The Golden Ring ( Russian Золото́е кольцо́ / Salatoje kalzo ) refers to an extensive area northeast of Moscow . The ring of old Russian cities is one of the most famous travel destinations in Russia. The old Russian cities northeast of the capital give visitors an insight into the history of the creation of Russia . There is no consensus as to which cities belong to the Golden Ring. The term was first used by the Soviet writer Yuri Bychkov .
history
Most of the cities were once religious or economic centers, and rich artisan or merchant settlements. Their favorable geographical location - not a few cities of the Golden Ring are on the Volga or one of its tributaries - allowed them to flourish in the Middle Ages. From the 12th century onwards, Northeastern Rus developed into the new center of Kievan Rus . After the Mongol invasion , the Northeast Rus remained liberated from Mongol rule. This was followed by a prolonged movement of refugees from the southern parts of the empire around Kiev, as they were often threatened by Mongol attacks. Here in the north, untouched virgin forests protected people from hostile attacks. From then on, the Northeast Rus formed the nucleus of further Russian expansion.
Sightseeing and tourism
In cities like Suzdal , Uglich , Rostov Veliky , Sergijew Posad or Pereslavl-Zalessky , at first glance, little seems to have changed for centuries. Here the bell towers of magnificent cathedrals still tower over the cityscape. Yaroslavl and Vladimir , on the other hand, have now grown into medium-sized provincial centers. Today they are all in the shadow of the big city of ten million Moscow. The region's architectural monuments have survived the last seventy years better than in many other areas.
Unlike many other scenic and culturally rewarding travel destinations in Russia, the cities of the Golden Ring can now boast a relatively good tourist infrastructure. The reason for this is the relative proximity of Moscow. Many Muscovites use the nearby recreation areas on weekends and visit the historic buildings. Foreigners were also led along the Golden Ring in Soviet times. However, until the end of the Soviet Union , foreign guests could never ride the ring as a whole. The industrial city of Ivanovo , halfway between Suzdal and Kostroma , was a restricted area for western foreigners .
