Rostov Veliky

To reach Rostov it is the most convenient:
From St.-Petersburg by train up to Yaroslavl and further by suburban train or by bus.

From Moscow by bus or suburban train with change in Alexandrovo. There are some hotels in the city.

The main place of interest in the city is the Kremlin, one of the most beautiful in the country.

The general description

On low western coast of the lake Nero, on the highway Moscow-Yaroslavl, Rostov, one of the most ancient cities of Russia, lies. The centre of the city is formed by the Kremlin and the constructions adjoined to it. >From the Kremlin the roads radiate, joined by the arcs of the concentric streets. The town had the form of segment.

The Kremlin. The panorama from the north-west.

If you go from the Kremlin along the lake on the north, you meet Avraamiev monastery, enclosed with a wall, the former outskirts of the city. If you go from the Kremlin to the south, you reach the Jakovlevsky monastery, being notable for its peculiar architecture. And to the west of the Kremlin there are the railway and the station. The old city proper is located round the Kremlin and limits by the street Sverdlova. If you visit Rostov in summer, you can't miss the opportunity to go boating on the lake. From the water the panorama on all the city at once is opened, both the Kremlin churches and all the monasteries can be seen.

In Kremlin there are a lot of tourists, but, as a rule, on the way. The Kremlin is restored and being kept in good condition. Inside it there are the museums with interesting expositions. Other sights of the city are often neglected by the guides, which determines their not best conditions. It seems that Rostov's Kremlin is the second in Russia by beauty after Moscow, the third at most. Therefore it outstands much of what it would be possible to visit in Rostov except it. The Kremlin as if hinders the restoration of the monasteries.

In the neighbourhood of the town there are approximately equally of woods and fields, there are a lot of roads, almost each of which will sooner or later lead to some place of interest. Is most interesting is the Borisoglebsky settlement with the white-stone Kremlin (18 kms to the west along the road to the Uglich).

Pages of history

The church of Voskresenija Khrista. 1670.

The city of Rostov has grown among the lands, belonging to the Finnish-Ugor tribe of merja. The legend says, that its founder bore the name Rosta and named the city in his honour. By and large, the first mention of it in the chronicle in 862 is considered to be the year of the foundation of Restov. The chronicles also tell us about the participation of Rostov's citizens in the campaigns of prince Oleg to the hostile cities - Kiev (882) and Tsargrad (907). Approximately at the same time in the city there also appears the Slavic population.

In 988 Kiev prince Vladimir Svjatoslavovich gave Rostov to his son - future Jaroslav Mudry ("Mudry" means "Wise"), which ruled here till 1010. The city of Jaroslavl in 60 km to the north of Rostov was founded by Jaroslav and named in his honour.

In 989 in Rostov the Christianity was introduced. All the population of the city was brought into waters of the lake Nero and devided in groups of 10-15 people. Specially invated Byzantian priests floated on boats between the groups of the people and baptized the inhabitants, giving them one name for all the group. Obviously, the priests had the piece-work payment, instead of hourly. For a lot of years the population opposed to the innovations and raised revolts. In 1073 Jan Vyshatich from Kiev suppressed the last of them.

After the death of Jaroslav Mudry in 1054 the city came in the possession of Vsevolod, and then - Vladimir Monomials. The city was in a subordinate position; the governors, assigned from Vladimir, controlled it.

The church of Iohann Bogoslov. 1683.

Since 1207 Rostov was the capital of an independent state. However, in 1219 the state was divided into three parts - Rostov, Yaroslavl and Uglich. The inhabitants of Rostov were at war with the neighbours; however, in 1238 Tatar-Mongols captured all the three states. Rostov prince and his army perished in the battle on the river Sit, the city was seized and burned down.

By 1320 the country split in numerous minor states, Rostov was divided into two parts - eastern and western. Thus, two princes ruled it.

There was even a saying: "In the Rostov land there is a prince in each village". Small-sized states were gradually absorbed by Moscow, which enjoyed the support of Tartar-Mongols. In 1322 joint Tatar-Moscow forces (Jurij Danilovich from Moscow and Tartar ambassador Ahmyl) inflicted a serious loss to Rostov, by exterminating a plenty of the population, and in 1339 Ivan Kalita, being at war with Tver, at the same time seized Rostov.

In 1474 Ivan III bought the last part of Rostov state, putting an end to the history of the independence of the city.

Some time Rostov remained a prospering city, through it a trade path passed to the north to Yaroslavl, Vologda, Kirillov, Archangelsk and Great Ustjug.

In 1608 Rostov was taken by Polish-Lithuanian invaders. The townspeople, led by military leader Tretjak Seitov, has rendered a heroic resistance. Uspensky cathedral became their last, inside which the besieged people continued to battle untill they all perished. The legend asserts that even the women were at war, one of which, princess Maria Lobanova killed the leader of the invaders pan Zaborovsky and the ally of the Poles Yaroslavl prince Ivan Shamin. The city was burned down and desroyed. In 1612 it was liberated by the army of Minin and Pozharsky.

Till 1788 in Rostov a vivid construction was conducted, the city was growing and becoming rich, being the centre of a metropolitanate. In 1788 the metropolitans moved to Yaroslavl, and the city began to come in decline.

The years of Communists government inflicted a great loss to the city. Many churches were desroyed, came in desolation. However, the destiny was favourable to Rostov. The centre of the city remained; a large-scale industry and Komsomol constructions have bypassed the city. Today we can see a silent, very provincial city, where near to Kremlin a cow can walk.

Places of Interest

The plan of the Kremlin.

Kremlin
The ensemble of the Kremlin, occupying 2 hectares, consists of the churches and household buildings, enclosed with eleven-tower wall, erected in 1670-1675. The experts assert that these walls were erected not for a defence from an enemy, but as a scenery. In other words, these walls were constructed in the ancient Russian "kremlin" style, with decorative loop-holes and cogs.

To get inside it is possible through a gate, decorated by the church of Ioann Bogoslov (1683), or through the five-headed church of Resurrection (1670), decorating the gate on the northern wall. Through the latter Rostov priests passed to the Uspensky cathedral. Inside of all the walls there is a gallery, along which it is possible to get in any Kremlin building. The priest's house and the church of Spas On Senjah, contiguous to it, occupy the south-east part of the Kremlin. The vestibule and the refectory adjoin to the buildings. There is the White Chamber, in which tsar Petr I used to dine. Among other constructions one should note the Red Chamber, constructed specially for a reception of the tsars.

The Red Chamber. 1680. The reconstruction of 1960.

Uspensky cathedral - the main church of the city - lies outside the Kremlin walls, though it is enclosed with the fencing, which embraces the belfry, too. The first church on this place was constructed in 991. The present variant dates back to the 17th century.

The interesting building of the belfry (1682), famous for the 13 bells, stands on the high basement with four cupolas. The largest bell weights 2000 tons.

Avraamiev monastery is the most ancient monastery in Russia. It was constructed in the beginning of the 11th century. The main sight of it is the Bogojavlensky cathedral (1554). The monastery is not in the best condition, but it worth visiting. Near it there is a silent quiet park, which is stretching to the coast.

The Jakovlevsky Monastery was under construction in the 17-19th centuries. Behind its stone wall with towers (the beginning of the 19th century) there are Zachatjevsky temple and Dmitrovskaja church - "a remarkable monument of Russian classicism" (1801). It was constructed by serfs of count Sheremetjev.

In conclusion we shall suggest you some beautiful points of the survey of the city. If you go from the Kremlin to the Avraamiev monastery along the Karl Marx street, you ought to look back. From this point there is a very beautiful sight of the Kremlin. The second point - the view from the shore of the lake near the Jakovlevsky monastery of the Kremlin again. And certainly, there are some beautiful views from a surface of the lake.