The Golden Ring is one of the main tourist routs of Russia. It is a vast area of ancient Russian cities located to the east and the nort-east from Moscow. The main of them are Vladimir, Suzdal, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov, Pereslavl-Zalessky and Sergiev Posad. The above cities are the most popular for tourists visiting Russia. Here, around Moscow, after disintegration of the Kievan Rus, at the crossroads of ancient water and land trade routes, in the Middle Ages the modern Russian state and its economic basis was formed. Here the Russian past comes back to you at every turn.
The Golden Ring is located in zone of continental climate with cold winters and warm summer. Average temperature of January is -11°C, average temperature of July is +19°C.
The main tourist attraction of the Golden Ring is medieval architectural monuments: kremlins (fortified central parts in historic Russian cities), monasteries, churches. There are even several UNESCO World Heritage Sites among them.
Some of the Golden Ring cities became Russian regional centers (Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo), other Golden Ring points are still small towns (Suzdal, Rostov, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Sergiev Posad, Murom, Gus-Khrustalny, Ples, Alexandrov, Gorokhovets) but everywhere quiet provincial atmosphere contrasting with the rhythm of large cities remains.
In the Golden Ring you have a chance to purchase unique samples of Russian traditional applied arts and to taste original truly home Russian national cuisine.
