaments thus incomes the title “Florence of Russia”. As we speak it’s a quiet metropolitan metropolis, considered one of Russia’s largest regional centres, a capital of the Jaroslav province and probably the most stunning cities of previous Russia.
Yuriev-Polsky (based in 1152, inhabitants 20,000) – was based by the Prince Yury Dolgoruky (who additionally based Moscow in 1147) and named after himself. The second phrase “Polsky” means “among the many fields” as it’s located within the coronary heart of fertile and flat Suzdal land. These stunning landscapes impressed the nice painters and writers similar to Repin, Tyutchev, Odoevsky, Soloukhin. Native textile centre because the 18th century.
HOW TO GET THERE: By aircraft to Moscow. From Moscow you possibly can journey the cities and cities of the Golden Ring both by a tour bus or by a river cruise ship. The final possibility limits the variety of cities you can go to as they must be located near the Volga river. We suggest you to take a bus tour for 3 to 10 days relying in your stamina and stage of curiosity in Russian historical past. A typical 3-4-day tour from Moscow covers as much as 7 cities and cities of the Golden Ring. You journey throughout the day time in a snug bus with a well-trained English-speaking information and spend nights at lodges with Western-class service (usually- 3 star). The Golden Ring tour may be completely mixed with 2-3 day program in Moscow. Nearly each main journey company in Moscow sells Golden Ring excursions and it’s less expensive to purchase them on the spot in Russia then to buy a tour included right into a trip package deal from Europe or abroad. Communication will not be an issue, lately all personnel in respectable businesses in Russia converse English.
WHEN TO GO: One of the best season to journey to Russia is summer time, from June to August, the warmest time of the 12 months there. Rains are ordinary throughout summers, don’t forget to pack your umbrella. Climate may be unpredictably chilly, even within the European a part of Russia, so take some heat clothes. You’ll be able to test subsequent week climate forecast for Moscow right here.
TRAVEL TIPS: A passport and a Russian visa are required to journey in or transit by means of Russia. To study extra about methods to receive Russian visa please go to Russian Embassy web site. And not using a visa, vacationers can not register at lodges and could also be required to depart the nation instantly by way of the route by which they entered, at the price of the traveler. Russian customs officers strictly observe doc rules so vacationers are suggested to have all papers so as. It’s also really useful that further copies of passport and visa be stored in a protected place in case of loss or theft. Aged vacationers and people with current well being issues could also be in danger on account of insufficient medical services. Medical doctors and hospitals usually anticipate instant money/greenback fee for well being providers at Western charges so supplemental medical insurance coverage with particular abroad protection could be very helpful. Vacationers needs to be sure that each one immunizations are up-to-date, particularly for diphtheria and typhoid. High quality of faucet water varies from metropolis to metropolis however usually is kind of poor. Solely boiled or bottled water needs to be drunk all through Russia. Crime in opposition to foreigners in Russia continues to be an issue, particularly in main cities. Choose pocketing, assaults, and robberies happen. Foreigners who’ve been consuming alcohol are particularly weak to assault and theft in or round evening golf equipment or bars, or on their approach residence. Robberies could happen in taxis shared with strangers. Remember that public washrooms are tough to search out, and often it’s a must to pay there. To make use of a public cellphone you will want a token or native card. Worldwide calls cannot be made out of avenue telephones. Your cell phone will work in Moscow and Saint Petersburg however seldom in regional cities. Taxi payment should be mentioned with a driver earlier than a journey.
Within the main cities you possibly can hire a automobile if you don’t thoughts pretty rugged highway situations, a number of hassles discovering petrol, getting misplaced from time to time and paying excessive hire worth. Public transport in Russia is kind of good, low cost and simple to make use of although generally overcrowded. Eating places seldom have a menu in English. Tipping is anticipated however not obligatory. Indicators in English are frequent on the streets of Moscow and different huge cities. In giant cities it isn’t laborious to discover a passerby who can reply your questions in Engish. Electrical energy all through Russia is 220 volt/50 hz. The plug is the two-pin skinny European normal.
We want you a protected and good journey!