At the northwestern end of Krasnaya pl, standing out against the background of the grassy remains of the ancient town walls, is one of the oldest buildings in Russia: this brilliant-white limestone church with a single sea-green dome, was built from 1152 to 1157 for Prince Yury Dolgoruky and his court (and restored in 2015). The interior is cool and hushed thanks to the 1.5m-thick walls. Inside is a 19th-century marble iconostasis; sadly, the original 12th-century frescoes have not survived.
Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour
Golden Ring
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.56 MILES
This large hilltop monastery 2.5km south of the centre was founded in the 14th century, though the oldest buildings today are the 17th-century gates, gate…
8.99 MILES
A large collection of old locomotives, coaches, boxcars and other narrow-gauge railroad relics that once ran through this part of Russia (up to the middle…
1.48 MILES
Hearing your footsteps echoing in the gloom as you walk through this empty, unrestored cathedral (built 1744) within Goritsky Monastery makes it almost…
3.15 MILES
Lake Pleshcheyevo is where a 16-year-old Peter the Great developed his obsession with the sea while on holiday. He continued to study navigation and…
0.89 MILES
Built in 1755, this lakeside church is named for the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, a group of Roman soldiers who froze to death on a wintry lake in present…
0.13 MILES
The peaceful Trubezh, winding 2km from the kremlin to the lake, is fringed by trees and narrow lanes; in nice weather, you might see locals kayaking its…
Belfry of the Church of the Epiphany
1.5 MILES
A walk of several flights up brings you to the top of the belfry of this former church in the Goritsky Monastery, from where you can be wowed by 360…
0.04 MILES
This grassy square off the main road is at the heart of what was once Prince Yury Dolgoruky’s kremlin. At one end is the 1152 Cathedral of the…
Nearby Golden Ring attractions
0.04 MILES
This grassy square off the main road is at the heart of what was once Prince Yury Dolgoruky’s kremlin. At one end is the 1152 Cathedral of the…
2. Church of Peter the Metropolitan
0.09 MILES
This white-brick, tent-roofed church at the southwestern corner of Krasnaya pl was built in 1585, financed by Ivan the Terrible to replace an older wooden…
0.13 MILES
The peaceful Trubezh, winding 2km from the kremlin to the lake, is fringed by trees and narrow lanes; in nice weather, you might see locals kayaking its…
0.89 MILES
Built in 1755, this lakeside church is named for the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, a group of Roman soldiers who froze to death on a wintry lake in present…
1.41 MILES
Even if you can't understand Russian, if you love gadgets check out this two-storey museum packed with dozens of old radios, TV sets and film cameras,…
1.48 MILES
Hearing your footsteps echoing in the gloom as you walk through this empty, unrestored cathedral (built 1744) within Goritsky Monastery makes it almost…
7. Belfry of the Church of the Epiphany
1.5 MILES
A walk of several flights up brings you to the top of the belfry of this former church in the Goritsky Monastery, from where you can be wowed by 360…
1.56 MILES
This large hilltop monastery 2.5km south of the centre was founded in the 14th century, though the oldest buildings today are the 17th-century gates, gate…