Golden Ring
Suzdal-town seems to be one of the most famous cities of the "Golden Ring". "A museum in the open air" is the most exact description of this ancient Russian town that has about two hundred ancient monuments of religious architecture. They are situated on the area of nine square kilometers. One of the most interesting monuments is the Kremlin, which is surrounded by ancient ramparts. There is a Monastery of the Savior and St.Euthimius, a Convent of the Intercession, a Museum of Wooden Architecture and Rural Life, XVIII century Possad churches, and the Gostiny Dvor (Possad Marketplace, 1811).
For more than 250 years Vladimir-town had been playing a very important part in the history of Russia, when it was the capital of the ancient Russian state. Up to 1432, Grand Princes of Russia were crowned in the Vladimir Cathedral of the Assumption of Holly Mother of God. Its unique historical and architectural monuments testify to the former beauty and power of the ancient Russian capital. Vladimir has preserved its ancient defensive ramparts, the main gateway to the city - the Golden Gate, the golden-domed Cathedral of Assumption with Andrey Rublev's frescoes, and the Cathedral of St. Dmitry whose walls are lavishly decorated with relief carvings in white stone.
Kostroma-town is supposed to be founded in 1152 by prince Yriy Dolgorukiy as a fort. Now Kostroma is the only city in Russia that retaines the layout and architectural ensemble formed in its central part during the XVIII - early XIX centuries. Numerous architectural monuments and first of all ensemble of Ipitievskiy monastery, the layout of Kostroma, unique buildings of the central part of the town are a bright example of Russian town planning.
Rostov-the-Great-town is one of the oldest Russian towns of the “Golden Ring”. It is situated on the wonderful lake Nero. In 862 A.D. the town was first mentioned in the historic chronicles.
The town preserves wooden two-store houses of the XIX century with pediments and balconies in the Russian classic style, and the monuments of civic architecture Myitny and Gostiny Dvors (1830s). Also Rostov-the-Great is famous for its bell ringing and architectural monuments of the XVI century. The pearl of the town is the Rostov Kremlin with its White Walls where lots of historical films were shot.
Invaluable treasures of Russian architecture are in Pereslavl-Zalesskiy-town: Spassko-Preobrazenskaja church (1152), old monasteries, cathedrals of the XVI-XVIII centuries, monuments of civil architecture, picturesque nature attracted here such famous people as: Prishvin M.M., Shalapin F.I., Korovin K.A. From the ancient pagan hill is situated near the town, where the legend Sin-Stone lies, the place of pagan admiration.
Yaroslavl-town was founded in 1010 by Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise. History of the town is closely connected with such names as poet Nekrasov N.A., Grand Duke Pozharskiy, the founder of the first national theatre in Russia Volkov F.G., a sculptor Opekushin A.M., artist Savrasov A.K. and many other famous Russian people. The architecture ensembles made Yaroslavl one of the most beautiful cities of old Russia with its churches rich in frescoes and ceramic ornamentation.
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