- A bit of history
- sights
- Cognitive holidays with children
- Where can you go for free
- Winter Vladimir
- Summer Vladimir
- Cafes and restaurants
Vladimir, founded more than 900 years ago by Prince Vladimir on the Klyazma River, played an important role in the formation of Russian statehood. The city for two centuries (in the XII - XIV centuries) was the capital of Russia. In memory of this period, significant sights remained here. Now Vladimir is one of the largest tourist cities in Russia. It is one of the central "links" in the famous tourist route "Golden Ring". But unlike neighboring, more provincial Suzdal, Vladimir is a lively, actively developing city, in which, in addition to sightseeing, you can find many other entertainments.
Thanks to good transport accessibility (the city is located on the M-7 Volga highway and on one of the Transsib branches), rich historical heritage and developed tourist infrastructure, Vladimir is a great place for a weekend trip, as well as a starting point for traveling along the Golden Ring. But it is better to take care of living in the city in advance.
A bit of history
Thanks to the efforts of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who spared no effort or money to decorate the city, Vladimir is becoming the largest and most beautiful city in the period of the fragmentation of Russia. It was during this period that the sights that are now Vladimir's "visiting" card - the Assumption and Dmitrievsky cathedrals - were built. A little later, its own Vladimir-Suzdal icon-painting school was formed here. During the Tatar-Mongol invasion, Vladimir, like the surrounding cities, was devastated by the Tatar troops, but did not lose the capital's rank. Dmitry Donskoy later annexes Vladimir and his lands to the Moscow principality. During the invasion of Tamerlane at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries, a significant event takes place - a particularly revered icon of the Vladimir Mother of God is sent to Moscow in order to protect the city from the horde. Tamerlane's troops do not reach Moscow and turn back in the Yelets area. This was regarded as the intercession of the Mother of God and the icon never returned to Vladimir.
Several centuries later, in 1724, Vladimir is deprived of another shrine - the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky are transferred from Vladimir to the newly built Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg by order of Peter I.
In the 18th-19th centuries, Vladimir, having become the center of the Vladimir province, experienced a new cultural and economic upsurge. The city is being built up according to a regular building plan with stone public buildings. Gymnasiums, schools, a printing house, a theater, and a newspaper appeared. In the second half of the 18th - the beginning of the 19th century, the city receives one more “attraction” of its own, but already with a sad tinge. A transit prison would be built here, later known as the "Vladimir Central".
In Soviet times, Vladimir was going through a period of increased industrialization, and at the end of the 70s of the last century it became a tourist center thanks to the creation of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve, which united the white-stone monuments of three cities: Vladimir, Suzdal and Gus-Khrustalny, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List …
sights
Vladimir is home to many sights dating back to the XII-XVIII centuries. If you are in the city for the first time, then you should visit the most important of them:
The Golden Gate is one of the main attractions not only of Vladimir, but of the entire Golden Ring. It is a perfectly preserved monument of military architecture of the 12th century. At the top of the gate, where the church was previously located, is now the Weapon Museum, where you can see the spears of the Vladimir principality, the weapons of the Catherine's era and the diorama of the assault on Batu Vladimir in the 13th century.
The Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals are outstanding sights of the era of pre-Mongol Russia. The Cathedral of the Assumption Cathedral for a long time remained the main temple of Russia, in which the princes for a long time "were married to the kingdom." The Vladimir Assumption Cathedral impresses with its size and rich interior decoration, the main value of which is the frescoes by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny. The nearby Dmitrievsky Cathedral has hardly undergone any changes since its construction in the 12th century. A unique stone carving in the upper part of the temple has also survived to this day.
The Vladimir City Duma is located a stone's throw from the Assumption Cathedral and looks great in contrast to it. This is a brick building of the early XX century with rich interior and exterior decoration. Now important city ceremonies are held here.
The Patriarchal Gardens is a wonderful park of 3 hectares, created in the French style at the beginning of the 16th century. The gardens are arranged on terraces that descend beautifully to the Klyazma.
The Church of St. Rosary is a majestic church built at the turn of the 20th century, which houses a functioning organ. The church looks especially interesting against the background of Orthodox churches that prevail in Vladimir.
Cognitive holidays with children
In Vladimir, recreation for children can be with a historical, educational and entertainment bias. In the museum complex "Chambers" on the ground floor there is a children's complex that introduces children in a playful way to the history of the country. There are thematic expositions and excursions with self-explanatory names: “Walks in the old city. History in faces "," The world of epics ", etc.
In the fully interactive Museum of Science and Human "Eureka", children are told about the laws of nature, physics and chemistry in an accessible way. You can take part in master classes. Vladimirskaya "Eureka" is one of the best such museums in the country.
In the Gingerbread Museum, you should definitely stay for a tasting, and in the Museum "Babusya-Yagusya" you can learn about the significance of this heroine for Russian fairy tales and take part in the performance together with Baba Yaga.
The Vladimir Planetarium will be interesting not only for those who are interested in the stars. Here you can watch the diorama of the Buran spacecraft, launch the Foucault pendulum and take part in the launch of the cargo spacecraft.
Where can you go for free
There are several parks in Vladimir, the entrance to which is absolutely free. This is, for example, the Lipki Park - the oldest park in Vladimir, which has remained practically unchanged since the beginning of the 20th century. Today it is the favorite park of the townspeople. It is worth looking into the park. Pushkin, which is located next to the Assumption Cathedral. There is a cozy Cathedral Square with monuments to Andrei Rublev and the 850th anniversary of Vladimir.
In the opposite part of the park there is the best observation deck of the city, from where a beautiful panorama of the Klyazma and its surroundings opens. A monument to Prince Vladimir and Saint Fyodor was recently erected on the observation deck.
It is worth taking a look at Georgievskaya Street - a recently renovated pedestrian street, at the end of which there is another observation deck overlooking the Assumption Cathedral.
Winter Vladimir
In December, a real winter fairytale reigns in Vladimir, the central streets are beautifully decorated, and a Christmas tree is erected on Cathedral Square.
Many skating rinks are always flooded in the city: in the parks "Druzhba", "Lipki" and at the stadium. There are rentals, cafes and lockers.
And if you get cold, check out the museums. For example, the museum "Old Vladimir" in the building of the former water tower, which tells about the pre-revolutionary Vladimir. An interesting museum of crystal and lacquer manufactory, where you can see the works of local artisans. And, of course, the Vladimir Historical Museum, which tells about the history of the city from the moment of its foundation.
Summer Vladimir
After exploring the sights, be sure to check out the Patriarch's Gardens, which in spring and summer are fragrant with the aromas of numerous flowers. Vladimir is a very green city, so walking through the numerous parks is a pleasure.
In the very center of the city there is a Ferris wheel with a height of 50 meters. From such a height, all of Vladimir is in full view.
Vladimir stands on the Klyazma River, next to the Sodyshka Reservoir and Lake Glubokoe. All these reservoirs have public beaches, where lifeguards are on duty and there are various entertainments.
Cafes and restaurants
Vladimir is a large tourist center with many good catering establishments. They are mainly located in the city center.
On the main street of the city, Bolshaya Moskovskaya, there is a large selection of cafes and restaurants. Many of them offer a children's menu. Pay attention to the Oblomov restaurant, where you can order a family lunch. Pizzeria "To-to", located on the same street, perfectly copes with the task of feeding the fastidious children. Farfallina restaurant offers not only delicious, but also intricately designed children's dishes
A large number of restaurants of Russian cuisine in Vladimir looks quite natural. Surrounded by old buildings, such places look especially organic. Pay attention to the already named Oblomov restaurant, which serves excellent pike cutlets, as well as to the Merchant Andreev's Drinking House, which serves Russian drinks in the volumes they were measured in Russia. At the Barin restaurant, try borscht and delicious dumplings.
