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The Golden Ring Of Russia

2000
Amid plains, lakes and marshes of the vast country are scattered these old Russian towns. In the radiance of their singular beauty they rise over steep ravines, on the banks of large and small rivers. Known collectively as the Golden Ring of Russia, they actually form a circle which extends from Moscow toward the north-east. The northern confines of the bounded region coincide with the Volga, the southern border runs along its tributary, the Oka. Each of these towns played an important part in the history of the Russian State, both in its early period, when the Russian lands and principalities were being united under the sway of Moscow, and later, when the independence of the country was at stake. The architectural monuments of these towns are the stone chronicles of the contry's history. There are complexes created within a short period of time and reminding us of a certain historical landmark. Other complexes comprising architecture of different periods illustrate the history of a whole epoch.