The Golden Ring (Russian: Золото́е кольцо́) is a ring of cities northeast of Moscow, the capital of Russia. They formerly comprised the region known as Zalesye. Government Russia District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuri Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area  - City 1,081 km² Population  - City (2005)    - Density 10,415,400   8537. ... Zalesye (literally: over the woods) or Opolye (literally: in the fields) is a historical region of Russia, comprising the north and west parts of Vladimir Oblast, the north-east of Moscow Oblast and the south of Yaroslavl Oblast. ...

These ancient towns, which also played a significant role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church, preserve the memory about the most important and significant events in Russian history. The towns have been called "open air museums" and feature unique monuments of Russian architecture of the 12th–18th centuries, including kremlins, monasteries, cathedrals, and churches. These towns are among the most picturesque in Russia and prominently feature Russia's famous onion domes. Although there are some discrepancies with respect to the names of the cities that are included in the ring, most include Sergiyev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Rostov Velikiy, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Gus-Khrustalny, Suzdal, Vladimir, Rybinsk, Uglich, and Alexandrov. Many of these cities are to be found along the M8 highway or can be reached from Yaroslavl Railway Station in Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church (also known as the Orthodox Catholic Church of Russia) (Русская Православная церковь) is that body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with the other patriarchs and primates of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... The history of Russia is essentially that of its many nationalities, each with a separate history and complex origins. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Kremlin (Кремль) is the Russian word for citadel or castle and refers to any major fortified central complex found in historical Russian cities. ... Monastery of St. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Anglican, Catholic and some Lutheran churches, which serves as the central church of a diocese, and thus as a bishops seat. ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... Onion dome - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Monument to St. ... Pereslavl-Zalessky (Пересла́вль-Зале́сский) is a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, on the shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo. ... Rostov (Russian: Росто́в; Old Norse: Rostofa) is one of the oldest towns in Russia and an important tourist centre of the so called Golden ring. ... Yaroslavl (Jaroslavl, Russian: ) is a city in Russia, an administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, located 250 km NE of Moscow at 57°37′N 39°51′E The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of Volga and Kotorosl. ... Kostroma (Russian: ) is a historic city in central Russia, administrative centre of the Kostroma Oblast. ... Ivanovo (Russian: Ива́ново) is the administrative center of Ivanovo Oblast, Russia. ... Gus Khrustalny (Гусь-Хрустальный in Russian) is a town in the Vladimir Oblast in Russia, located on the Gus River (a tributary of the Oka River) 63 km south of Vladimir. ... St. ... Vladimir (Влади́мир) is a city in Russia, administrative center of Vladimir Oblast. ... Rybinsk (Ры́бинск), with population exceding 250,000, is the second largest city of the Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia. ... Transfiguration cathedral in the kremlin Uglich (Russian: У́глич, pronounced ooglitch) is a historic town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, on the Volga River. ... Alexandrov (Алекса́ндров) is a town in Vladimir Oblast, Russia. ...

External links

• www.zolotoe-koltso.ru (Russian)
• Golden Ring travel overview