Yuryev-Polish – white stone masterpiece of the Golden Ring

The small town of Yuryev-Polish is famous for its ancient temple architecture and a cozy center with wooden houses. I will take you through the streets of one of the unrecognized – but no less significant and beautiful – cities of the Golden Ring, tell the story of its foundation and help decipher the unique carvings on the walls of St. George’s Cathedral.

The tour will begin at the monument to the founder of the city - Yuri Dolgoruky, where I will tell you about how Suzdal and Vladimir had a neighbor - Yuriev-Polish. You will walk along the ramparts, where we will talk about how they were built and how the first fortress appeared in Yuryev-Polish. You will learn about the features of ancient Russian church architecture by visiting the St. George Cathedral and the Mikhail-Arkhangelsk Monastery, founded in the XIII century. You will also see other temples, monasteries and monuments that are not to be missed in the ancient town.

Mysterious carvings
St. George's Cathedral in the center of Yuryev-Polish is known not so much for its antiquity as for carved bas-reliefs that have no analogues in Russia. On the tour, you will examine the images in detail and unravel their meaning. Despite the constant interest of scientists, the meaning of not all the plots is explained. Together we will immerse ourselves in ancient Russian art and try to understand the idea of amazingly beautiful carvings.