The Golden Ring is a Russian tourist route around cities northeast of Moscow. The ancient cities of the Golden Ring preserve the memory of the most significant events in Russian history. They are also can be described as open-air museums featuring unique monuments of Russian architecture.
Take a look at the treasuries of the Golden Ring cities in a collection of bird’s eye panoramic pictures by Airpano.
Rostov Velikiy (Rostov the Great) is one of Russia’s oldest cities. It is located in the Yaroslavl Region, nearly 200 kilometers northeast of Moscow. The city stands on Lake Nero.
Above: Monastery of St. Jacob Saviour (Spaso-Yakovlevsky), Rostov Velikiy.
Above: Monastery of St. Jacob Saviour (Spaso-Yakovlevsky), Rostov Velikiy.
The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery was founded in 1345 by Sergius of Radonezh.
Above: Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Sergiyev Posad.
Above: Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Sergiyev Posad.
The ancient city of Kostroma is located 344 kilometers from Moscow and spans both coasts of the Volga River. There is a belief that Kostroma like Moscow was founded by Grand Prince Yury Dolgoruky.
Above: Susaninskaya Square, Kostroma.
Above: Susaninskaya Square, Kostroma.
The city is most famous for its Ipatievsky Monastery which has links with the Romanov Dynasty.
Above: The Fire Tower, Kostroma.
Above: The Fire Tower, Kostroma.
Pereslavl-Zalesskiy is best known for being the birthplace of the great prince Aleksander Nevsky.
Above: A view of Pereslavl-Zalessky.
Above: A view of Pereslavl-Zalessky.
Yaroslavl is considered the unofficial capital of the Golden Ring. The city was mentioned for the first time in chronicles of 1071 as among the first Russian cities. It is believed to have been founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. After the reforms of Ekaterina II Yaroslavl it became the standard of urban development for other Russian cities.
Above: Assumption Cathedral at night, Yaroslavl.
Above: Assumption Cathedral at night, Yaroslavl.
In 1993, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius was inscribed on the UN World Heritage List.
Above: Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Sergiyev Posad
Above: Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Sergiyev Posad
The Spaso-Preobrazhensky (Transfiguration of the Savior) Monastery is the best-known building in Yaroslavl. The monastery was founded in the 12th century, and it is the oldest building in the city.
Above: The belfry of the Transfiguration Monastery at sunset, Yaroslavl.
Above: The belfry of the Transfiguration Monastery at sunset, Yaroslavl.
Rostov Velikiy was mentioned in the chronicles for the first time in 862. Originally, it was called Rostov, and the word Velikiy (Great) was added to the name in the 12th century.
Above: A view of the Rostov Kremlin.
Above: A view of the Rostov Kremlin.
Vladimir, one the most important cities in Russian history, is the administrative center of the Vladimir Region. The city is located on the Klyazma River, 200 kilometers to the east of Moscow. Vladimir was the ancient capital of the North-Eastern Rus. Now it is a major Russian tourist center.
Above: The Golden Gate of Vladimir.
Above: The Golden Gate of Vladimir.
Suzdal is one of Russia’s most picturesque and authentic cities and it has preserved many of its ancient architectural monuments. Several sights are protected by UNESCO, such as the White Stone Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal.
Above: A view of Suzdal.
Above: A view of Suzdal.
Ivanovo is distinguished from the ancient cities of the Golden Ring. It is both the youngest and the most industrial city of the Golden Ring. It is connected by its once-booming textile trade which led to the city being known as the Bride City.
Above: The Vvedensky monastery, Ivanovo.
Above: The Vvedensky monastery, Ivanovo.
There is no official list of the cities making up the Golden Ring, however, the major cities consist of Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Sergyiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Suzdal and Vladimir.
Above: Near the church of the Intercession on the Nerl, Vladimir.
Above: Near the church of the Intercession on the Nerl, Vladimir.
An interesting note is that it is officially prohibited to construct any tall building in Suzdal. The city is famous for its quite narrow streets, wooden houses and numerous churches.
Above: The Museum of Wooden Masterpieces, Suzdal.
Above: The Museum of Wooden Masterpieces, Suzdal.
The term "Golden Ring" was originally used in 1967 as a metaphoric title for a series of newspaper articles about ancient Russian cities. Later, the name was given to the worldwide famous tourist route.
Above: The Annunciation Monastery, Ivanovo.
Above: The Annunciation Monastery, Ivanovo.
In 1688–1693, Peter the Great built his famous "fun flotilla" on Lake Pleshcheyevo near Pereslavl-Zalessky. That flotilla is considered to be the antecedent of the Russian fleet.
Above: A view of Pereslavl-Zalessky.
Above: A view of Pereslavl-Zalessky.
