GOLDEN RING
'The Golden Ring' is one of the oldest Russian routes. It goes to the north-east of Moscow and forms a circle. There are many interesting ancient Russian cities and towns along the way, full of history and unique Russian architecture of the XII-XVII centuries. The 'classical' route (counter clockwise) starts from Moscow, goes through Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Velikiy, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Sergiev Posad. All cities and towns are located relatively close to each other, the 'Golden Ring' forms a ring, so from one place you can reach to another and make a circle until you get back to the one you started with. Probably, most often you'll use buses to move along the golden ring, sometimes you 'll use trains. You can also 'make' the golden ring trip by car.
History and Architecture.
The Golden Ring's main towns began as outposts of the Kyivan (Kievan) Rus state and grew as people moved north as Kiev (Kiev in Russian) declined. At the start of the 12th century, Prince Vladimir Monomakh of Kiev founded a fort at Vladimir and gave the Rostov - Suzdal principality in which it lay to his son Yuri Dolgoruky. Yuri made Suzdal his capital but concentrated his energies down south, eventually winning the title of Grand Prince of Kiev and installing himself there. He still took the precaution of fortifying the settlements of Pereslavl-Zaiessky and Kostroma in his original territory, along with a small western outpost called Moscow.
After Yuri died in 1157, his son and successor, Andrey Bogolyubsky, spurned the chance of establishing himself in Kiev and moved back to the more secure northern territories. Andrey based himself at Vladimir, which became the effective cap-ital of Russia in 1169 when Andrey sacked Kiev, taking the Grand Prince title north. Under these princes and their successors, Suzdal grew rich as a commercial center and Vladimir sprouted cathedrals, monasteries and massive city walls. Rostov, Yaroslavl and other centuries later split off as separate principalities.
In 1237, darkness fell as the Tatars invaded Russia, sacking and burning every-thing. But having made their point, they were mostly content to rule and collect taxes through local princes, which they did for the next 250 years. The region again prospered under Andrey's nephew Yaroslav, and his son Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. But Moscow, given independence by Alexander Nevsky in 1252, grew in influence as an intermediary between the Tatars and the other Russian princes. Moscow absorbed Pereslavl-Zaiessky, Vladimir and Suzdal in the 14th century; the headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church was transferred there from Vladimir in the 1320s; and by the end of the 15th century the entire region was part of Moscow, the Moscow state.
The 'Golden Ring' route is known for the famous old cities and towns along the way, so one of the reasons to go there is to see Russian architecture, old churches made of white stone, hear the bellring, see old fortifications, fortresses, beautiful monasteries, and learn more about history of Russia. For such trip, the 'classical' route (Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Sergiev Posad) will be the most interesting. Just be careful: there are so many churches and monasteries, that it can become too much. Russian Countryside. If you're staying a few weeks in the busy Moscow, you might feel like taking a little break from the pollution, the cars and the noise of the capital after a moment. In the trip to the smallest towns of the 'Golden Ring' you will get to see calmer, slower, more peaceful life, walk around hilly countryside, and just rest. For such trip Suzdal and Rostov Veliky (both 3-4 hours by train or by bus from Moscow) are the best. Provincial Russia. Also, you'll be interested in going to the biggest towns of the Golden Ring, if you want to experience another, provincial way of life in Russia. Such towns as Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Yaroslavl can get you a pick of the Russian province: more traditional way of life, not yet as much westernized, fancy, and hectic as the big cities, with some relics of the Soviet times.
The map of the Golden Ring
