|
A trip to the Golden Ring is a trip back in time - to an era before Moscow was capital. The powerful medieval cities of Vladimir & Suzdal were once Moscow's equal, but when they lost the struggle for political supremacy, they slipped into obscurity. Vladimir was founded by Vladimir the Wise, Prince of Kiev, and Ruler of Russia, in 1108 AD. But it is the Museum-Town of Suzdal which remains the outstanding gem for the C20th visitor.
Vladimir
Golden Gates of Vladimir (1164) - the great City Gates which greeted all visitors.
Cathedral of the Dormition and Cathedral of St Demetrius - two of the oldest churches in Russia.
Bogolyubovo - site of the Church of the Inercession on the Nerl (1165) - simply one of the most stunningly-proportioned you'll ever see.
Suzdal
Suzdal is only accessible from Vladimir - it has no effective transportation service of its own, except an erratic bus to Vladimir. The town is an officially-designated Museum-Preserve. Only a few people live there, and it has a sleepy, "forgotten" feeling .
Outdoor Museum of Wooden Architecture. The buildings here were saved from destruction in development plans, and re-erected on the site. They show a typical wooden village of C17-18th Russia, complete with churches, dwellings etc.
The Kremlin. including the Cathedral of the Nativity, Archbishop's Residence, and Chamber of the Cross.
Town Square including Resurrection Cathedral, Church of Our Lady of Kazan, and the C13th Monastery of the Deposition of the Robe.
Pokrovsky Monastery including the Annunciation Cathedral , Church of the Transfiguration, and the Golden Treasury - our especial favourite, an amazing collection - and a personal favourite.
Many old wooden houses, streets etc - it's very quiet and peaceful here.
|
|
