- Trips from Yaroslavl
- Trips from Kostroma
- Excursions from Vladimir and Suzdal
- Travels from Ivanovo
- Trips from Moscow to the south
- From Moscow to the northwest
The Golden Ring route, which appeared in 1967, has not lost its popularity even now. Numerous Russian travel companies offer trips along this route. In order to distinguish their tourism product among similar ones, some companies began to include visits to the so-called small towns of the Golden Ring in their program.
Several years ago, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation decided to expand the Golden Ring route. Now settlements, even those located on the other side of the traditional route, have a chance to become one of the cities of the Golden Ring.
As you know, while officially on the Golden Ring route there are 8 main cities. These are fairly large settlements with many attractions and well-developed infrastructure. In each of these cities, you can stay for a few days to visit the closest, no less interesting historical towns and villages.
The easiest way to move between the small towns of the Golden Ring is in your own car. In this case, there is no need to waste time waiting for public transport.
Trips from Yaroslavl
Tutaev
Only 34 km separates one of the most beautiful cities of the Golden Ring Yaroslavl from Tutaev. This town was founded on the Volga coast in the 13th century by Prince Roman, after whom it got its name - Romanov. Opposite it, in the 18th century, the village of Borisoglebsk appeared, where fishermen began to settle. In 1822, these two settlements became one.
The city acquired its current name in the 20th century. Until now, the two parts are united only by a ferry crossing. There are no bridges across the Volga in Tutaev, and this causes great surprise among visitors. In winter, people get to the other side of the Volga through Yaroslavl.
In the part of the city that used to be called Romanov, you can visit the Kazan-Transfiguration Church and the Museum of the Romanov Sheep, where figurines of sheep from various materials are collected. In the former Borisoglebsk, interest is attracted by the park of the Soviet period, where sculptures from the times of the USSR were brought.
From Tutaev through Rybinsk it is easy to get to Myshkin with its charming museums of boots, mice, ancient equipment, which are visited by tens of thousands of people a year.
The highway from Myshkin will lead to Uglich and further - to Kalyazin, where there are several ancient temples, a felt boots factory, where tourists are taken, and the main local tourist attraction - the bell tower flooded in the middle of the reservoir - part of the Nikolsky Cathedral.
Trips from Kostroma
Plyos
After stopping for a few days in Kostroma, plan your trip to Kineshma and Ples. By the way, Ples is located just in the middle of the road between Kostroma and Ivanovo, so it can be easily reached from Ivanovo.
The former merchant town of Ples with a population of just under 1,800 people is now a well-known tourist center. Crowds of travelers arriving every day on large cruise ships sailing along the Volga in search of stunning landscapes depicted by I. Levitan do not disturb the provincial tranquility inherent in small Russian towns.
In Plyos, it is customary to walk along the embankment, decorated with cute sculptures, climb the Cathedral Hill, where the main local temple, the Assumption Cathedral, is located and there is a stunning observation deck. All tourists are taken to the Levitan House-Museum and the Landscape Museum, and then they are offered to taste kuleiki pies and expertly cooked fish in one of the local restaurants.
Kineshma was also built on the Volga. It takes 3, 5-4 hours to get to it from Kostroma. The main attractions of the city are two majestic temples on the embankment, a belfry between them, the Artistic and Historical Museum with a rich collection of ethnographic wonders, the Felt Boots Museum, which sells handmade felted shoes, considered the best souvenir from Kineshma.
Excursions from Vladimir and Suzdal
Yuryev-Polsky
Both Vladimir and Suzdal, separated by 36 km, are considered ideal starting points for trips to the nearest small towns. If you wish, you can ride around the outskirts of these cities for a week or two, but you should definitely see these settlements:
- Murom - it is more convenient to get to him from Vladimir. The city on the Oka, where the famous Peter and Fevronia reigned and the hero Ilya Muromets lived, will appeal to lovers of leisurely walks. Many sights of Murom, for example, four monasteries, a History and Art Museum, a city park and a water tower, can be seen in one day;
- Gorokhovets is located on the Klyazma River, 2.5 hours drive from Vladimir. People come here to see a number of merchant mansions built in the 17th century;
- Gus-Khrustalny, which can be reached from Vladimir in a little over an hour, is famous for its glass factory of the middle of the 18th century. You can admire the products of local craftsmen in the Museum of Crystal;
- Yuryev-Polsky - there are roads to this city from Suzdal and Vladimir. You can get from Suzdal through Gavrilov Posad a little faster than from Vladimir. Yuryev-Polsky is famous for its St. George Cathedral, which was built in the first half of the 13th century before the Mongols ruined Russia. The temple survived the Mongol era, but collapsed in the 15th century, and the inhabitants of Yuryev-Polsky rebuilt it from the rubble. But they were folded in such a bizarre way that they forever turned their cathedral into the main wonder of the city.
Travels from Ivanovo
Yuryevets
In the vicinity of Ivanovo, there are many small villages and towns where craftsmen live who create amazing gizmos in the style and traditions of their ancestors. These include Palekh and Kholui, where there are workshops for the creation of original lacquer miniatures. There is a museum in Palekh, which displays a collection of painted caskets, panels and other beautiful gizmos. The Museum of Kholui Art is interesting in Kholuy.
The city of Shuya, with a population of about 60 thousand people, is famous for the fact that wonderful soap is made here by hand, which is scattered into gifts. Once in Shuya, do not miss the opportunity to see the majestic Resurrection Cathedral and the 106-meter high belfry standing nearby.
In Yuryevets, surrounded on three sides by coniferous groves, a 70-meter five-tiered bell tower attracts the eye. It belongs to the St. George Church, but within walking distance from it there is another temple, consecrated in honor of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem. The bell tower has an observation deck located at a height of 40 meters.
Trips from Moscow to the south
Borovsk
There are several historic cities to the south of Moscow, which, although located at a distance from the classic route of the Golden Ring, correspond to the level of the settlements that are already included in it. These are small ancient cities, which have preserved the sights of the past centuries, which are of interest to modern tourists.
From Moscow, along the Simferopol highway, you can get to Tarusa, located in the Kaluga region. This city, built over the Oka, was loved by many poets and writers, which is reminded of the House-Museum of K. G. Paustovsky, the Museum of the Tsvetaev family and the literary trail with monuments to the famous guests of Tarusa.
From Tarusa through Kaluga, tourists go to Belev, where they visit two monasteries and buy home delicious apple marshmallow, which is made according to old recipes at a factory in the neighboring village of Bogdanovo.
If, having left Moscow, in front of Serpukhov you turn onto the A-130 highway, you can find yourself in Borovsk - the place where noblewoman Morozova ended her life. Borovsk is also known for the fact that K. Tsiolkovsky lived here for some time. In his honor, a museum was organized in the city and a monument was erected.
From Moscow to the northwest
Torzhok
To Torzhok, which can be reached from Moscow via Klin and Tver, some travel companies also organize excursions from Sergiev Posad, which is officially included in the Golden Ring of Russia route.
Torzhok area - 60 sq. km. Quarters built in the 18th-19th centuries have survived in its historic center. Here you can see the Borisoglebsky and Resurrection monasteries, several churches, solid merchant estates. Of great interest is the museum dedicated to the local craft - gold embroidery. The city's souvenir shops sell delicately embroidered items.
The exposition of another museum tells the story of Pushkin the traveler, who drove through Torzhok 20 times and tasted the local culinary masterpiece - "Pozharsky" cutlets. Any traveler can also order them in cafes and restaurants of the city.
