Yaroslavl overview
Yaroslavl is a city in Russia, an administrative center of Yaroslavskaya oblast (province) and Yaroslavsky raiyon (district). The historical center of the city located between rivers Volga and Kotorosl belongs to UNESCO’s world heritage.
Yaroslavl is located in the central part of Eastern-European lowland on the right bank of the Volga river where the river Kotorosl flows into it; 282 km to the north-east of Moscow. Yaroslavl city is a railway and highway juncture in the direction of Moscow, Vologda, Rybinsk, Kostroma and Kirov. There is also a river port and airport (18 km from the city).
Yaroslavl population is about 606,000 (2009) on land area of 205 sq. km.
Yaroslavl city phone code - +7 4852; postal codes - 150000-150066.
Yaroslavl features
Yaroslavl is an ancient city as well as modern one. The Russian state’s fate reflected in its image. Yaroslavl played an important role in gathering the Russian lands around Moscow, it helped Moscow sovereigns. Yaroslavl is a city with unique customs.
That’s why 1000th anniversary of the city in 2010 will be not only a powerful impulse for further development but on the whole sums up the historical role played by many ancient Russian towns.
Every year the last Saturday of May is the City Day. Various activities are held such as parachute jumping, concerts, competitions. Famous actors are invited for this sake as well as children from various clubs. There is a salute on the Volga embankment.
Yaroslavl views
Yaroslavl city view
Author: Sergey Duhanin
Yaroslavl Russia city scenery
Author: Sergey Duhanin
Yaroslavl city scenery
Author: Nadezda Shklyaeva
Yaroslavl history
In 15th century Yaroslavl was joined to Moscow state. The state treasury was also brought here in case of danger. The persons who were dangerous for state power were kept in Yaroslavl as well. Yaroslavl was one of the first cities in Ivan’s IV (the Terrible) oprichnina (special administrative elite under tsar Ivan the Terrible; also territory assigned to it and the attached armed forces), but repressions were not applied to the city itself.
In early 17th century during struggle with Polish-Lithuanian intervention in 1612 the people’s volunteer corps under command of K.M.Minin and D.M.Pozharsky were located in Yaroslavl. For several months Yaroslavl becomes the capital of the state.
The 18th century was a turning point for the city. After Saint-Petersburg was built Yaroslavl was economically emphasized from trading to industrial basis. Pyotr the Great ruling changed social, political and economic basis of the ancient city; defined the current status of the city as an industrial and cultural center of Russia.
In 19th century the outlook of Yaroslavl city was finished. Due to mixture of various architectural styles presented in Yaroslavl a lot of art critics call it “Florence in Russian North”.
Yaroslavl economics
Yaroslavl is a large industrial center. There are such plants as oil-processing, tyre-producing, motor-producing, electric locomotive repairing, carriage repairing, machine-building, ship-building, pharmaceutical and a lot of others.
There is also a number of plants of light industry (felt boots making, textile, sewing) and food industry, tobacco-, furniture plants.
Yaroslavl is a railway, highway, waterway juncture. Federal highway M-8 “Kholmogory” Moscow - Yaroslavl - Vologda - Arkhangelsk goes through the city.
The city transportation net is well developed: buses, trolley-buses and trams, minivans.
There is one railway and 2 bus bridges across the Volga. Main train stations of the city are Yaroslavl-Central and Yaroslavl-Moskovsky. Local trains run to Danilov, Rostov, Alexandrov, Nerehta, Kostroma, Rybinsk and Ivanovo. The airports of Yaroslavl are Tunoshna, Levtsovo, Karachiha.
Yaroslavl streets
Yaroslavl city street view
Author: John Yar
Yaroslavl city street
Author: Igor Koch
Yaroslavl city architecture
Author: Yurik Safronov
Yaroslavl places of interest
The historical center of Yaroslavl with 140 architectural monuments since 2005 is one out of 23 UNESCO World heritages in Russia. The most ancient construction on the city territory is Spaso-Preobrazhensky church of Spassky monastery built in 1506-1516 on the foundation of original construction of 1216-1224.
A real pearl of ancient Russian architecture is Ilya the Prophet Church. This simple in form, strict and solemn church with 5 cupolas is extremely beautiful.
The church of Iohann the Forerunner is a masterpiece of Yaroslavl city architecture of 17th century, a monument of world importance recommended by UNESCO as a tourist site. Grandiose in size, fantastic in its 15 cupolas silhouette, the church impresses by its luxury and number of frescoes. This is a real encyclopedia of gospel and bible plots, the only in the world arts.
The unique ensemble of Tolga monastery (17th-19th centuries) is located on the left bank of the river Volga. Tolga monastery is one of ancient in Rus, it was founded in early 14th century. It’s a cloister now with more than 100 sisters. Other churches of Yaroslav city are no less interesting.
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