Moscow was once its "suburb"
The ancient city gates stand tall
The white stone building is ingenious
The Swan Church is independent
Witness history, precipitate art, guard the faith...
There are many stories in the small town, and they are told.
Vladimir Владимир was first mentioned in the chronicle in 1108 and was created by Archduke Vladimir Monomacher. By the middle of the 12th century, it had developed into the center of the Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal, the most influential settlement in northeastern Russia, and even Moscow was once its "suburb".
<col>
How to get there (from Moscow)
1. Train + car: Kursk Railway Station, Moscow-Vladimir train, ≈ 1h 40min ride
2. Bus: Moscow Passenger Bus Station, 3.5h drive ≈
Must-do list
1. Go through the Golden Gate (can be entered)
2. Visit the two cathedrals
3. Visit the "Swan Church" in the suburbs
4. Taste traditional Russian cuisine
5. Stroll around Moscow Avenue
……
Fortress of Northeast Rus'
There are two theories about the time of the creation of the city, one is that it was said by Vladimir (Владиим Святославиы 5) was created in 990, while another theory is that it began in 1108 as a fortress built by Grand Duke Vladimir Monomacher (Владимир Мономах).
At the beginning of its creation, the presence of Vladimir seemed insignificant compared to Rostov and Suzdal. Its rise was attributed to the rule of Grand Duke Andrei Bogolyubski, who transferred the center of the principality to Vladimir and built fortresses and walls. He also actively developed stone and built stone buildings, which led to the emergence of the remaining examples of white stone architecture – the Church of our Lady of the Holy Spirit and the Golden Gate.
After the death of Archduke Andrei, under the leadership of Vishevolod Yuryevich, Vladimi entered its heyday as a powerful principality. But with the Tatar-Mongol invasion and civil strife in the Rus' principalities, Vladimir began to decline. The Orthodox bishops moved to Moscow, and their dominance was lost.
However, Vladimir is still revered as the second center after Moscow. As an important church of Ancient Rus', the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary was the place where the Coronation Ceremony was held by the Archduke of Moscow, and the Archbishop would also rush from Moscow to Vladimi. In the 18th-19th centuries, Vladimir was one of the administrative centers of the Russian Empire.
In 1861, due to the opening of the railway, the city's economy began to improve. Today, Vladimir is a large industrial city of 350,000 people and an important tourist center in Russia.
A fine example of white stone architecture
Kinmen (Золотые ворота) The only surviving gate of the ancient fortifications, it was built in 1164 by Archduke Andrei Bogolyubski. The arch of the Golden Gate is 14 meters high, and above the dome is a battle platform, and at the top is a chapel. Over the centuries, Kinmen has been destroyed, burned, repaired and rebuilt by invaders many times, and is now a symbol of the city, standing firmly in the middle of Vladimir.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Успенский собор) was built in 1160 and is one of the oldest surviving churches in Russia. Before the rise of the Muscovite Principality, all grand dukes held weddings and coronation ceremonies here. It is also a fine example of church architecture from different periods – the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Moscow Kremlin was built with reference. The church preserves precious frescoes from the 12th century, including paintings by the famous iconographers Andrei Rublev and Daniel Cherny.
The Church of Dmitry (Дмитриевский собор) was built in 1194 by Voussevolod Yurijevich, and the church is famous for its white stone carvings: more than 600 reliefs are carved on the outer walls depicting images of saints, flora and fauna. Inside the church, part of the frescoes of the 12th century are preserved, including The Last Judgment.
Pokrov Church (Церковь Покрова на Нерли) Of the eight ancient buildings in the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical Reserve, this is the most poetic one, known as the "Swan Church". Located on a small hillside at the confluence of rivers, it is said to have been built to commemorate the victory of Grand Duke Andrei Bogolyubski over the Bulgarians (no exact account is available).
"Figure" tour of the small town
Holy Trinity Church & Crystal Museum
Statue of Archduke Vladimir I and Saint Fyodor
Historical Museum
City Duma
Bogolyubsky Monastery
Moskva Street
Catholic church
Next stop, along the Mother Russia River,
Visit the "City of the Wise" – Yaroslavl!