Highlights of Yaroslavl







After the city of Suzdal you will come to Yaroslavl.

The city was founded by Yaroslav, the son of Prince Vladimir of Kiev. He called the fortress after himself. The story says that the settlement of the pagans was located in a place called Bear Corner. Its inhabitants were engaged in hunting and fishing. Prince Yaroslav killed the sacred animal (bear) of the pagans and enslaved them. The legend of this event found its reflection in the symbol of the city "On a silver shield there is a depiction of a bear standing with a golden ax in its left paw." Many poetic pages were devoted to Yaroslavl, the unique architecture of the city, the heroic past of the city and its famous masters, bricklayers, potters and blacksmiths, artists and sculptors. They have created numerous churches, each of which immerses modern visitors in a striking and original beauty. This city developed its own magnificent culture, which has earned its place in the history of Russia, along with ancient Kiev, Novgorod and Moscow. Yaroslavl today is a big city, but the original and extremely picturesque corners of ancient Yaroslavl are still preserved. From the embankment you can see a number of magnificent, unique churches. And you can see the monumental and majestic ensemble of the white-stone Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery, behind which stands a beautiful silhouette of the Church of the Apparition of Christ, built of red brick. Now there is one of the most extensive museums of ancient Russian architecture in the ancient Transfiguration Monastery which exhibits iconography, ethnography and folk art.

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Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve

Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve

Yaroslavl State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve is one of the largest cultural institutions and tourist facilities in Yaroslavl. Since 1959, the museum-reserve is located in the heart of the city, on the territory of the Transfiguration Monastery Spaso-Preobrazhensky, which was abolished in 1787. The museum owns a rich collection of icons and manuscripts, precious fabrics and church utensils, works of ancient Russian art. The museum houses the oldest surviving building in Yaroslavl - the Transfiguration Cathedral (early 16th century). Besides this, the museum-reserve includes six churches, which are the most important Yaroslavl architectural and painting monuments of the 17th century.
Volzhskaya embankment

Volzhskaya embankment

The city embankment was equipped at the beginning of the XIX century after the visit of Alexander I to Yaroslavl. The emperor did not like the neglected view of the banks of the Volga, and he ordered the allocation of funds for improvement. Since then, the Volga embankment has become a real decoration and the main promenade of the city, maintained in order and clean at any time. It stretches along the high banks of the river, offering a picturesque view.
Volkov Russian Drama Theater

Volkov Russian Drama Theater

The Russian State Academic Volkov Drama Theater is the oldest dramatic theater in Russia, founded in 1750. The complex of buildings is located in the center of Yaroslavl. Now it is one of the most famous and large theaters in the Russian province: more than 200 employees (including 55 people are a troupe), two stages - the Main (auditorium for 931 seats) and the Chamber (auditorium for 120 seats). The current repertoire consists of twenty-nine titles.
Vlasyevskaya tower and Znamenskaya church

Vlasyevskaya tower and Znamenskaya church

Vlasyevskaya Tower is a 17th century fortification, one of the first stone buildings of the city. Initially, there were six stone towers in the city fortification system. Over time, a chapel was attached to the building, which grew into the Znamenskaya Church and made up a single architectural complex with a tower. The church acquired its present forms only in 1897, it was rebuilt five times.
Transfiguration Cathedral

Transfiguration Cathedral

The temple is considered one of the oldest structures in Yaroslavl - its appearance dates from the beginning of the XVI century. It was erected with the help of mercenary masters from Moscow, who were sent by Tsar Vasily III - the former prince of Yaroslavl and the current sovereign of the Moscow kingdom. The architecture of the cathedral is characterized by restraint and severity, there are no excessive decorative ornaments on the facade. The temple was held in high esteem by parishioners, it was repeatedly visited by Ivan the Terrible.
Tolga Monastery

Tolga Monastery

Built in honor of the Entry into the temple of the Blessed Virgin. Convent of the Yaroslavl Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, located in Yaroslavl on the left bank of the Volga. It was founded as a monastery in 1314 by Bishop of Rostov Prokhor, at the place of his miraculous finding of the icon of the Virgin Mary, which became the main shrine of the monastery. It was named after the Tolga River that flows alongside it. In 1987, after nearly sixty years of closure, it re-opened as a female monastery.
Park on Strelka

Park on Strelka

City Park, located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl on the sandy spit. It is a green area with wide walking avenues and recreation areas. The park was ennobled in 2010 to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the city. It is decorated with a monument to the 1000th anniversary of Yaroslavl in the form of a stele surmounted by a double-headed eagle. the figure of Yaroslav the Wise and four other characters personifying the images of the townspeople are placed at the base of the obelisk.
Monument to Yaroslav the Wise

Monument to Yaroslav the Wise

The monument to the founder of Yaroslavl, Prince Yaroslav the Wise, is located on the Epiphany Square in the center of Yaroslavl. The monument was erected in memory of the founding of the city. The monument faces the people entering the city center from Moscow direction. It was installed in 1993.
Kazan Convent

Kazan Convent

Kazan Monastery is a female monastery of the Yaroslavl diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in Yaroslavl. At the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, the monastery became hostel. By its 300th anniversary, the monastery was inhabited by about 400 nuns; the monastery was also known for its singing, gold-embroidery and icon-painting skills. Currently, the monastery has an Orthodox gymnasium and a regent school: there is a training for future regents, churchgoers and hymns for the temples of Yaroslavl and other dioceses.
Governor's House and Garden

Governor's House and Garden

The Governor’s House is the residence of the governors of Yaroslavl, built in the 1820s according to the design of the Yaroslavl provincial architect Pankov. Currently, this building houses the Yaroslavl Art Museum. A harmonious continuation of the interiors of the house is Governor’s Park. This is one of the oldest parks in Yaroslavl.
Demidov Garden

Demidov Garden

Located on the central city square, where military parades took place in tsarist times. In the center of the park there is a column in honor of the State Councilor Demidov. The garden was established in 1885 at the expense of the city head Vakhrameev. At first the place bore a name in his honor, but the people used the name “Demidov Garden” because of the column.
Church of John the Baptist in Tolchkov

Church of John the Baptist in Tolchkov

The Church of St. John in Tolchkovo is one of the most famous monuments of Yaroslavl architecture. Object of cultural heritage of federal significance.
Church of Iliya the Prophet

Church of Iliya the Prophet

The temple is located on the central square in the historic part of Yaroslavl. The building is an architectural monument of the XVII century, which has been preserved to this day. The church was built at the expense of citizens. The temple is distinguished by its “elegant” architecture and rich interior decoration. It is administered by the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve.
Chapel of Kazan

Chapel of Kazan

The Chapel of Kazan is a rocket-shaped structure with a stained glass partition depicted on a 1000-ruble banknote. Located on the embankment of the Kotorosl River in front of the Holy Gates of the Transfiguration Monastery in the center of Yaroslavl. The monument was solemnly opened in August 1997, in honor of the 385th anniversary of the release of the militia in Moscow. Architect Dainov. The monument was installed to commemorate the release of the Minin and Pozharsky militia from the walls of the monastery in 1612.
Assumption Cathedral

Assumption Cathedral

Assumption Cathedral - Orthodox cathedral church of the Yaroslavl diocese. It is located on the Volga and Kotorosl arrows. It was destroyed in Soviet times. Restored by a new project in 2004-2010. The construction is dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of Yaroslavl. The cathedral was consecrated by Patriarch Kirill on September 12, 2010.