Major Attractions
Architecture - The Golden Gates
Built in 1163, the Golden Gates are one of Vladimir's most prominent landmarks. They are an integral part of the City's heritage, having witnessed its history over many centuries. The Gates were built as an impregnable fortress with massive oak doors bound with gilded copper. Ancient Vladimir had several other gates, but the Golden Gates were the main entrance to the City. Among others, they saw Alexander Nevskii and Dmitri Donskoi enter Vladimir when they were crowned grand princes of ancient Rus.
When danger threatened Ancient Rus, the Golden Gates saw heroic Russian troops march through them to defend their homeland. They witnessed celebrations and tragedies. The Golden Gates have endured through the city's ups and downs, rising from the ashes after each defeat. They even survived the most difficult period of Vladimir's history, the attack of the Mongol-Tartars and the Mongol-Tartar yoke.
The Mongol-Tartars and their yoke are gone, but the Golden Gates still stand, strong and magnificent, as a reminder of Vladimir's glorious past. They no longer mark the entrance to the City, but rather its center, and they no longer play the role of a guardian against attack, but that of a peaceful observer who even after so many centuries is still with us, ready to share its stories and secrets. You can learn about these firsthand and see some of the scenes of the past yourself at the museum which is now located at the top of the Golden Gates. Everyone is welcome to visit this unforgettable exhibit, but to do so you will have to meet the challenge presented by a steep staircase.
The Golden Gates are the most prominent symbol of Vladimir. It is impossible to imagine the City without them.