Golden Ring

Background

The Golden Ring is a themed route through a string of ancient Rus' towns north-east of Moscow. There is no official list, but it usually centres on eight towns: Vladimir, Suzdal, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Veliky, Pereslavl-Zalessky and Sergiev Posad. Suzdal is the most representative of them. Its oldest part is the Suzdal Kremlin, ringed by an earthen rampart about 1.4 km long and seen as a forerunner of the Moscow Kremlin; the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin has blue-and-gold domes; the Saviour Monastery of St Euthymius was founded in 1352, its brick walls set with 12 towers; and the Museum of Wooden Architecture holds wooden churches and log farmhouses moved from nearby villages. Suzdal first appears in the Russian chronicles in 1024, and in the early 12th century it became the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality, which later evolved into Vladimir-Suzdal and became one of the cores from which the Russian state formed. Suzdal escaped Soviet-era industrialisation, so its old buildings survived, and it now has as many as 305 listed monuments. In 1992 the Suzdal Kremlin and the Monastery of St Euthymius, together with Vladimir's Golden Gate, the Dormition Cathedral and other sites, were inscribed on the World Heritage List as the "White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal".

Local customs

• Stroll around the Suzdal Kremlin and see the blue domes of the Cathedral of the Nativity
• visit the wooden churches, log farmhouses and windmills of the Museum of Wooden Architecture
• in Vladimir, see the Golden Gate and the Dormition Cathedral.

Travel tips

• The Golden Ring towns are far apart, so base yourself in Moscow or Vladimir and allow two to four days
• in winter the roads are snow-covered, so drive with care. Before travelling, check the latest travel safety advice and visa requirements issued by your country. Take a train from Moscow to Vladimir, then a bus to Suzdal, about 26 km to the north
• long-distance buses or hired cars connect the towns, and the main sights in each town are within walking distance.
• May to September brings mild weather and the fullest opening of churches and museums
• autumn colours the fields richly. Winter snow scenes are beautiful, but daylight is short and some small museums open for shorter hours. Check opening hours with the official sources.