THE TOWNS OF GOLDEN RING

Moscow - Sergiev Posad – Rostov the Great – Yaroslavl – Suzdal – Vladimir

4-8.8.2010

Price 660 euro/person

Programme

1 Day Departure from Helsinki on the Tolstoi night train to Moscow.

2 Day Arrival in Moscow. Departure by bus to Sergiev Posad. Excurcion to Trinity-St.Sergiev Lavra. Lunch at restaurant “Makovets”. Tour continues to Rostov the Great. Sightseeing tour including excursion to the Kremlin. Departure to Yaroslavl. Transfer to hotel Yubileynaya and dinner at hotel.

3 Day After breakfast city tour including St.Elijah the Prophet Church and the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Savior. Lunch and departure to Vladimir. Transfer to hotel Golden Ring. Dinner at hotel.

4 Day Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to Suzdal. Visiting the Kremlin, the Church of Resurrection, the Spaso-Yefimiev Monastery, the Spaso-Transfiguration Monastery, the Museum of Wooden Architecture. After lunch departure to Vladimir. Sightseeing tour including the Cathedral of St.Demetrius, the Assumption Cathedral, the Golden Gates. Back to Moscow. Night train to Helsinki.

5 Day Midday arrival in Helsinki.

Price includes:
- train 2nd class 4-berth compartment Helsinki-Moscow-Helsinki
- accommodation in double room with breakfast
- Finnish speaking local guide from and till Moscow (English guidence also possible)
- city tours and meals as in programme
- transfers by comfortable bus

Extra charge:
- single supplement 115€
- 1st class in train 2-berth compartment 113€
- Russian visa for the citizens of Finland 55€

The tour will be realised, when minimum 20 participants.

To the northeast of Moscow is a group of ancient Russian towns that form a circle called Golden Ring. In the year 1100 Vladimir and Suzdal formed a principality of these towns that matched of Kiev. This tour will give a real look at the Russian countryside rich in history, churches, monasteries and Russian architecture starting already from 12th century. This will be a journey to remember!

Sergiev Posad The first settlement was established in this place in the 14th century. The town was named in honour of St.Sergius of Radonezh, who was born in the neighbouring town of Radonezh, and who was the founder of the Trinity Monastery. The ensemble of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra reflects all the steps of Russian architectural development. Sergiev Posad is the spiritual centre of Russian orthodoxy. The Assumption Cathedral in this ensemble is a sepulchre of Russian Patriarchs. The Trinity Monastery Stergius is inscribed on the UNESCO list of the world cultural Heritage.

Rostov Veliky is one of the oldest Russian cities. According to the chronicles Rostov Veliky was founded in the 9th century. In the mid 15th century it became a religious centre of Moscow’s principality. The city is famous for its well-preserved ensemble of the Kremlin built in the 17th century. It was built as the residence of the Rostov Metropolitane. This town is also famous for its enamelwork that has won many prizes in international exhibitions.

Yaroslavl On a picturesque bank of the Volga, the longest river in Europe lies the biggest town of the Golden Ring – Yaroslavl. In the 18th century Yaroslavl became one of the most economically developed towns in Russia. The Cathedral of Transfiguration of our Saviour situated in the Monastery served as the burial vault for Princes and rich citizens. It was in this Cathedral that the manuscript of “The Lay of Igor’s Host” was discovered at the end of 18th century, telling the story about the raid of the Novgorod-Seversky Prince Igor on Polovtsy. Church of the Prophet Elijah is the only church washed of dirt, others have been repainted. An interesting fact is that the artists used in illustrations only the everyday life scenes, which now help to get an idea of the life conditions in 17th Rus.

Suzdal First mentioned in chronicles in 1024, it is one of the oldest and the best-preserved Russian towns. When coming to Suzdal you find yourself in a Russian fairy tale. There are lots of splendid architectural monuments from different epochs which preserved its original character and appearance: the Suzdal Kremlin with the Cathedral of the Nativity of our Lady, the Bishops’s Palace, the Spaso-Yevfimievsky Monastery, the Convent of the Intercession and many others.

Vladimir In the middle of the 12th century Vladimir became capital of Vladimir-Suzdal Principality. There is a legend that a miracle-working icon painted by St. Luke the Evangelist instructed Andrei Bogolyubsky which town was to become the capital. Its unique architectural masterpieces together with its cultural and artistic monuments represent the profound spiritual life of the Russian people and the artistry of Russian builders, painters and craftsmen.