|
|
|
The Golden Ring of Russia
|
Have you ever visited Russia? Do you have Russian relatives? If so, you have probably heard about the Golden Ring of Russia. The term may sound like it belongs right on the pages of a Russian fairytale. However, it actually refers to a group of cities surrounding Moscow, the capital of Russia in an area that was formerly known as Zalesye. If you travel to Russia, you should not miss the opportunity to visit this example of Russian history and Russian architecture.
Where is the Golden Ring?
The ring refers to the formation of the cities that comprise one of Russia's oldest routes. The cities form a circle from the north-east of Moscow and include many remarkable ancient Russian towns and cities along the way. This famous route is a very popular trip for Russian tourists. Each city and town is located very close to each other so you can start at one location and continue visiting each one until you end up right back where you started! You can travel this famous route by taking a train, car or bus. Almost all of the cities are located near the M8 highway, and can be accessed from Moscow's Yaroslavl Railway Station.
What Cities Are Included?
The exact names of the cities that are included in the ring differ. However, the following cities are usually included: Sergiyev Posad, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Alexandrov, Rybinsk, Uglich, Rostov Velikiy, Ivanovo, Gus-Khrustalny, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy and Kostroma. The classical route starts counter clockwise from Moscow continuing through towns such as Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Velikiy, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy and Sergiev Posad.
Important Historical Significance
The Golden Ring represents old Russia so traveling to this area will give you a great sense of Russian history. The ancient cities and towns that comprise the Golden Ring of Russia play a very important role in the country's history. These areas were all instrumental in forming the Russian Orthodox Church. They contain many reminders of some of the most significant events in all of Russian history. In fact, these special towns contain so many monasteries, churches, cathedrals and kremlins representative of 12th to 18th century Russian architecture that they are often referred to as “open air museums.” Visitors can explore very important historical monuments such as the very first boat ever built by Peter the Great or impressive ancient fortresses. One look at the vibrantly colored onion domes dotting the picturesque countryside of these towns and you will quickly see why the Golden Ring remains a popular tourist attraction.
Experience a Simpler Way of Life
If you choose to travel to Russia and visit the Golden Ring, you will be rewarded with beautiful monasteries, charming white stone churches and the cheerful sound of ringing bells. Taking a trip to visit Russia's ancient towns is also a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of busy Moscow. You can escape the pollution and noise of the capital city to see a quieter side of the country. The people are very welcoming and the landscape is remarkable. You'll notice a big difference in the slower and more peaceful way of life for the individuals living in these smaller towns. Towns such as Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Kostroma and Vladimir present a simpler, less hectic and less westernized traditional way of life. Tourism brings money and visitors to these smaller areas of Russian and enables tourists to explore many relics of ancient Soviet history.
Trip Details
If you plan on traveling to Russia, make sure you don't miss out on the unique opportunity to visit this famous part of Russian culture. You can visit this famous route yourself or take an organized tour. It normally takes between 6 and 8 days to visit all seven cities of the Golden Ring of Russia if you choose the classical route. Most residents recommend visiting the cities counterclockwise, although you can also choose to visit them in a clockwise direction. The entire circle is approximately 420 miles or 678 kilometers long which should take about 15.5 hours if you take the train and bus.
You can find inexpensive accommodation, meals and transportation which makes this trip a great value. You can save even more money by renting a camper. Regardless of where you choose to stay or how you choose to get there, you'll almost certainly pay much less than staying in larger Russian cities such as St. Petersburg or Moscow.
|
|
