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Complete Travel GuideGOLDEN RING of Russia- Travel Guide, Part 1
by:
TravelMake.com
WHAT IS IT: The so called "Golden Ring of Russia" is a symbolical ring connecting historical towns and cities to the North-West of Moscow. They represent 1,000 years of rich Russian history written in stone and wood, from a 850-year old church in Metropolis to a 19th-century log home in the Suzdal's open air museum. Each of the "golden" towns once contend an important role in the history of Russia and was conected in one way or another with famed historical figures such as Alexander Nevsky, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great and many a others. If you would-be like to see true, patriarchic Russia, to experience the grandeur of nature and the magnificence of ancient towns then a Golden Ring tour is well worth taking. It is one of the most popular routes among Russian and foreign lovers of old Russian history and architecture.
WHAT TO SEE: The cities and towns of the Golden Ring are listed here in alphabetical order:
Aleksandrov (founded in 1530, population 68,000) - The town is placed 100 km from National capital on the carrefour of ancient roads from the largest historic centers of Russia - Vladimir and Suzdal, Metropolis and Yaroslavl, Sergiev Posad and Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. In 1564- 1581 the town was the residence of Ivan the Terrible. In Aleksandrov the crowned head declared
the establishment of his select, terror-inspiring corps, the Oprichniki and signed the harsh conditions of the cease-fire with European nation and Scandinavian country after losing the long war with Livonia. From Aleksandrov Ivan the Terrible led his army of Oprichniki to strike at the big trade centres of Novgorod, Pskov, Klin and Tver. Here the cruel crowned head killed his son in a rage and before long after that left Aleksandrov forever coming back to Moscow. The really 1st in Russia business home was established in Aleksandrov in 1576. One of the leading textile manufacturing centres in Russia in the Ordinal
century.
Bogolubovo (founded in 990, population 4,000) - a diminutive quiet town near the city of Vladimir. The town was named after the Russian blue blood Andrey Bogolubsky (God-loving) who built the 1st fortified settlement here in 1165. It was a strategically important point dominating the Kliazma River. Tourists can see remains of the Andery Bogolubsky's residence including several human action chambers of the Ordinal
century and the beautiful Church of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Nerl (1165) which is considered to be one of the finest specimens of old Russian architecture.
Gorohovets (founded in 1239, population 30,000) - The town was supported
under Vladimir blue blood Andrey Bogolubsky. The town is picturesquely settled on the high bank of the Klyazma River. Contend role as a fortified forepost until 1600-s. Reached its biological process
pick in the 17-th century as a local centre for blacksmithing, textile-making and fashioning of animal skin
and as well as an agricultural trade centre for grains and flax.
Gus-Khrustalny (founded in 1756, population 80,000) - Over 200 years ago a bourgeois built here the 1st workshop of glass casting. Now the town is one of the district centers of Vladimir region, well-known in Russia and abroad as the national center of glassmaking. The name Gus-Krustalny can be virtually
translated as Chrystalline Goose. The old part of the town is a workmen's settlement of 1900-s. with its own Church of St. Fiddler of 1816.
Kholuy (founded 1650, population 1,000) - The village of Kholui did not begin producing lacquered miniatures until the 1930s, and tho'
icon had been an important trade in the region in previous centuries, Kholui was ne'er
bound to any particular artistic tradition. Rather, Kholui miniatures share several traits with several Palekh and Mstera art, yet maintain a distinctive lyrical quality of their own. As in Palekh and Mstera, Kholui artists use egg poster colour paints. Kholui paintings tend to be brighter than Mstera's, tho'
like Mstera, the pigments used are opaque and the background is commonly fully painted. Sometimes, as with Palekh miniatures, Kholui miniatures wish include several fine gold and/or silver ornamentation inside
the painting, and Kholui artists can create fantastic border ornaments on par with those of Palekh. Since 1960-s products of Kholuy's 200 artists have been wide
delineate and promoted internationally.
Kostroma (founded in 1213, population 300,000) - In the past Kostroma was best-known as "the flax capital of the north"; it supplied Europe with the world's finest sail-cloth. The city has been as well called as the "cradle of the Romanoff dynasty". Mikhail Romanov, the 1st of the Romanoff dynasty, left the Ipatievsky Cloister
for National capital in 1613 to become crowned head of Russia. During the Polish intervention in the turbulent years of the early seventeenth century Kostroma was a significant defence for the resistance movement. The city is spreaded on the left bank of the Volga watercourse
river. Nowadays Kostroma is an important industrial center (textile, metal works), a capital city of the Kostroma province.
Mstera (founded in 1628, population 6,000) - the town takes its name from the little Msterka River, which flows through it merging with the Kliyazma. It is in Vladimir Region, but not far from the border with Ivanovo Region, south of Palekh and Kholui, in breathtakingly beautiful rural area
- the one that forms the backcloth to its paintings. Mstera was a respected center of icon creation until the trade was illegal
after the Revolution of 1917. Since then its artists has been creating world-famous masterpieces in the form of lacquered miniatures. In keeping with the traditions of iconography, egg poster colour paints are still used. The landscape is of central importance to the painting with folk and objects integrated to the setting. Mstera paintings are oft larger than those from the different schools but several fine miniatures are as well create
and because of their rarity are extremely
prized. Typical themes include exquisite floral designs with lacy gold ornamentation, the traditional fairy tales, traditional activities and events such as a winter festival, and sometimes portraiture.
Murom (founded 862, population 145,000) - one of the oldest Russian cites stretched on
the left bank of the Oka river. The town's name originates from "muroma", one of the Finno-Ugric tribes lived here 15 centuries ago. Every Russian knows the name Ilya Muromets. He was a mythic epic hero defensive
folk of Russia and later became a word
of superior physical and spiritual power and integrity, dedicated to the protection of the Homeland. There is a monument to Ilya Muromets built on a watercourse
bank of the Oka watercourse
in Murom. The town survived three Mongol invasions. In the Ordinal
century Murom became an important centre of various crafts - building, painting, sawing. There are three working monasteries in Murom.
Palekh (founded 1600, population 6,000) - the village is placed just about 400km (250 miles) from National capital in the Ivanovo region. In the Ordinal
century it was one of the 1st centers of icon drawing trade. After the 1917 communist coup, once
the icon business went down, Palekh masters tried to decorate wooden toys, dishes, ceramic ware
and glass. But the most engrossing way turned out to be painting black-lacquered boxes ready-made of papier-mache. These days the name of Palekh is nearly substitutable
with the art of Russian lacquer. Palekh artists are generally regarded as the most extremely
trained of the Russian miniature painters. Famed for extremely
careful miniatures with elaborate ornamentation, the village of Palekh has a long artistic tradition. Like their icon painting forebears, today's Palekh artists use egg poster colour paints and paint in the Byzantine style. Favored themes are the Russian fairy tales, the famed Russian troika (three horse sleigh), and scenes of life in the countryside. The art of Palekh miniatures expresses the true national character. Many a examples of Palekh art have received recognition at international exhibitions and have become world-known.
Pereslavl-Zalesskiy (founded in 1152, population 45,000) - one of the oldest Russian towns, the birthplace of the famed Russian blue blood Alexander Nevsky, who defeated an army of German knights in 1242. Zalessky means "behind the woods". That is where, behind the dense forests, ancient Slavic tribes people
seeking refuge from hostile nomads coming from the South-East. The town is placed on the shores of the brobdingnagian Pleshcheyevo lake. The town is as well connected with the name of the famed Russian tsar-reformer Peter the Great who in 1680-s practiced his skills in ship-building fashioning over 100 boats and sail vessels, who diverted himself with 1st Russian navy exercises on the Pleshcheyevo lake.
Ples (founded in 1410, population 4,000) - this quet little historical town is set on the bank of the mighty and beautiful Volga watercourse
river. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible Ples was one of the largest watercourse
firsh suppliers to the kings' court. In the 18-19th centuries the town became best-known as a popular resort and was often called "Russian Switzerland" for the beauty of its scenery. Many
Russian artists including the famed master of landscapes Levitan used to move here to work.
Rostov Veliky (Rostov the Great, supported
in 862, population 40,000) - another pearl of ancient Russian culture. In old Russia only two towns were called veliky (great). One was Novgorod, the famed trade centre of the Russia's north, the different Rostov. The Demesne of Rostov-Suzdal-Vladimir was one of the strongest political divisions of Kievan Rus. It controlled all the major rivers in northeast Rus including the Moskva, Oka, Kliazma, and Volga. In the Ordinal
century Metropolis grew to equal Capital and Metropolis in size and importance. It was ready-made the seat of an Orthodox Metropolitan (Head of Russian Church) in 1587, and served as an important commercial center in the 16-19th centuries, one of the wealthiest in the country, so it could afford to hire the really better builders, decorators and stone-cutters. Modern Metropolis is a asleep old town with several glorious buildings next to the shallow Lucius domitius ahenobarbus lake.
For much information, descriptions of main points of interest in every town of the Golden Ring, several photographs and useful links just about Russian history please visit us: TravelMake.com
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