Russia-Golden Ring Tour 2007
From Moscow to nearby ancient cities of Russia (known as the "Golden Ring"): 1. Moscow, 2. Gus-Khrustalny, 3. Murom, 4. Nizhny-Novgorod, 5. Gorokhovets / Bogolyubovo, 6. Vladimir, 7. Suzdal, 8. Plyos, 9. Kostroma, 10. Yaroslavl, 11. Rostov, 12. Pereslavl-Zalessky, 13. Sergei Posad (Zagorsk)
Moscow - First documented in 1147, Moscow grew to become a prosperous and powerful city that served as the capital of the Moscovy (later Tsardom of Russia)
1. Gus-Khrustalny - Gus-Khrustalny was founded in 1756 with the construction of a crystal plant, Gus-Crystal (on Gus River).
2. Murom - In the 9th century AD, the city marked the easternmost settlement of the East Slavs in the land of the Finnic Muromians. The Primary Chronicle mentions it as early as AD 862. It was an important trading post from Volga Bulgaria to the Baltic Sea.
3. Nizhny-Novgorod - The city is located at the confluence of the Oka and the Volga rivers in Central Russia, became a great trade center of the Russian Empire.
4. Gorokhovets / Bogolyubovo - Gorokhovets, located on the highway from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. Bogolyubovo was built between 1158 and 1165 by the order of Andrey Bogolyubsky at the mouth of the Nerl River (where it flows into the Klyazma River)
5. Vladimir - Vladimir was one of the medieval capitals of Russia, with significant buildings surviving from the 12th century; located on the Klyazma River, 200 kilometers (120 mi) east of Moscow
6. Suzdal - The town's history dates back probably to 999 or 1024, and in 1125 Yury Dolgoruky made Suzdal the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality. Suzdal began to function as a capital at the time when Moscow was still a cluster of cowsheds
7. Plyos - located on the right bank of the Volga River, 70 kilometers (43 mi) northeast of Ivanovo, the administrative center of the oblast.
8. Kostroma - it is located at the confluence of the rivers Volga and Kostroma (kostyor, fertility). The official founding year of the city is 1152 by Yury Dolgoruky
9. Yaroslavl - The historic part of the city is a World Heritage Site, and is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl rivers.
10. Rostov - It is located on the shores of Lake Nero. The vicinity of Rostov is rich in old architecture.
11. Pereslavl-Zalessky - located on the main Moscow-Yaroslavl road and on the southeastern shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo at the mouth of the Trubezh River. It was founded in 1152 by George I of Vladimir as a projected capital of Zalesye (lit.beyond the woods).
12. Sergei Posad (Zagorsk) - Sergiyev Posad is the religious center of the Moscow Region as its first monastery was founded in 1337. The monastery began as a church built by Sergius of Radonezh.
