Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl – the capital of the Golden Ring

Yaroslavl is called the capital and a pearl of the Golden Ring. In 1010, it was founded by Prince Yaroslav the Wise at the place where two rivers, the Volga and the Kotorosl, meet. According to the legend, Yaroslav killed a bear there. That is why this animal is on the coat of arms of the city. This story is especially admired by children.

If you are thinking about the place of the Golden Ring to visit with a child, then you should definitely include Yaroslavl to the itinerary. It was within the premises of Yaroslavl, that the “The Tale of Igor's Campaign” was found. Every schoolchild has heard about it. The names of many cultural figures are associated with Yaroslavl: Fyodor Volkov, Leonid Trefolev, Nikolay Nekrasov, Leonid Sobinov.

The authors of the project present the miniature of Yaroslavl and its main attractions in the new museum of Yaroslavl, "The Golden Ring” show-model.

Several interesting museums of the Golden Ring of Russia are located in Yaroslavl

1. The “Music and Time” Museum is relatively new. It was opened by John Mostoslavsky in 1993 and became the first private museum in Yaroslavl. There, you can find a collection of antique items. The museum is located on the embankment of Yaroslavl, so the tour can be combined with a walk.
2. Yaroslavl State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve is located in the city center, within the territory of the former Transfiguration of the Savior Monastery. The Transfiguration Cathedral, the oldest building in the city, is located in the territory of the museum, where you can see church utensils and jewelry of Ancient Rus.
3. The Metropolitan Chambers, an ancient and interesting monument of architecture, are now a museum. The chambers were built in the 17th century on the site of a wooden Chopped City, burned down in a fire, and served as the residence of Metropolitan Jonah Sysoevich.

Sights of the city of Yaroslavl

The ancient city of Yaroslavl is rich in attractions. Construction of the Volga Embankment began in the 19th century under Alexander I. A park crowns the embankment at the place where the Volga and the Kotorosl rivers flow together, that is called “Strelka” (the “arrow” in Russian) by locals. The Governor's estate, built in the 19th century, is proudly standing on the embankment. Russian emperors from Alexander I to Nicholas II stopped there for the night during their travels.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Kazan is a monument to the national militia of Minin and Pozharsky, that was gathered in Yaroslavl. The chapel was erected in 1997 near the gates of the Transfiguration Monastery. The Church of Elijah the Prophet, a monument of the 17th century architecture, is the heart of the historical center of the city. The church was built at the expense of citizens, a significant contribution was made by the merchants – the Skrypnins brothers. All the sights are located within a walking distance.

During the theater season, you can visit the Volkov Theater. It was founded in 1750 and till the modern days it’s been called the First Russian Theater. The story of the theater started from an old tannery barn, where the merchant’s son Fedor Volkov put on performances of “aspiring comedians”.

A visit to the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia is affordable and does not require a lot of time. And reaching centuries-old history is priceless!

Yaroslavl: sights you should see

You can plan a visit to the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia by yourself. The distance from Moscow to Yaroslavl is 250 km, you can get there by train or by bus, as well as by car. Along the route, you can drive to the nearby cities: Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Sergiyev Posad.

Which of the countless sights of Yaroslavl are a must to see?

1. Take a walk along the Volga Embankment and the park on Strelka. You will have views of the grand Volga and there you will see gazebos – the calling cards of the city.
2. The Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve includes several churches, the Spassky Monastery, a library and several museums.
3. Admire the Assumption Cathedral. The modern version was erected in 2010, but in the 13th century the original building was on the same site.
4. The Tolgsky Monastery — a female monastery of the 14th century
5. The Vlasyevskaya Tower and the Znamenskaya Church, which are located opposite the Volkov Theater, are now a single architectural complex. But initially the tower was a defensive construction of the 17th century, the church was added later and acquired its modern look in 1897.
6. The Volzhskaya Tower is another stone fortification of the 17th century.
7. The Planetarium of the Valentina Tereshkova Center is a museum and a 5D attraction.
8. The park on the Daman Island can and should be visited with children. Also, there is a children's railway in Yaroslavl that imitates real railway tracks with trains.
9. A new museum in Yaroslavl is the Show-model of the Golden Ring. It contains all the cities of the Golden Ring that are recreated along with their cultural and artistic images.