Vladimir:
The final town of the Golden Ring route located, 190 km (113 miles) northeast of Moscow.
Half a millennium ago this peaceful city of 350,000 was the cultural and religious capital of north-eastern Rus', and together with Novgorod the Great, it is often considered to be the birthplace of the Russian lands. Founded in 1108 on the banks of the Klyazma river by prince Vladimir Monomakh, Vladimir became the new capital of medieval Russia. This status ended with the Mongol invasion in the middle of the 13th century and the rise of Moscow.
Town's most notable sight is the 12th-century Uspensky Sobor (Assumption Cathedral). The cathedral, a working church, stands in the center of the town. Rebuild after a great fire in 1185, it was burned again in 1237, when the Mongols attacked the city. The town's residents took refuge in the church hoping for mercy, instead, they were burned alive. The cathedral was restored and in 1408 famous artist Andrei Rublyov repainted the frescoes of the Last Judgment. With its striking décor, perfectly balanced architecture and magnificent frescoes Uspensky Sobor's is rightfully considered a masterpieces of ancient Russian art and architecture. |
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