Golden Gate (Vladimir). The Golden Gate in Vladimir is a symbol of the greatness and power of Ancient Rus'. The landmark of which city is the Golden Gate

It is known that during the establishment of the city of Vladimir, St. The blessed Grand Duke Andrei imitated Kiev in many ways. A similar imitation of the Kiev Golden Gate, built by Yaroslav, was the construction of the Golden Gate, which was created by Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1164, at least the church built on the Golden Gate was consecrated this year, at the same time as him.

According to the description of the life of Andrei Bogolyubsky, this is the miracle that happened during the construction of these gates. When the Grand Duke created the stone Golden Gate and built a church on it, then many people began to gather there to admire the beauty of the building. Since the construction site was still damp, the gate fell from its own weight, crushing twelve people. The God-loving Prince Andrei, blaming himself for the death of these people, fell with tears to the miraculous image of the Mother of God, and when the gates were raised, all those crushed were found alive and unharmed, through prayers Holy Mother of God.

In ancient times, the Golden Gate formed part of the fortification built by Andrei Bogolyubsky around the entire city in the form of high earthen ramparts on which strong walls rose. The ramparts were adjacent on both sides to the Golden Gate building itself, and travel into the city was possible only through these gates. Thanks to these shafts, the Golden Gate in ancient times had the appearance of an irregular quadrangle, cut through in the middle of the building by a huge arch with a semi-circular vault (as the top of the gate now appears, standing out several arshins, from later extensions), on top of which is located the temple of the position of the vestment of the Blessed Virgin Mary . This temple (which has not survived to this day in its original form) was probably built on the model of the Annunciation Church, which was on the Kiev Golden Gate of Yaroslav, in imitation of which the Vladimir Golden Gate was erected, or was similar to the Trinity Church, built on the gate to Kiev -Pechersk Lavra, Chernigov Prince Nikolai Svyatosha in 1106, which, judging by the research of Professor P. A. Lashkarev, had some similarities with churches: Bogolyubovskaya and in general with monuments of church architecture of the Suzdal Principality of the 12th century. Several centuries passed over this ancient building of the Golden Gate and the punishing hand of all-crushing time kept this monument of Russian architecture in all its integrity for a long time, and only in the last century the Golden Gate suffered a significant external change.

The change in the external appearance of the Golden Gate began due to the damage to the ramparts that surrounded the entire city and adjacent to the Golden Gate. Our ancestors were very careful about protecting the earthen ramparts and walls that protected the city from enemy invasion. A careless attitude towards the integrity of the ramparts began in the last century, and in 1729, Corporal Koptev reported to the Vladimir provincial chancellery that “walkers walk along the earthen city ramparts and ride on horseback... and as a result, considerable damage is done to the earthen ramparts, namely, in many places the ramparts turned out to be cut, and by the way “opposite the Spaso-Zlatovratsky Monastery (now the parish church) and on both sides of the Golden Gate, through the earthen rampart, pedestrian roads.” Then and finally the shafts were opened from the walls of the Golden Gate to create passages; a square formed on both sides. This digging of the shafts changed the previous appearance of the Golden Gate and took away from them completely the character that they had, and then caused new changes in the facade. Since the Golden Gate was built without a foundation and the side walls were supported by earthen ramparts tightly adjacent to them, with the removal of these ramparts, cracks appeared on the walls of the Golden Gate. Empress Catherine II, who was informed about this gradual destruction of the Golden Gate, strictly forbade the destruction of this wonderful ancient building and ordered new extensions to be made to the ancient walls. Instead of buttresses, four round low towers were attached to the four corners of the gate, of which a chapel was built in one. Over time, the top of the Golden Gate has also changed. The Church of the Deposition of the Robe, which was abandoned during the Tatar invasion of Vladimir, stood in a dilapidated state until 1687. This year the church was renewed and consecrated in 1691. But then in 1778, during a strong fire that happened in Vladimir, the roof and interior decorations and all church utensils burned and the church again remained in complete desolation until the beginning of this century. In 1810, the temple was finally rebuilt and consecrated under the Vladimir governor I.M. Dolgorukov.

The figure of the current church above the Golden Gate has nothing in common with the buildings of the temples of the 12th century.

But, despite these modifications, the Golden Gate still represents a wonderful monument ancient architecture. Upon careful examination, one can easily distinguish the ancient walls of the Golden Gate from later additions. The ancient walls were built of white stone in the manner that was common in stone buildings of the 12th century, i.e. made of crushed stone and cobblestones; the walls on both sides are lined with white stones and filled with lime mortar; Meanwhile, later buildings are exclusively brick.
It is highly desirable that this wonderful monument of antiquity finally attracts the attention of archaeologists and lovers of antiquity and is restored to its original form, just as the St. Demetrius Cathedral and the Nativity Church in the Nativity Monastery were restored. It is difficult to restore the ruins of the Kyiv Yaroslavl Golden Gate, on the contrary, the Vladimir Golden Gate can be restored easily. The walls of the Golden Gate are almost all intact, mainly their inner side. Particularly well preserved is the semicircular arch of the huge gate arch, made entirely of white stone, supported by six also white stone arches. At the fourth of them, counting from the eastern side, another ancient arch, also made of white stone, survived, rising from the base of the building to half of the main arch of the gate; to the pilasters from which this arch emerged were pretended to be heavy gate panels hung on huge hooks embedded in the masonry and which have survived to this day; Near the pilasters, there are also recesses in the walls of the gates for locking the gates, arranged in such a way that on one side the bolt was inserted into the wall, and on the other it was brought up and lowered into another recess, for which the latter was given a special known form. In all arches of the main gate arch, level with the surface of the lower arch, there are recesses inside the walls.
These recesses served as a nest for the beams of the knurling, built above this lower arch, and were the place where the Vladimir residents came out to “fight the city” with the besieging enemies. The knurling beams were laid loosely so that it was possible to launch steles, pour boiling water, or throw stones at the enemies besieging the city.

A stone staircase led to this platform inside the southern wall, ending in a door that is still visible on the inside of the southern wall. Here on this platform are the defenders hometown stood with their chests against enemies for the honor and independence of the fatherland. Batyev’s hordes approached here on February 2, 1238, in this time of disaster for the entire Russian land, and here, near the Golden Gate, that most terrible bloody battle took place, in which all the valiant defenders of the city fell, and among the first were princes Vsevolod and Mstislav, and then died freedom and honor of the Russian land.

Many other historical memories are connected with the Vladimir Golden Gate. Here, in front of the Golden Gate, the people of Vladimir swore allegiance to their princes, taking the oath and kissing the cross. So, under the year 1177, the chronicle records: “The people of Volodymyr (after the burial of Great Prince Mikhail, brother of Andrei Bogolyubsky), remembering God and kissing the cross to Grand Duke George, came out in front of the Golden Gate, kissing the cross to Prince Vsevolod, brother Mikhailov and on his children , putting him in custody of his father and father in Vladimir” (S.R.L. vol. 1, 161 p.).

Here, at the Golden Gate, ceremonial meetings took place, arranged by the people of Vladimir for their princes upon their accession to the throne, or upon their return after victorious battles. So according to the chroniclers: here St. The blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, who came to Vladimir from the Horde, was elected Grand Duke by the Khan, amazed by his valor.

Metropolitan Kirill “all the abbots and citizens,” says the chronicler, came out to meet the noble prince “from the Golden Gate and sat down and on the table of his father Yaroslav, there was great joy in the city of Vladimeri.” (Laurentian Chronicle, page 202).

On great holidays in ancient times, it was the custom to carry out a procession of the cross from the Assumption Cathedral to the Golden Gate, and along the entire length from the cathedral to the Golden Gate, ropes were stretched in two rows, on which shrouds embroidered with gold and pearls developed, so that people passed between them, like between tapestries (Ipatiev Chronicle, page 127).

In addition to the Golden Gates in Vladimir, according to the chronicler, there were Silver, Copper, Irinin and Volzhsky. But to this day there are no traces left of them.

The Golden Gate in Vladimir can be called almost the main attraction of the city. The Golden Gate is unique monument Russian architecture, a symbol of the greatness and power of North-Eastern Rus'. The Golden Gate in Vladimir was built in 1164; unfortunately, it has not been completely preserved to this day.

The Golden Gate in Vladimir was built during the reign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. The gate was part of the city's defensive fortifications. They also served as a triumphal arch. It was through these gates that honored guests came to the city of Vladimir, and it was through the Golden Gate that Andrei Bogolyubsky solemnly returned after military successes.

Inside, the arch of the Golden Gate was closed by heavy oak doors, lined with gilded copper (hence the name of the gate - Golden). The Golden Gate was the main entrance to the noble part of the city, where mainly princes and boyars lived. The Golden Gate was built by local craftsmen. This assumption is based on the fact that a princely sign was left on one of the stone blocks of the gate. The Golden Gate was built by builders in semi-domestic masonry. This technique for constructing stone products was widespread in the cities of North-Eastern Rus'. This fact is another reason to assume that they were built by Russian masters. The Golden Gate was not the only gate of the city. The Copper, Irinin, Silver and Volzhsky gates were “cut down” in the massive walls. Unfortunately, these buildings have not survived to this day.


In 1238, during the Tatar raid on Vladimir, the Golden Gate was seriously damaged. In the 17th century, during the Time of Troubles, the gates again had a hard time. In 1778, there was a big fire in Vladimir, during which the Golden Gate was also damaged.

In 1785, the Golden Gate in Vladimir underwent major restoration. These were the years of the reign of Catherine II. The Empress, together with her officials, developed plans for the development of cities. So, in the plan for the development of Vladimir, there was an instruction to tear down the ramparts that adjoin the Golden Gate and build a road in their place. The support structures of the Golden Gate were weakened during the tearing down of the shafts. The question arose about another reconstruction. So, in 1795, the architect Chistyakov developed a project for the reconstruction of the Golden Gate. Now, buttresses were added to the corners of the pylons, which were “driven” into round towers. The vaults of the Golden Gate also underwent reconstruction, and a new brick church was built on the vaults themselves.
Since then, the appearance of the Golden Gate in Vladimir has not changed. Back in the early 19th century, officials and architects tried to develop a project for restoring the Golden Gate to its original form. However, this came to nothing.

What else is so unique and famous about the Golden Gate? Similar buildings existed in different years in large Orthodox cities - Jerusalem, Kyiv and Constantinople. And to this day only the Vladimir Golden Gate has survived.

Golden Gate (Ukraine) - description, history, location. The exact address, phone, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

  • Tours for May Worldwide
  • Last minute tours Worldwide

Previous photo Next photo

What Kiev residents call the Golden Gate, the symbol of their city, is actually a newly rebuilt pavilion. The gate itself, or rather its remains, is inside this massive structure. The reconstruction pavilion was erected to preserve a unique monument of defense architecture Ancient Rus', which has survived to this day. The Golden Gate performed not only a defensive function, but also served as the main entrance to the great city, its landmark. Famous guests and foreign ambassadors were met here. Here the princely squads were seen off, and after the completion of the campaigns the winners were greeted with honors.

The Kyiv Golden Gate got its name from the triumphal gates of Constantinople. This was probably a kind of rivalry with the great Byzantine Empire.

The Golden Gate was built during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. Some sources say that the date of creation of the monument of defense architecture is considered to be 1164, others call 1037. The latest version is confirmed by the Tale of Bygone Years, which mentions these Kyiv gates, and the fact that the prince died in 1054. Initially, the gate was a fairly wide arch with a battle platform above it. The site was crowned by the white stone Church of the Annunciation, so that guests knew that they had arrived in a Christian city. The structure amazed with its grandeur and inaccessibility. The Kyiv Gate got its name from the triumphal Golden Gate of Constantinople. Perhaps this is how Rus' competed with the great Byzantine Empire.

In general, the main city gates, built in 1164, differed from similar structures built in Europe. The Church of the Annunciation above the battle tower emphasized that here was the entrance to the Christian city, and the general appearance of the building was more reminiscent of the triumphal Golden Gate of Constantinople.

In 1240, the gate was badly damaged during the attack on Kyiv by Batu Khan. From the notes and drawings of travelers it becomes clear that by the 17th century the fortress was severely destroyed. It was brought into a presentable form only in 1982, when Kyiv celebrated its 1500th anniversary. But the reconstruction was carried out in a hurry, poor-quality concrete and wooden fortifications began to quickly collapse, and the gates fell into disrepair again. The next restoration was carried out in the 21st century, in 2007.

The Golden Gate in Kyiv is included in the List World Heritage UNESCO.

Now inside the pavilion there is a museum where you can see the preserved parts of the fortifications and learn the history of the Golden Gate. There is also a staircase along which you can climb and admire the panorama of modern Kyiv.

Javascript is required to view this map

Golden Gate in , are an outstanding monument of ancient Russian architecture, annually attracting increased attention from guests of the city. They were built in 1164, during the reign of Prince of Vladimir Andrei Bogolyubsky, in addition to defensive purposes, fulfilling the role of a triumphal structure, symbolizing the greatness and strength of princely power. It was through them that the princely squads entered the city, returning from the battlefields, where they were noisily greeted by the people. The white stone gates are made using the technique of half-rub masonry, widespread in Vladimir-Suzdal architecture. Together with three more gates to the city, which have not survived to this day, the Golden Gate formed a single complex that served as an important link in the defensive system of Vladimir.

The Golden Gate is a massive three-tiered structure, along the edges of which there are low powerful towers with characteristic medieval battlements. Above the second tier, in the middle of which the image of Jesus Christ is clearly visible, there used to be the Deposition of the Robe Gate Church, which hospitably welcomed everyone who came to Vladimir in peace. Nowadays, in its place there is an exposition of the military history museum. Under the arches of the chapel, an impressive diorama attracts attention, which depicts the February events of 1238, when the Mongol-Tatar hordes of Batu Khan captured Vladimir, despite the heroic resistance of its defenders. The diorama is equipped with stereo music and light effects, which makes it look as realistic and spectacular as possible.

For more than 50 years, the Golden Gate has been under the jurisdiction of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve and serves as an integral part of it. Here visitors can see weapons and military equipment from different years, including combat bolts of a throwing machine used for long-distance shots, arrowheads and spearheads from the 12th – 13th centuries, military chain mail of Russian knights, a captured Polish crossbow, flintlock guns from the reign of Catherine II, soldiers' blunderbusses of the Great Patriotic War of 1812, captured Turkish weapons and many other historical exhibits.

For a long time, the Golden Gate has been shrouded in many legends and myths, many of which researchers still can neither confirm nor refute. In any case, this building is considered one of the symbols that can often be seen on advertising brochures dedicated to the city or on souvenirs readily purchased by tourists.

The symbol of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is more than an ordinary bridge that serves as a transport link.

Since its opening after four years of construction in 1937, the $27 million bridge has appeared in dozens of films and other works of art, CNN writes.

Yet it is also a working bridge, monitored daily by approximately 200 employees to ensure the comfortable and safe passage of more than 100,000 vehicles per day, as well as thousands of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport passengers.

10 Secrets of the Golden Gate Bridge:

1. Why is it called the Golden Gate Bridge? It's not made of gold

The Golden Gate Bridge gets its name because it spans the Golden Gate Strait.

It is a strait three miles (4.8 km) long and one mile (1.6 km) wide that connects Pacific Ocean with San Francisco Bay.

2. What color is the bridge? It looks red

It is not red, although many people think that the bridge is that color.

After the construction of the bridge, the US Navy, which then monitored the waterways, wanted to paint the bridge black and yellow for maximum visibility.

When the bridge was installed in the 1930s, the steel used to build it was a reddish color due to lead, and the team of architects who designed the bridge liked the way that color looked against the landscape.

They mixed paints and painted the bridge a color called International Orange, which is very similar to the color of red lead.

3. Can I paint my house the same color?

It's hard to predict how your family and neighbors will react to a house colored International Orange, but painting it this color really is possible. Copy the paint formula listed on the bridge website - it's free - and take it to local store paints

4. Is the bridge completely repainted every year?

No. The top coat of paint has indeed been completely replaced with new and environmentally improved paint. However, not all parts of it had the old paint stripped down to bare metal for a complete repaint.

5. What colors?

Every two years, bridge engineers inspect every inch of the structure and create a work plan for where to do the painting and other repairs needed to keep the bridge in good working order.

After this, the painters begin work, as well as specialists who create protective temporary structures for them so that the painters can safely reach all painting points. First, all the old paint is removed, and only then new paint is applied. Then they apply 4 layers of paint, up to 10 milliliters thick. This may take months, depending on the size of the treatment area.

6. How long does the paint last after dyeing?

On average, engineers expect 25-30 years of paint durability without the need for repainting.

However, this depends on which part of the bridge is painted and what exposure it is exposed to. Some parts of the bridge are still painted with paint created by the architects after its construction.

7. What sounds do I hear on foggy days?

This unique bridge tone is created by four fog pipes that produce 165 decibels of sound. It has a range of up to six miles (about 10 km) and is activated when heavy fog may make it difficult for ships to see the bridge.

Of course, this is reinsurance, since the ships have GPS systems and specially trained helmsmen, but no one wants to take risks.

These sounds are triggered manually, attempts to use automated systems have failed due to salty water damaged the equipment.

8. Who is responsible for rescue operations on the bridge?

Darren McVeigh and his team are responsible for this. They have been doing this task for the past 17 years and have lost count of the number of people they have saved.

If a person refuses to listen to the police, then McVeigh's team is sent behind the bridge fence to save that person.

In September 2018, construction of a suicide deterrent system began on the bridge. It is designed to catch a person who is trying to jump, but, according to experts, its very existence becomes a deterrent for those who want to commit suicide. Construction is expected to be completed in 2021.

9. Was there really a poem dedicated to the bridge?

Actually, two. Both poems were written by engineer Joseph Strauss, who made preliminary sketches for the Golden Gate Bridge in 1921 and served as chief engineer during construction. Upon completion of the bridge, he wrote the poems: “The Mighty Task is Done” and “The Golden Gate Bridge.”