Yaroslavl is one of the brightest cities of the famous route "The Golden Ring of Russia". In 2005, the city center received the status of a historical heritage of mankind and entered the UNESCO list. The greatest prosperity of Yaroslavl fell on the 17th century. It was at this time that outstanding monuments of urban architecture were created.
The town of Yaroslav the Wise is one of the most popular centers of cultural tourism in Russia. In addition to architectural delight, a trip to Yaroslavl will give pleasure from contemplating the picturesque banks of the Volga and the well-groomed embankment, as well as relaxation in numerous city parks and immersion in the history of the once influential Yaroslavl principality.
A visit to a local planetarium or zoo will help diversify your pastime. The Yaroslavl Dolphinarium is worth a separate mention - the only place of its kind on the territory of Central Russia.
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What to see and where to go in Yaroslavl?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Volzhskaya embankment
The city embankment was developed at the beginning of the 19th century after the visit of Alexander I to Yaroslavl. The emperor did not like the unkempt appearance of the banks of the Volga, and he ordered the allocation of funds for the improvement. Since then, the Volzhskaya embankment has become a real decoration and the main promenade of the city, maintained in order and cleanliness at any time. It stretches along the high banks of the river, offering a picturesque view.
Park on the Strelka
A city park located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers on a sandy spit. It is a green area with wide walking alleys 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 crowned with a two-headed eagle. At the base of the obelisk there is a figure of Yaroslav the Wise and four other characters personifying the images of the townspeople.
Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve
The museum complex, which includes several churches, thematic museums, a scientific library, and the Spassky Monastery. The united fund of the museum collection contains more than 350 thousand exhibits, including valuable icons and manuscripts, household items, church utensils. A separate exposition is dedicated to the chronicle "The Lay of Igor's Campaign." The complex was formed in 1924 after the merger of several city museums into a single system.
Transfiguration Cathedral
The temple is considered one of the oldest structures in Yaroslavl - its appearance dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. It was erected with the help of hired craftsmen 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 distinguished by restraint and austerity; there are no unnecessary decorative decorations on the facade. The church was held in high esteem by the parishioners; Ivan the Terrible visited it several times.
Chapel of Our Lady of Kazan
A small stone chapel, erected in 1997 near the gates of the Transfiguration Monastery. The monument is dedicated to the exit of the people's militia of Minin and Pozharsky from Yaroslavl to Moscow. As you know, before going to the capital, Nizhny Novgorod volunteers hid for some time within the walls of the monastery in order to get stronger and gain strength. The chapel was built in the form of an elegant turret, reminiscent of the dome of a hipped-roofed church.
Church of Elijah the Prophet
The temple is located on the central square in the historical part of Yaroslavl. The building is an architectural monument of the 17th century, which has been preserved intact to this day. The church was built at the expense of the townspeople. The influential and wealthy Yaroslavl merchants - the Skripnin brothers - made a significant contribution to financing. The temple is distinguished by its "smart" architecture and rich interior decoration.
Church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo
The church is located within the Tolchkovaya Sloboda, where in the 17th century, mostly wealthy Yaroslavl residents lived. Funds for the construction of the temple were donated by the townspeople. People who could not help with money took part in construction work. The Church of John the Baptist is considered one of the most picturesque in Yaroslavl, since the architects took the best temples of that time as a model, and only advanced methods were used during construction.
Assumption Cathedral
It is believed that the first Assumption Cathedral was built in the 13th century, but in 1642 the building was dismantled due to its dilapidation. A few years later, a new church was erected, but it was also destined to exist for a short time - until the fire of 1670. At the end of the 17th century, the building was rebuilt again, but this temple has not survived to this day, since it was blown up in 1937. The modern cathedral was built on the site of the historical one by 2010.
Tolgsky monastery
The women's monastery of the XIV century, located within the city limits of Yaroslavl. The monastery was erected on the site where Bishop Prokhor found the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. In the middle of the 16th century, Ivan the Terrible visited the monastery, who recovered from a leg disease after a long prayer at this icon. By the order of the sovereign, a stone temple was built in the monastery, and the king also donated a large sum, thanks to which the monastery began to gradually recover.
Kazan women's monastery
The monastery was founded in one of the most difficult historical periods of the Russian state - during the Time of Troubles. Its history began in 1610 with the construction of a wooden church, near which nuns from the burnt-down Nativity monastery soon settled. Here the sisters were able to find a long-awaited shelter. Until the second half of the 18th century, all buildings of the monastery complex were wooden, only in the 1830s. the first stone cathedral appeared.
Vlasyevskaya tower and Znamenskaya church
Vlasyevskaya Tower - a defensive structure of the 17th century, one of the first stone buildings in the city. Initially, there were six stone towers in the city's fortification system. Over time, a chapel was added to the structure, which grew into the Church of the Sign and formed a single architectural complex with the tower. The church acquired its modern forms only in 1897, before that it was rebuilt five times.
Volzhskaya tower
Another stone fortification of Yaroslavl, preserved from the 17th century. The tower was built of bricks on the banks of the Volga. Until 1711, it was covered with a wooden tent, which burned down in a fire. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Volga Gate was added to the western facade, and the structure was also completed to accommodate the arsenal. At the end of the 19th century, the building was converted into a tavern; nowadays, a cafe is open in the tower.
Metropolitan chambers
An architectural monument of civil construction, erected at the end of the 17th century. The chambers were built for the Metropolitan of Rostov and Yaroslavl. The building is a two-story stone manor house, inside of which reception rooms and living quarters were organized. At the end of the 18th century, the first vice-governor of Yaroslavl was located on the territory of the chambers. Catherine II also stayed here several times. Today, the estate houses a museum of ancient Russian art.
Governor's House and Garden
The governor's estate was built in the 19th century as the residence of the Yaroslavl mayor. At the same time, a garden was laid out around the house. The mansion was often used by Russian emperors as a traveling palace; all rulers from Alexander I to Nicholas II visited it.Since 1970, the Yaroslavl Art Museum has been located on the territory of the complex, where collections of icons, Russian avant-garde and primitivism are exhibited.
Museum-reserve N.A. Nekrasov "Karabikha"
Memorial Museum in the village of Krasnye Tkachi, dedicated to the life and work of N. A. Nekrasov. The exposition is located in the estate of the middle of the 18th century, built by the order of Prince N. S. Golitsyn. In 1861, the building was acquired by N. Nekrasov. The writer lived here until 1875. In 1918, the mansion was transferred to the state. It housed the management of the collective farm. In 1946, it was decided to restore and organize a memorial museum on the territory of the estate.
Museum of the history of the city of Yaroslavl
The museum opened its doors to visitors in 1999. The exposition is housed in a historic mansion of the late 19th century, which once belonged to the merchant Kuznetsov. In 1919, the building was transferred to the city authorities. Over the course of 70 years, its purpose has changed - it housed utilities, a hospital, and a children's home. After the renovation in 1985, the premises were given to a branch of the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve. Since 1999, an independent exposition has been launched here.
Museum "Music and Time"
Private collection, founded in 1993 by D. Mostoslavsky, a local illusionist. The exposition began with a small collection of bells and coins. Over time, the small museum grew into a complex, where a wide variety of collections from horseshoes to samovars and porcelain dishes are exhibited. A landscaped garden with stones and sculptures is laid out around the museum building.
Russian Drama Theater named after F. Volkov
The oldest drama theater in Russia, which was founded in the middle of the 18th century. The history of the scene began with an ordinary barn, where the talented son of a merchant FG Volkov began to arrange amateur performances, in which he involved friends. The first theater building appeared in 1751. The new premises were built in the 1840s, by that time the Yaroslavl Theater had become famous throughout Russia. The modern theater building appeared in 1911.
Planetarium of the Center. V. Tereshkova
The planetarium was opened in 2010 on the eve of the 1000th anniversary of Yaroslavl. It is a modern complex that includes a museum, an interactive classroom, a 5-D attraction, a cafe and a hall with a starry sky projector. In the center of them. Tereshkova often holds scientific conferences; there is also an astronomical circle. The planetarium building is built in a modern futuristic manner, from a distance it resembles a spaceship.
Monument to Yaroslav the Wise
The monument is located on Epiphany Square. It was installed in 1993, A. Bobovich, N. Komova and O. Komov worked on the project. Prince Yaroslav the Wise is depicted with a lowered sword in one hand, which demonstrates his peaceful disposition, and with a model of the city in the other. The statue faces the Yaroslavl highway. In the 19th century, there was a monument in honor of the founder in Yaroslavl, but it was dismantled by order of Nicholas I.
Park on Damansky Island
A green area located at the confluence of the Kotorosl River with the Volga. There are many parks and squares in Yaroslavl where the townspeople love to spend their leisure time; the park on Damansky Island is one of the most popular. Previously, there were urban gardens on the site of the park, which could only be reached by boat. In 1944, it was decided to create a recreational zone in this place, after which active planting of trees began.
Yaroslavl children's railway
A railway line that completely imitates real tracks with rolling stock, wagons and stations. The first such attraction appeared back in 1946, when the length of the road was 5 km. The employees of the railway line are children. They are responsible for the movement of trains, the serviceability of locomotives, the schedule and condition of the tracks. In 2001, the Museum of Extraordinary Travels was opened at one of the stations.
Yaroslavl Dolphinarium
The dolphinarium is located in the village of Dubki in the Yaroslavl region. Dolphins, seals and whales live on its territory. The Dolphinarium is a full-fledged entertainment complex with a variety of show programs, several restaurants, an amusement hall and a hotel with a swimming pool. Special excursion tours with a visit to the dolphinarium are organized from the cities of Central Russia.
Yaroslavl Zoo
One of the largest zoos in Russia, located on an area of 120 hectares. It was opened in 2008. The menagerie is home to about 250 species of animals (more than 1650 individuals). The zoo has created comfortable conditions for animals, since they are not kept in narrow cages, but are allowed to walk across a vast territory. There is a petting zoo and an exotarium with tropical species.
Demidov Garden
The central city square, located on the square where military parades were held in tsarist times. In the center of the park there is a column in honor of P.G. Demidov. The garden was founded in 1885 at the expense of the city chief I.A. Vakhrameeva. At first the place was named after him, but the people used to call it “Demidov Garden” because of the column. The garden was completely restored in 2005.
