Welcome to the exciting journey around the Russia's Golden Ring - a route covering nine historical towns that played an important part in the rise of Russia! It runs to the north of Moscow through Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Moscow regions and abounds in architectural monuments of the past.

The old town of Vladimir inherited its name from Prince Vladimir Monomakh. Under his grandson Andrei Bogolyubsky and the latter's Successors wonderful structures were raised in the town, testifying to a high level of culture in the early Rus. Among them is the magnificent Cathedral of the Assumption (1158— 1160) which walls were painted in 1408 by the famous artists Andrei Rublyov and Daniil Chorny. In 1164 the "Golden Gates" were built in the seven-kilometres- long wall encircling Vladimir to serve as its main entrance. In 1194—1197, under Prince Vsevolod III, the world known Cathedral of St. Dmitry.

On the road from Vladimir, travellers come to the town of Bogolyubovo, spread over high hills and famous for its monuments of the 12th century. The northern wall of the Cathedral with the adjacent old staircase is all that has been left of the palace. In the early 19th century a block of monastic cells was built on its ground. A mere one kilometre and a half off the town there rises the famed Church of the Intercession on the river Nerl. This elegant and airy monument of the 12th century fascinates with its beauty. People call it a "swan of the Russian architecture".

On the bank of the Kamenka River that flows across vast fields there lies another old town-museum — Suzdal. Earthern ramparts surrounding the Kremlin date back to the 11th century. The oldest Church of Boris and Gleb was erected in 1152 and stands in the village of Kydeksha. All other churches and monasteries of Suzdal were built later. They have been restored and now delight the eye of a visitor with their simplicity.

Ivanovo is an industrial town, a most important centre of the cotton textile industry. Near the town there is the village of Palekh famous for its icon-painters, masters of lacquered miniatures, whose traditions are continued by the present-day Palekh painters.

In 1213 Kostroma is mentioned in the chronicles as an important town. It became part of the Moscow Principality in the first half of the 14th century. In the early 17th century, at. a time of the Polish-Svedish intervention, the Polish landowners made an attempt at seiging it but were defeated. The town made a major contribution to the organization of the people's army led by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and merchant Kozma Minin.

The old town of Yaroslavl stands at the confluence of the Kotorosl River with the Volga. In the 11th century Prince Yaroslav Mudry built a wooden fort, which was called Yaroslavl in his honor. The town was an important transshipping point in the trade of Russia with Europe. The 17th century works of Yaroslavl architects and artists received world renown. Such masterpieces as the Church of Elijah the Prophet (1647—1650) and its frescoes testify to the flourishing of the 17th century Russian art.

A fairy-tale in stone is what people call the Kremlin towering above the shore of Lake Nero in the town of Rostov Veliky. The thick walls, the churches and widely-known bell-tower with its thirteen unique bells have won fame for this town-museum. The chime of the Rostov bells has been recorded and discs are available.

Pereslavl-Zalessky on Lake Pleshcheyevo is eight cen- turies old. Founded in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, it stood on an important trade route connecting Moscow with Arkhangelsk and with Western Europe (16th—17th centuries). The old Cathedral of the Saviour in Transfiguration (1152—1157) and other numerous monuments in the town acquaint the visitor with the history of Russian architecture. This town was the birth-place of Alexander Nevsky. In 1668 Peter the Great launched the building of boats on Lake Pleshcheyevo thus starting the Russian fleet.

The town of Sergiev Posad was founded in the middle of the 14th century by the confessor of Prince Dmitry Donskoy, Sergius of Radonezh, who did much to unite all Russian lands under the Prince. The architectural ensemble of St. Sergius' Monastery of the Trinity in Sergiev Posad was built in the course of several centuries. "This Monastery is second to none in beauty not only in Muscovy, but in the whole world", said traveller Paul of Aleppo, who came from Antioch, after his visit to it in the 17th century.

This fascinating tour along the Russia's Golden Ring route will produce a lasting impression on every visitor and help to understand the Russian history and early Russian art.