Architecture

The Golden Ring consists of the oldest and most famous town of Central Russia to the northeast of Moscow and covers the lands where some of the main events of Russian history took place. This explains why you can see so many interesting and varied architectural monuments here and trace the history of Russian art from the earliest archaeological remains to mediaeval masterpieces, from magnificent classical works to the avant-garde structures of the twentieth century.

11Th - 12th century. The growth of towns

The rapid growth of towns in Northeast Russia in the eleventh and twelfth century involved the building of earthen ramparts, timber fortifications and also stone cathedrals. Rostov, Murom, Suzdal and Uglich are the oldest towns in this area. In 1108 Prince Vladimir Monomach founded a fortress, which he called after himself, Vladimir, and made it the capital of a principality. In the middle of the 12th century his son, Yuri Dolgoruki (the Long-Armed) built some new towns in this area, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Kostroma, Yunev-Polsky, Moscow, Zvenigorod and Dmitrov. Thanks to him a whole series of settlements acquired a fortified nucleus surrounded by a ring of earthen ramparts. Traces of these ramparts can still be found in some of the towns on the Golden Ring. They are particularly well preserved in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yuriev-Polsky and Suzdal.

Transfiguration of Our Saviour Cathedral Pereslavl-Zalessky 1152

The first stone churches were modelled on prototypes in Kiev and were comparatively small, four-pillar constructions The walls were divided by flat pilaster strips into three sections and terminated in ogee-shaped arches known as "zakomaras" There was a single large dome These heavy early churches create an impression of simplicity and power With their helmet-like domes and narrow slits of windows, they are laconic and austere. The architecture changed in the middle of the 12th century, the reign of Grand Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky (the God-loving), a brief, but extremely dramatic period in the history of Northeast Russia Andrew established contact with the Holy Roman Empire, and the chronicles tell us that Frederick Barbarossa sent master builders to him in Vladimir It was during this period that portals reminiscent of Romanesque churches, animal masks and other devices from West European architecture appeared in Russian buildings. A good example is the Church of the Intercession-on-the-Nerl (1165). Its elegant, almost weightless forms and small light dome give it a special charm. The church is also interesting for

the sculpture on its facades. This marked the beginning of the plastic stone carving that became one of the greatest artistic achievements of the Suzdal lands. Of course, it would probably not have appeared if there had not already been a long tradition of woodcarving dating back to pagan limes in these parts.

The next stage in the history of Northeast Russian art is connected with the reign of Grand Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest (so-called because of his large family) in the last quarter of the 12th century This period saw the building of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir that has retained its original appearance to this very day. A new royal palace was also erected with the St Demetrius Cathedral (1194-1197) nearby that has also survived. The Demetrius Cathedral is literally covered with carving, very rare in Russian architecture. Unfortunately this feature was not continued later, because the Orthodox church regards sculpture as pagan idolatry.