View source for Golden Ring of Russia

{{Short description|Region in Russia}}
{{for|the music-drama by Lyatoshysky|The Golden Ring (opera)}}
{{Expand Russian|date=January 2019}}
{{Location map+
 |Russia Central Federal District
 |border = 
 |caption = Moscow and the cities of Golden Ring on a map of [[Central Federal District]] of Russia
 |float = right
 |label = 
 |width = 290
 |places = 
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=55.45|long=37.37|position=bottom|label=[[Moscow]]}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=56.30|long=38.13|position=left|label={{nowrap|[[Sergiyev Posad]]}}}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=56.73|long=38.85|position=left|label={{nowrap|[[Pereslavl-Zalessky]]}}}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=57.18|long=39.42|position=left|label=[[Rostov Veliky]]}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=57.62|long=39.85|position=left|label=[[Yaroslavl]]}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=57.77|long=40.93|position=|label=[[Kostroma]]}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=57.00|long=40.98|position=|label=[[Ivanovo]]}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=56.42|long=40.45|position=|label=[[Suzdal]]}}
 {{Location map~|Russia Central Federal District|lat=56.13|long=40.42|position=bottom|label=[[Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]]}}
}}

The '''Golden Ring of Russia''' ({{langx|ru|Золотое кольцо России|Zolotoye koltso Rossii}}) unites old Russian cities of five [[Oblasts of Russia|Oblasts]] &ndash; usually excluding [[Moscow]] &ndash; as a well-known [[Scenic route|theme-route]]. The grouping is centred northeast of the capital in what was the north-eastern part of ancient [[Rus' (region)|Rus]]'.<ref>[https://travellgide.ru/golden_ring/goldenring.html Travellgide]</ref> The ring formerly comprised the region known as [[Zalesye]]. The idea of the route and the term was created in 1967 by Soviet historian and essayist [[Yuri Bychkov]], who published in ''Sovetskaya Kultura'' in November&ndash;December 1967 a series of essays on the cities under the heading: "Golden Ring".<ref>[http://www.ng.ru/ng_exlibris/2016-09-01/7_grinkov.html "От Шаляпина до Конёнкова"] (retrieved January 29, 2019)</ref> Bychkov was one of the founders of ''ВООПИК'': the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Monuments of History and Culture (these letters in Romanized form are VOOPIK).<ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324671718_Forging_the_Golden_Ring_Tourist_Development_and_Heritage_Preservation_in_the_Late_Soviet_Union Researchgate.net publication] VOOPIK: Romanized to: Vserossiiskoe obshchestvo okhrany pamiatnikov istorii i kul'tury</ref>

These ancient towns were heavily formative to the centrality of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in society. They preserve the memory of key events in medieval and Imperial [[Russian history]]. The towns have been called "open-air museums" and feature unique monuments of Russian architecture of the 12th&ndash;18th centuries, including [[kremlin (fortification)|kremlins]], [[monastery|monasteries]], [[cathedral]]s, and [[church (building)|churches]].  These towns are among the most picturesque in [[Russia]] and prominently feature Russia's [[onion dome]]s.

The Golden Ring of Russia includes: [[Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]] - [[Suzdal]] - [[Ivanovo]] - [[Kostroma]] - [[Yaroslavl]] - [[Rostov Veliky]] - [[Pereslavl-Zalessky]] - [[Sergiev Posad]]

== Cities included ==
{{gallery|mode=packed
| title    = Landmarks examples within the Golden Ring
|File:Lavra, aerial view 4 - Sergiyev Posad, Russia - panoramio.jpg|[[Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius]] in [[Sergiyev Posad]]
|File:Горицкий-монастырь-шелапутин-2007-2557.jpg|[[Goritsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky)|Goritsky Monastery]] in [[Pereslavl-Zalessky]]
|File:RostovKremlin 5911.JPG|[[Rostov Kremlin]] in [[Rostov Veliky|Rostov]]
|File:Yaroslavl. Volga River. Cathedral of the Dormition P5212715 2200.jpg|[[:ru:Успенский собор (Ярославль)|Cathedral of the Dormition]] in [[Yaroslavl]]
|File:Ипатьевский монастырь вид с Волги.jpg|[[Ipatievsky Monastery]] in [[Kostroma]]
|File:Ivanovo asv2018-08 img55 Fokin Manufactory.jpg|Fokin Manufactory in [[Ivanovo]]
|File:Суздаль, Покровский монастырь, взгляд от Александровского монастыря.jpg|[[:ru:Покровский монастырь (Суздаль)|Pokrovsky Monastery]] and [[Monastery of Saint Euthymius]] in [[Suzdal]]
|File:Владимир, вид на Успенский собор.JPG|[[Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir|Dormition Cathedral]] in [[Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]]
}}

[[File:Кострома - panoramio (1).jpg|right|thumb|[[Kostroma]] is one of the cities which belongs to the Golden Ring of Russia''.'' The city was an important trading city in ancient Rus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waytorussia.net/GoldenRing/Kostroma/Kostroma.html|title=The Introduction to Kostroma|date=2016-04-27|website=Way to Russia Guide|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> Photo of the [[Ipatievsky Monastery]], 2009]]
{| border=0 style="float:left"
|-
|width=50px height=50px|
|width=50px align=right| [[File:Coat of Arms of Sergiev Posad (Moscow oblast).png|40px|link=Sergiyev Posad]]
|width=25px|
|width=50px align=left valign=bottom| [[File:Coat of Arms of Pereslavl-Zalessky (Yaroslavl oblast).png|40px|link=Pereslavl-Zalesskiy]]
|width=50px|
|-
|height=50px align=center|[[File:Coat of Arms of Vladimir (Vladimir oblast).svg|40px|link=Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]] || || ||
|align=center| [[File:Coat of Arms of Rostov (Yaroslavl oblast).png|40px|link=Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast]]
|-
|height=25px| || || || ||
|-
|height=50px align=center | [[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Suzdal.png|40px|link=Suzdal]] || || ||
|align=center| [[File:Coat of Arms of Yaroslavl (1995).png|40px|link=Yaroslavl]]
|-
|height=50px|
|align=right valign=top| [[File:Coat-of-Arms-of-Ivanovo-(Ivanovskaya oblast).svg|40px|link=Ivanovo]] ||
|align=left valign=top| [[File:Kostroma COA (Kostroma Governorate) (1767).png|40px|link=Kostroma]] ||
|-
|}
For years, tourists and locals debated about which cities were "officially" part of the Golden Ring.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.56thparallel.com/russias-golden-ring/|title = A Travellers Guide to Russia's Golden Ring Heritage & Culture|date = 22 January 2019}}</ref> There is no official list of which cities make up part of the Golden Ring with the exception of the eight principal cities of Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal, Vladimir, Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky and Rostov Veliky.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbth.com/travel/327740-everything-know-golden-ring|title = Everything you wanted to know about Russia's Golden Ring|date = 9 March 2018}}</ref> In addition, other old cities in the Ivanovo, Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions also considered themselves as part of the ring, including [[Palekh]], [[Plyos, Ivanovo Oblast|Plyos]], and [[Shuya, Ivanovo Oblast|Shuya]] in Ivanovo Oblast; [[Gorokhovets, Vladimir Oblast|Gorokhovets]], [[Gus-Khrustalny (town)|Gus-Khrustalny]], [[Murom]], and [[Yuryev-Polsky (town)|Yuriev-Polsky]] in Vladimir Oblast; and [[Rybinsk]], [[Tutayev|Tutaev]], and [[Uglich]] in Yaroslavl Oblast. Many cities are to be found along the [[M8 highway (Russia)|M8 highway]] or can be reached from [[Yaroslavsky railway station]] in Moscow. Some of the churches, kremlins and monasteries are [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage Sites]]. In Russia, the area of the Golden Ring is one of the regions that has strongly preserved many traditions and culture of ancient Russia to this day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.intourist.com/Golden-Ring-TourFix.aspx?id=31875600&tab=info&currency=USD|title=Intourist - Tours in Russia. Hotels in Russia, visa, transfers, excursions. Golden Ring|website=www.intourist.com|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northsouthtravel.com/take-a-tour-of-russia-s-golden-ring|title=Take a Tour of Russia's Golden Ring|website=North South Travel|language=en|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref>[[Image:Kotorosl.jpg|thumb|[[Kotorosl River]] in [[Yaroslavl]], 2004]]
[[Image:Kostroma-resurrection.jpg|thumb|The Resurrection Church of [[Kostroma]] (1652) is a superb example of the 17th-century Russian art (color photograph, [[Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii]], 1910, [[Library of Congress]])]]

* '''[[Sergiyev Posad]]''' (Се́ргиев Поса́д) is the only city in the [[Moscow Region]] to be included in the Golden Ring.  It is closely linked with the UNESCO-protected [[Troitse-Sergieva Lavra]] which was founded in the 14th century by St Sergius of Radonezh. The Lavra is now one of the most important religious sites in Russian and St Sergius is one of the most revered native Russian saints. 
* '''[[Pereslavl-Zalesskiy]]''' (Переславль-Залесский) is the birthplace of [[Aleksandr Nevsky]] – a celebrated Russian hero, prince and saint. It also has links with [[Peter the Great]] who used to have a toy flotilla here on Lake Plescheevo. In addition the city also boasts a beautiful 12th-century cathedral, earthen mounds and six monasteries, four of which are active. 
* '''[[Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast|Rostov Velikiy]]''' (Ростов) is known as Rostov-Veliky (Rostov the Great) to distinguish it from the larger and newer [[Rostov-on-Don]]. It is among the oldest of cities in Russia, having first been mentioned in chronicles in 862. Its most impressive sight is the white-stone kremlin which stands on [[Lake Nero]] and is now a museum-reserve.  The city also has three monasteries and museums dedicated to the art of painting on enamel for which the city is famed.
* '''[[Yaroslavl]]''' (Ярослáвль) is considered the unofficial capital of the Golden Ring and is also a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. It is believed to have been founded in 1010 by [[Prince Yaroslav the Wise]], after whom it is named. The city’s main sight is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery which is now a museum and among its many beautiful churches the most famous are St Elijah the Prophet’s Church and the John the Baptist’s Church, both of which are beautifully decorated with frescos. Yaroslavl is just a 3-hour express train ride from Moscow.
* '''[[Kostroma]]''' (Кострома) Like [[Moscow]], Kostroma is believed to have been founded by Grand Prince [[Yury Dolgoruky]] in the 12th century. The city is most famous for its [[Ipatievsky Monastery]] which has links with the [[Romanov Dynasty]] as the first Romanov tsar – [[Tsar Michael]] – was here being anointing to reign. Kostroma is the Golden Ring city furthest from Moscow and can be reached by a night train from the capital.
* '''[[Ivanovo]]''' (Иваново) is both the youngest and most industrialised of all Golden Ring cities. Previously the city was known as Ivanovo-Voznesensk after the two villages that were merged to form the new city in 1871. It is forever connected with its once-booming textile trade which led to the city being known as Bride City and Russian Manchester. Ivanovo is notable for its [[Constructivist architecture|constructivist]] buildings, industrial architecture and monuments dedicated to the city's rich revolutionary history.
* [[Gus-Khrustalny (town)|Gus-Khrustalny]] (Гусь-Хруста́льный)
* '''[[Suzdal]]''' (Суздаль) is often referred to as an open-air museum for the number of old buildings that have been preserved and the lack of industrialisation. Several sights are protected by UNESCO as the White Stone Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal. Highlights include the Spaso-Yefimiev Monastery, which is now a museum, and the museums of the kremlin.  In addition there are another four monasteries in the city. 
* '''[[Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]]''' (Владимир), the former capital of medieval Russia, is historically important. It is somewhat more industrial than its neighbor, Suzdal, but St Demetrius’ Cathedral and the Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir's Golden Gates, are UNESCO protected and masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture.
* [[Rybinsk]] (Рыбинск)
* [[Uglich]] (Углич)
* [[Myshkin (town)|Myshkin]] (Мышкин)
* [[Alexandrov (town)|Alexandrov]] (Александров)

== Branding ==

Now the main and most popular tourist route around provincial cities of central European Russia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rusmania.com/golden-ring|title = Golden Ring of Russia &#124; Rusmania}}</ref> the promotion of the Golden Ring was a new challenge after the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]]. From a sustainability standpoint, there were new goals that needed to be achieved: the preservation of ancient architectural monuments, modernising the tourism industry within new capitalist system, building new types of infrastructures such as hotels, theme parks, museums and malls that encouraged economic growth. As the result cities of the Golden Ring were the first one that saw the outcome out of investments from new forms of entrepreneurship like privately owned businesses and startups.

== See also ==

* [[Golden Triangle (India)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://rusmania.com/golden-ring.php Golden Ring of Russia route: overview, day trips, guides, tourist maps.]{{in lang|en}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120825135756/http://www.trip-guide.ru/zk.htm Golden ring of Russia: photos, guide, maps] {{in lang|ru}}
* [https://top10.travel/tag/zolotoe-kolco-rossii/ Golden Ring travel overview] {{in lang|ru}}
* [https://traland.ru/dostoprimechatelnosti-kostromy/ guide to Kostroma] {{in lang|ru}}
* Jeffrey Tayler, [https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200610/tayler-russia Escape to Old Russia: The Golden Ring, northeast of Moscow, offers a respite from the capital and an immersion in the past], ''[[The Atlantic]]'', October 2006.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090416122227/http://www.zolotoe-koltso.ru/ Golden ring of Russia in English & Russian]
* [http://afisha.vposade.com/ Golden ring of Russia: afisha] {{in lang|ru}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Golden Ring}}

{{Golden Ring}}
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[[Category:Golden Ring of Russia| ]]
[[Category:Historical geography of Russia]]
[[Category:Russian tourist routes]]