Sightseeing in Vladimir

contents: the golden gates ¥ assumption cathedral ¥ dmitry's cathedral ¥ the chambers ¥ the water towers

THE GOLDEN GATES. The Golden gates were built at the western entrance to Vladimir in 1164, when Vladimir-Suzdal pricipality was ruled by Andrey Bogolyubsky. On top of the gates there's a church with a golden dome. The purpose of the Golden gates was to decorate and to protect the city: the arch used to be protected by massive wooden doors, on top of the gates there's a 'fighting' place. In 18-19th centruries, the gates were restaurated, partially rebuilt, and the new small castles were attached on the sides.
The Golden gates are being restorated at the moment, and should be finished by the end of 2001.
Location: Where Dvoryanskaya street meets B.Moskovskaya street. Phone: (0922) 32-25-29. Map: 1

ASSUMPTION CATHEDRAL. It was founded by Vladimir prince Andrey Bogolubsky in 1158 on a high hill next to Klyazma river, and was meant to embody the power and importance of Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Called in Russian 'Uspensky Sobor', it's one of the most important and interesting monuments of the ancient Russian architecture.
Italian architector Aristotel Fioravanty, who built almost half of Moscow Kremlin, had studied the architecture of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, and built the same kind of cathedral with the same name in Moscow Kremlin.
Andrey Bogolubsky, the founder of the cathedral, gave great importance to the cathedral, so it was painted and decorated very richly inside. Although the cathedral looks very massive from the outside, the interior is made in such way, that you won't feel the 'heaviness' inside.
During the Tartars invasions the cathedral was devastated, and only in the beginning of the 18th century, at the times of Peter the Great, it was restorated completely.
Location: facing the Sobornaya (Ô”‡”’ˆ) square. Phone: (0922) 22-42-63. Map: 2. Opened: 13.30-17.00, day off: friday. Entrance: 20 roubles ($0.7)

DMITRY'S CATHEDRAL. Was built during 1194-1197 to honor the 'heaven patron' of Vladimir-Suzdal prince Vsevolod 'Big Nest'.
The cathedral is built of white stone in a very interesting, skillful, and impressive way, on the walls of the cathedral you can see the fretworks depicting various Russian princes and their doings.
The lower fretworks are quite detailed and precise, the upper fretworks have less details, but deeper texture, to make them more visible. Inside, the cathedral is decorated in a light and simple manner.
Location: next to the Assumption cathedral. Phone: (0922) 22-42-63. Map: 3

THE CHAMBERS building, located between the Assumtion cathedral and Dmitry's cathedral, was built in 1790, as a place for the government of Vladimir region. Now the Chambers host historical, archeological, and art exhibitions, connected with Vladimir region.
A historical exhibition is called "The beauty of the old times", and tells about the history of Vladimir region. The archeological exhibition has interesting things found in archeilogical research near Sungiri town in Vladimir region. The art gallery features Russian art pieces of the 18th-19th centuries and modern art.
Location: between Assumption cathedral and Dmitry's cathedral. Map: 4

THE WATER TOWER was first built in the end of the 19th centruy, and completly rebuilt in 1912. The tower is built of red bricks in 'pseudorussian' style, it has a form of a cistern and widens on the top.
After the restoration works in 1970s, the tower hosts an exhibition called 'Old Vladimir', with a great view on the historical center of the town.
Location: next to the Golden Gates, in the direction of Klyazma river. Opened: 10.00-16.00 daily, day off: monday. Map: 5