Message about the city of the golden ring. Journey along the golden ring of Russia. Golden Gate in Vladimir

The Golden Ring is the main tourist route of the country, popular not only among Russian, but also among foreign travelers. It includes ancient cities located relatively close to Moscow, in which medieval fortresses, monuments of church and civil architecture of the 12th-19th centuries have been preserved. The route is popular not only because of the unique sights, but also due to the transport accessibility and 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 time, to visit those cities where the most important events of Russian history took place.

Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia

The list of Golden Ring cities is controversial. A number of cities are full members of this "golden" community:,. It remains in doubt: this city cannot be compared with the history or number of monuments listed above, it has never been a princely capital.

On the other hand, tiny, but very ancient and interesting cities, younger ones, and a number of others, rightfully claim to be included in the Golden Ring route.

Sometimes cities from the main list are called the Great Ring of Russia, and settlements from the debatable list are called the Small Ring.

Tours and excursions around the Golden Ring

Tours around the Golden Ring are very popular. As a rule, tour operators offer bus tours. Cities are located nearby, so transfers usually do not take more than 3-4 hours. This method allows you to see the main attractions in a short time. Usually excursions take from 3 to 7 days: it all depends on the number of cities included in the program.

Of particular interest are river cruises along the Golden Ring. , and are located on the banks of the Volga, so it is very convenient to visit them while traveling by boat.

Journey around the ring of Russia

Traveling around the cities of the Golden Ring can be organized independently. Even in small towns, you can always rent a hotel, apartment or guest house. At the same time, there are no problems with the transfer: the settlements are connected either by rail or bus routes, or both at once. In small towns like public transport does not work very well, but this is not necessary: ​​one day is enough to get around all the sights of the city on foot, they are all concentrated in the historical center.

Sights of the Golden Ring

Each of the cities of the Golden Ring boasts a huge number of attractions - ancient churches, monasteries, defensive structures and others.

In Vladimir, you should definitely see the Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals, the Golden Gate, as well as the sights of the Vladimir suburb - the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl and the Bogolyubovsky Monastery.

There are several monasteries in the area, 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 to 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 above: each has its own zest and charm, this especially applies to the Volga cities.

Tourist route of the Golden Ring

The starting point for traveling along the Golden Ring is usually: the capital itself sometimes claims to be included in the "golden" list. Consider a long journey that allows you to see both the "big" and "small" cities of this route.

The first mandatory stop is located about 50 kilometers from Moscow. Another 65 kilometers along the M8 highway - and you will be in. Here you can stay 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 homeland of the Snow Maiden, and the next day you can explore the city. From Kostroma to also about 85 kilometers. Even if you do not 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 will be another 30 kilometers to go.

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.

In Vladimir it makes sense to stop for the night. It will take 1-2 days to explore the city itself.

The most convenient way to travel around the Golden Ring is by car: it allows you to see more. On the other hand, you can travel along the specified route by bus. Considering that the distances between the waypoints do not exceed 90 kilometers, the road will be easily transferred. Traveling without a car will allow you to better feel the atmosphere of each city and get to know it better.

Of the numerous routes in Russia, tours along the Golden Ring have gained particular popularity. Back in the days of the USSR, even foreign travelers showed interest in this direction - the Golden Ring was called the tourist pride of the country. Today, little has changed, except that the popularity of such tours has increased many times, and the program has expanded significantly.

Cities of the Golden Ring

The golden ring is a term that appeared in 1967. It was introduced by art critic and journalist Yuri Bychkov. In "Soviet Culture" he published essays on the cities of Ancient Rus', uniting them under the common title "Golden Ring". A series of routes of the Golden Ring passes through cities that have preserved unique historical monuments, culture and crafts. The composition of the cities of each round changes, but at the core there are eight main cities.

Kostroma- a city interesting with monuments of provincial classicism and historical planning. Its main attraction is the Ipatiev Monastery, which is closely associated with key events in Russian history. Kostroma is also famous for its churches and museums.

Pereslavl-Zalessky- a picturesque city with many museums. Among the most visited are the Historical and Architectural Museum, the Museum of the Iron, the Museum "Boat of Peter the Great". It is worth visiting the Nikitsky Monastery, the Transfiguration Cathedral and Lake Pleshcheyevo. It has a glacial origin and is recognized as a protected area.

At the mention Sergiev Posad the image of his shrine - the Trinity-Sergius Lavra rises before his eyes. Thanks to her, the city attracts not only tourist groups, but also many pilgrims. This is the largest of the active monasteries in Russia, which should be treated with special respect.

Ivanovo- not only the old Russian city. In the past, it was the center of constructivism, so you can see a record number of buildings in this style here. In Ivanovo, the Chintz Museum, the Holy Vvedensky Monastery and the unique Church of the Assumption are of interest.

Pearls of the Golden Ring: the main cities of the route

Each of the cities of the Golden Ring is of great importance for the history of Russia. But there are real pearls for which tourists choose this route. The main place in the Golden Ring is reserved for Rostov the Great. Due to the abundance of monuments, it was destined to turn into a Russian center of tourism and pilgrimage.

The heart of the city is the Rostov Kremlin, built in the 17th century. The architectural ensemble combines the Assumption Cathedral and its belfry, the Hodegetria Church, the Judgment Order, the Holy Gates. It is impossible to see all the buildings of the Kremlin in a day. It is necessary to study its architecture for a long time and thoughtfully, the richest collection of icons and museum collections (expositions of Old Russian Art, Art Gallery).

Rostov is also famous for its monasteries. It is worth visiting the Borisoglebsky, Avraamievo-Bogoyavlensky and Spaso-Yakovlevsky monasteries.

Yaroslavl- one of the oldest cities on the Volga, on the territory of which 150 important architectural monuments are located. Here, the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is worthy of attention. He became famous for the fact that it was in him that the "Lay of Igor's Campaign" was discovered. The monastery houses the rarest frescoes from the time of Ivan IV, icons and objects of ancient Russian art.

Feature of Yaroslavl - more than 30 ancient temples and churches. It will not be possible to see everything in a short time, but it is worth visiting the Church of Elijah the Prophet. The rich history of the city is reflected in the collections of its museums. Mainly in the exposition of the Museum of the history of the city, where you can see ancient icons, old household items, coins and archaeological finds.

Vladimir- the city on which the Golden Ring "holds". He preserved monuments of white-stone architecture, examples of which were the magnificent Dmitrievsky and Assumption Cathedrals. It is impossible not to visit the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum with a priceless collection of Russian crafts, merchants' household items and icons.

Suzdal- another city of the Golden Ring and an open-air museum. Its center was the Kremlin, which preserved the moats of the ancient fortress, several churches and bishops' chambers, in which a collection of jewelry, household items, coins and parts of cathedrals is exhibited.

Of great interest to tourists is the Spaso-Evfimievsky Monastery with intact wall paintings and frescoes. Also in Suzdal, you can visit master classes on making clay products, weaving birch bark baskets and cooking traditional dishes.

At various times, many cities sought to get into the Golden Ring - after all, this could guarantee a stable flow of tourists. Today, the most complete list looks like this (with the exception of the main eight): Alexandrov, Bogolyubovo,

Attractions

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Half a century ago, the journalist of the newspaper "Soviet Culture" (now the newspaper "Culture") Yuri Bychkov, who was passionate about the study of ancient Russian architecture and repeatedly visited historical sites, developed a circular route for a trip to 8 ancient cities of Russia. In 1967, he managed to make a planned trip, after which the journalist wrote a series of essays, soon published under the author's heading "The Golden Ring". This is how a popular tourist route was born, which has become the hallmark of the country due to the special significance of its intermediate points, which are rightly called Pearls. Each of the cities is the focus of historical and cultural monuments of Ancient Rus', centers of folk crafts. Anyone can make this famous journey in just one week. However, in order to get to know the heritage of the past in more detail and appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the treasure cities, it will take much more time. In our review, you will find out what you should first of all pay attention to in both cases.

Traveling along the Golden Ring, as a rule, begins with Sergiev Posad (from 1930 to 1991 - the city of Zagorsk), which is located closest to Moscow. The main attraction of the city, its heart is the famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra - a monastery founded in the first half of the XIV century by Sergius of Radonezh. It was around the Orthodox monastery that the city began to take shape. The Trinity Monastery, which became the spiritual center of the state, was repeatedly visited by many rulers, including Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan the Terrible, Peter I, Elizaveta Petrovna. Here was born a masterpiece of ancient Russian icon painting - "Trinity" by Andrei Rublev. Over the five centuries of the existence of the monastery around its oldest building - the Trinity Cathedral - an extensive architectural ensemble has formed, including about 50 buildings erected by the best architects of the country. Among the largest temples of the Sergius Lavra is the Assumption Cathedral, built in the 16th century. Next to the temple there is a tent-tomb of Boris Godunov and his family. The Trinity-Sergius Lavra is a unique open-air museum, viewing the “exposition” of which can take more than one day.

On the shore of the upper Skitsky (Korbushinsky) pond, 3 km from the monastery, there is the Chernigov Skete with a cave church. In the south-eastern outskirts of Sergiev Posad, there is a natural monument - the Gremyachiy Klyuch waterfall, a number of legends are associated with the history of its occurrence. It is believed that its waters, beating from a crevice of a limestone slope from a height of 25 meters, have miraculous properties.

In addition to the outstanding monuments of ancient architecture and picturesque surroundings, Sergiev Posad attracts the attention of tourists with its preserved old urban buildings, as well as the unique and largest collections of its museums - the Sergiev Posad State Historical and Art Museum-Reserve and the Toy Museum. The latter houses one of the symbols of the city - "Zagorsk Matryoshka" - the first Russian nesting doll, made according to the sketches of a local talented artist Sergey Malyutin.

There is no doubt that a visit to the Radonezh land will make an indelible impression not only on pilgrims, but also on everyone who is interested in the history and culture of Russia.

The territory on which the Russian cities that form the Golden Ring are located was called the Zalessky land in the Middle Ages, meaning everything that was “beyond the forest” in relation to the Kyiv and Chernihiv lands. One of the fortified cities of Zalesye - Pereyaslavl - was founded in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Since the city under this name already existed (the current Ukrainian city of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky), the name of the fortress soon acquired a characteristic definition, and later lost the letter “I”.

Today, a small town on the shores of Lake Pleshcheyevo is of great interest as a witness to the centuries-old development of the state, which is reflected in the many sights of this place. Why is Pereslavl-Zalessky famous? Of course, with its rich history, acquaintance with which is better to start from Red Square. It was here that the sovereign's court with the prince's chambers was once located, where the great commander Alexander Nevsky was born in 1220, decrees were announced here, regiments gathered. Until now, the ancient white-stone church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, which was the spiritual center of princely power, has been preserved almost in its original form. At the end of the 17th century, Peter I built a “fun flotilla” on Lake Pleshcheyevo, which marked the beginning of the Russian fleet. The memory of this event is kept by the museum-estate "Boat of Peter I", where the only surviving ship of the miniature squadron, the wooden boat "Fortuna", is exhibited.

In addition, Pereslavl-Zalessky is one of the centers of Orthodox culture in Russia. Nine ancient churches and five monasteries have survived to this day - Goritsky, Nikitsky, Feodorovsky, Nikolsky, Trinity-Danilov. Four of them are active, and on the territory of the former Goritsky monastery there is a historical, architectural and art museum-reserve.

It is impossible not to mention the picturesque nature of the region. The pride of the Pereslavl region is the Pleshcheevo Lake national park, part of which is the Pereslavl dendrological garden, where plants from all over the world are collected. Near Lake Pleshcheyevo you can see a ritual stone from the times of pagan Rus' - the Sin-stone.

The unique collections of Pereslavl museums are interesting, among which are the aforementioned Museum-Reserve and the Boat of Peter I, as well as the Museum of the Iron, the Museum House of Dummies, the Museum of Crafts, the Museum of Steam Locomotives, etc. Fascinating interactive programs are offered to guests of the city by the folk traditions center Dom Berendey".

One of the oldest Russian cities - Rostov the Great - has been leading its history since 862. The impressive past explains its saturation with monuments of archeology, history and culture. The central place among the attractions is occupied by the Rostov Kremlin - the former Bishop's Court (the residence of the Metropolitan), built in the second half of the 17th century. At that time, the city no longer had a defensive value, so the architectural structure is rather an example of stylization as an ancient Russian fortification, which, however, does not deprive the monument of historical and artistic significance. It was the Rostov Kremlin that became the scenery of the famous film by L. Gaidai “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession”. Inside the Kremlin walls there are five churches, the Assumption Cathedral of the 16th century and other historical buildings, which today are occupied by the museum-reserve.

On the territory of the city there are numerous churches and monasteries built in the period from the 13th to the 19th century. The oldest Orthodox monastery in Rostov is the Avraamiev Epiphany Monastery, the first mention of which dates back to 1261. On the outskirts of the city is the functioning Trinity-Sergius Varnitsky Monastery, built in the 15th century in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh, who, according to one version, was born near Rostov. The Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, located on the shores of Lake Nero, is distinguished by its extraordinary beauty and variety of architectural forms.

In addition to monuments of temple architecture in the city, you can see numerous civil buildings of the 17th - 19th centuries, among which are the only partially preserved stable yard of the 17th century in Russia, Torgovye Ryady, Mytny Dvor, the building of the Gymnasium named after. A.L. Kekina and others.

Rostov the Great is famous for its arts and crafts, made in the technique of finift - painting on enamel, which spread here back in the 17th century. The ancient folk craft still lives in the city, which is rightly considered the center of Russian enamel art. Collections of works by the best masters who worked in this genre are presented in the Rostov Kremlin Museum-Reserve and in the Finift Museum at the Rostov Finift factory.

The first Russian city on the Volga, founded by Yaroslav the Wise during his reign in Rostov, in 2010 crossed the thousand-year milestone. Thanks to a significant number of the most valuable monuments, Yaroslavl is classified as a capital city of historical, cultural and architectural heritage of the world level. Its unique urban structure includes samples of various styles of the past, thus allowing us to trace the development of Russian architecture over several centuries. Yaroslavl architecture reached its peak in the 17th century. At the same time, the modern planning of the historical center begins to take shape, the compositional dominants of which are majestic temples. The ensemble of the former Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, which played a significant role in the history of the development of Yaroslavl, deserves special attention. Today, one of the oldest Russian monasteries is the main territory of the Yaroslavl State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve, which contains over 300 thousand exhibits that tell in detail about the legendary Yaroslavl land.

One of the most popular sights of the city is the Volga embankment. In addition to amazing landscapes, you can see the Volga fortress tower of the 17th century, the Church of the Annunciation (late 17th - early 18th centuries), a monument to the poet N.A. Nekrasov, whose years of study were spent in Yaroslavl. Walking along the embankment, guests of the city should definitely visit the Museum of Old Russian Art, which occupies the ancient Metropolitan's Chambers, the Museum of the History of the City of Yaroslavl, housed in a former merchant's estate. The building of the former governor's house of the 19th century houses the Yaroslavl Art Museum, which houses a collection of icons from representatives of one of the most famous schools of Russian icon painting - the Yaroslavl school.

The Drama Theater, founded in Yaroslavl in 1750, became the first professional theater in Russia. Therefore, one of the components of the journey through the pearl of the Golden Ring will surely be a visit to the oldest temple of performing arts - the Russian Academic Drama Theater. F. Volkov, located in the city center, on Volkov Square.

It is difficult to list even some of the main attractions of the ancient city, which certainly confirms that Yaroslavl will conquer any, the most demanding tourist.

On the left bank of the Volga, at the old mouth of the Kostroma River, there is an ancient city, whose life path goes back centuries. Kostroma owes its existence to Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, who in 1152, during a campaign in the land of the Kazan Bulgarians, founded a fortress here. Since the middle of the 13th century, the city has been known as the center of the Kostroma specific principality, and already in the 14th century, Kostroma became part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Since that time, its history has been closely connected with the history of the Russian state.

To this day, the city as a whole has retained its unique historical appearance, formed by numerous architectural buildings of the 16th-19th centuries. Here, ancient Russian temple architecture and folk wooden architecture coexist with baroque and classicist buildings, buildings in the pseudo-Russian style, erected at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. Among religious buildings, the most interesting is the majestic Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery, located in the western part of Kostroma. It was from here that the founder of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, was called to the kingdom.

A single architectural ensemble of the late 18th - 19th centuries represents the central part of the city. On Susaninskaya Square, named after the national hero, Kostroma peasant Ivan Susanin, there are outstanding monuments of Russian classicism - the building of the former guardhouse, the Fire Tower, the Trading Rows and others. A variety of museum institutions have been opened in a number of architectural monuments: the historical, architectural and art museum-reserve, the architectural, ethnographic and landscape museum-reserve "Kostroma Sloboda", the Museum of Nature of the Kostroma Region, the Museum-estate of flax and birch bark, the Museum of Jewelry.

In the south of the Kostroma region, the Shchelykovo estate is located - the birthplace of the playwright A.N. Ostrovsky. Probably, the picturesque nature and the special national flavor of these places inspired the author to create the fairy tale play "The Snow Maiden". Today there is a memorial and natural museum-reserve of A.N. Ostrovsky. Anyone can plunge into the atmosphere of an old Russian estate, visit the Blue House of the Snow Maiden, learn a lot of new and interesting things about the life and work of the great Russian playwright.

Fascinating and versatile tourist routes of the city will allow all its guests to get vivid and unforgettable impressions.

This is the youngest of all the cities of the Golden Ring. Ivanovo-Voznesensk was formed only in 1871. However, the history of its ancestor - the village of the same name - also goes back to the Middle Ages, between the 14th and 16th centuries. In the first half of the 17th century, Ivanovo was a large village with developed crafts and trade. In the 18th century, the first linen manufactories appeared here, which laid the foundation for the fabric production of the future city, which later became the center of the country's textile industry, and was popularly called the "Chintz Region". The historical heritage of Ivanovo is made up of several factories - monuments of industrial architecture of the 19th century, which have come down to us in almost their original form. Those wishing to see a unique textile collection, as well as rare looms, should go to the Ivanovo Calico Museum.

A number of pre-revolutionary buildings have been preserved in the city - the wooden Assumption Church of the 17th century, the ensemble of the Vvedensky Convent (the beginning of the 20th century), the complex of buildings of the local history and regional art museums, etc. then - stuffing factory). Ivanovo differs from other cities of the route in the presence of a large number of historical and revolutionary monuments, as well as architectural monuments of the era of constructivism, among which are the House-Ship (1930), the House-Horseshoe (1934), etc.

Ivanovo stands on the picturesque bank of the Uvod River, which makes visiting the "City of Brides" doubly pleasant.

According to chronicle sources, the date of foundation of Suzdal is 1024. At the beginning of the XII century, the city was the center of the Rostov-Suzdal Principality, and at the end of the XIV century it became part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. The oldest witness of its centuries-old history was the Suzdal Kremlin, which includes valuable historical and architectural monuments - the Nativity Cathedral (XIII century), Bishops' Chambers (XV-XVIII centuries), several churches, including the ancient St. Nicholas Church (1766).

From the 16th century, active construction of monasteries was carried out in Suzdal, five of which have survived to this day. The obligatory cultural program of exploring the city includes the Pokrovsky and Spaso-Evfimiev monasteries, founded in the second half of the 14th century. Next to the latter is a rare monument of residential urban planning at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries - the Posad House, in stone forms repeating the architecture of wooden houses of that time. Today, the old building is occupied by a museum recreating the life of a merchant townsman in Suzdal.

In the center of the city there is the Torgovaya Square, the ensemble of which consists of several churches of the 18th century and the Gostiny Dvor (Trading Rows), built in 1806-1811. Of great interest is the oldest church of the Vladimir-Suzdal land, one of the earliest white-stone buildings of North-Eastern Rus' - the Church of Boris and Gleb, located on the eastern outskirts of the city, in the village of Kideksha. The Museum of Wooden Architecture will tell about Russian peasant life, where genuine exhibits are collected: the hut of a middle peasant, the house of a wealthy peasant, windmills, a barn-storage, a wheel well, a bathhouse and others.

Suzdal is a unique city-reserve that has managed to preserve not only its original architectural appearance, but also the spirit of ancient Russian culture.

Despite the fact that the center of Vladimir has been significantly rebuilt by now, the city has managed to preserve its fascinating historical atmosphere, which attracts tourists from all over the world. The Old Russian capital is the owner of a huge number of historical and architectural monuments, three of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are the triumphant Golden Gates, which from the middle of the XII century make out the main entrance to the princely possessions, the white-stone Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals, erected at the end of the same century. Not far from the Golden Gate is a pseudo-Gothic church - the Catholic Church of the Holy Rosary, built at the end of the 19th century. An interesting monument of engineering, technical and industrial architecture of the XIX - n. XX centuries - The water tower, which has been occupied by the Old Vladimir Museum since 1971. This and other museum institutions are united by the world-famous Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve, which includes more than 50 architectural monuments of the XII-XX centuries. One of its exhibition halls is the last cult pre-revolutionary building - the former Old Believer Church of the Holy Trinity, which today houses the Museum of Crystal and Lacquer Miniatures.

The glorious city of Vladimir can be both the beginning of a classic tourist route and its magnificent end.

See all objects on the map

In 1967, the art critic Yuri Bychkov, on the instructions of the newspaper "Soviet Culture", went on his "Moskvich" 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, thus enclosing his route in a ring. A series of his travel notes was published under the title "Golden Ring". This is how the famous route from 8 cities appeared: Sergiev Posad - Pereslavl-Zalessky - Rostov the Great - Yaroslavl - Kostroma - Ivanovo - Suzdal - Vladimir.

“Falling into thoughtfulness, he wandered around Moscow. The weather was a contrast to the five sunny days of a recent trip - the sky was covered with a gray veil. I raised my eyes upward, and my gaze met the dome of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, melting in a ghostly height, golden through the curtain of drizzle slowly descending from the sky of rain dust. Like an electric shock: "Golden!" This "gold" immediately contacted the road. It turned out - "Golden Ring".

Yuri Bychkov

SERGIEV POSAD

The only city in the Moscow region in the Golden Ring. Its main attraction is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. There are about fifty white-stone buildings that were built over four centuries by the best architects of the country. So it is unlikely that you will be able to see them all in one tour.

The relics of Sergius of Radonezh are kept in the Trinity Cathedral, and hundreds of pilgrims flock here every day. The cathedral is known for its horizontal iconostasis, which was created by an artel of craftsmen under the leadership of Andrei Rublev. On one of the doors of the temple, a hole from the core was preserved - a trace from the siege of the Lavra by the troops of False Dmitry II.

In the vicinity of the city there is an old manor Abramtsevo. 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, while Andrei Tarkovsky filmed some scenes from Solaris.

As a souvenir from Sergiev Posad, you can bring a Bogorodsk toy - a carved wooden bear or a colorful bird - which is set in motion by a secret mechanism.

PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY

In the city on the shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo, you can see six monasteries and nine churches. Among them is the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, in which, according to legend, Alexander Nevsky was baptized. The decoration of the temple differs from most Russian churches in its asceticism: there is practically no decor, a minimum of frescoes. The exception is a copy of the icon "Transfiguration" by Theophanes the Greek above the marble altar.

Be sure to visit Pleshcheyevo Lake itself. It was here that in the 17th century Peter I began the construction of the "amusing flotilla", the progenitor 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 the Great's times is exhibited. And on the lake there is a Blue stone - it was used during the rituals of the pagan Slavs. When it rains, the color of the stone changes from gray to blue - hence the name. Tourists make wishes at the Blue Stone and, in order for it to come true, they tie a bright ribbon to a neighboring bush, and leave a coin on the stone itself.

ROSTOV VELIKIY

One of the oldest cities in Rus' was mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years - in the annals 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 glorified throughout the country by Leonid Gaidai: the main characters of the film "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession" ran away from the chase through the passages of the Rostov Kremlin.

In the ensemble of the Kremlin is the Assumption Cathedral - one of the most beautiful churches in Russia. Its architectural style is largely reminiscent of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. According to legend, the father of the hero Alyosha Popovich was the rector of this cathedral. The famous Rostov belfry with fifteen bells is also located at the cathedral. The largest of them - and the most major in sound - "Sysy". It weighs 32 tons - it takes two bell ringers to rock this giant.

Rostov the Great is famous for traditional Russian cuisine. Delicate dumplings stuffed with pike can be called a favorite of city guests - the main treat of local cafes and restaurants in the Russian style.

YAROSLAVL

The first thing 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 architraves has survived to this day almost in its original form. Ancient frescoes and a baroque carved iconostasis of the 17th century have also survived. However, for visitors to the temple museum, they are open only in the warm season: damp and cold weather can cause irreparable damage to the images.

IVANOVO

"Moscow and Ivanovo... were rebuilt"- wrote Mayakovsky. There are really not many ancient buildings in the city that have survived, and the oldest of them is the stone Shchudrovskaya tent. The miniature pre-Petrine chambers now house a department of the Ivanovo Local History Museum.

There are many more examples of architectural constructivism in the city. For example, residential "House-ship", built in 1930 by architect Daniil Fridman. The shape of the building really resembles a ship due to the rounded walls and sloping 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. Nearly half a million textile samples have been collected here - from ancient homespun fabrics to the most modern factory samples. Also in the museum there is an exhibition of works and sketches of the famous native of Ivanovo - fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev.

SUZDAL

The Suzdal Kremlin was built 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 with a special deep blue dome with golden stars. The ensemble of the Kremlin also includes 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 Museum of Wooden Architecture in the open air contains authentic buildings of the 17th-18th centuries. Peasant huts, merchant houses and even mills are open to the public. Their interior decoration was recreated by the museum staff 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 the film by Pavel Lungin "Tsar". Today, in the interactive museum, visitors are introduced to the life of the inhabitants of ancient Suzdal, they are taught how to bake bread in a real oven, shoot a bow and hold a sword correctly.

VLADIMIR

Vladimir for two centuries 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 crowned for reign. 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 are the works of Andrei Rublev.

The Golden Gates of Vladimir were built in the 12th century by Andrey Bogolyubsky. He wanted to show that the city is not inferior to Kyiv in influence and wealth. The gates have become not only a beautiful architectural monument, but also a powerful protective structure. They withstood the onslaught of the Tatar hordes during the siege of the city of Batu.

Also in the water meadows near Vladimir is one of the most famous Russian churches - the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. The graceful temple looks light and weightless thanks to the combination of narrow and elongated decorative elements. The walls of the church are decorated with thematic carved reliefs. The central motif of three of them was King David seated on the throne, surrounded by lions and doves.