Our town is one of the most ancient towns of Russia (by the way, although 
the population of Vladimir is about 400,000, it is called a town,
but, to be frank, there are no different words for large or small towns in
Russian, such as 'city' and 'town' in English). We decided to share the 
brightest pearl of our ancient architecture with you. Another reason for 
that is the fact the Golden Gate has become an unofficial symbol and a 
landmark of Vladimir.

The name of the town was given to it in the 10th century by its founder,
Prince Vladimir Monomakh. 'Vladimir' can be translated as 'possessing 
the world'. Nowadays, Vladimir is one of the group of ancient towns in 
the east and north-east of Central Russia which have in common their 
interesting history, the major role they played in the past (Vladimir used 
to be the capital of Russia in the 12-14th centuries), the great number of 
architectural monuments which have survived in them. These reasons 
combined have made the area popular with tourists from all parts of 
Russia and abroad and have given the name of 'the Golden Ring' to 
all the towns, including Vladimir.

Imagine that you are a stranger of the medieval times coming to Vladimir
from the west. What would you see? If you come up to the town, you are 
sure to reach it through the wild thick woods and the only way is along the 
road full of danger and outlaws who want to rob you. You approach 
Studenaya Gora (the Frosty Hill, which is called so because it is always 
windy and cold on the top of it) and see the shining gate to the town 
surrounded by the walls for its defence. You go down the hill and are 
surely amazed by the view: the magnificent main defence bastion, being 
also a church, a triumphant arch and the main entrance to the town, 
welcomes you.

The merchants are ready to give you any kind of tasty things like honey,
vodka, pirogi (pies with meat, blueberries, raisins, eggs and rice, onions,
apples, cabbage in them), kissel (a special starchy jelly Russian drink 
based on the boiled fruit and berries), red and black caviar; and sell you 
any things you want: furs of different animals for the cold Russian winters, 
perfumes and iron and silver beads and ornaments for women, wooden 
spoons and plates which are useful in order not to hurt yourself while 
eating hot soup (borshch), axes,pots, glass-blown stuff and what not.

By the way, the smell of pies can be still felt in the small bakeries which
are preserved in the main street since the ancient times. The buildings
have changed but the unique and original smell flies over the streets 
and makes you taste all those delicacies.

But why are the Golden Gate called so? Let's go back to history and find 
out. In ancient Vladimir there were five gates: the Golden, the Silver, the 
Copper, the Arininy, the Volga ones. The Golden Gate was erected in 
1164 and was originally covered with gilded sheets which were shining 
brightly in the sun. The Golden Gate looked like the Gates of 
Constantinopol, the capital of ancient Byzantium (now it is Istambul in 
Turkey). Our gate is the only one of that time which wasn't completely 
destroyed during the centuries, although they were badly injured by 
Tatars (the tribe coming from the river Volga banks and originated
from Mongolia) in 1238.

This page, which was connected with the Tatar-Mongol invasions of the 
13th century, is the saddest one in the history of the whole Russian nation. 
Vladimir was conquered and burnt to ashes by the Tatars several times. 
It was the history of raids and fires.

Now the Golden Gate is in the centre of the town. It looks strange and
unusual there. Its outline resembles a pyramid. Its top-most part is a 
small dome, shining in the sun, with a gilded Orthodox cross on it. Its 
central part is a huge cube with the semi-circular arched gateway cut 
through it. Above  it there are icons of the Holy Virgin of Vladimir on 
the western side and of Jesus Christ on the eastern side. The Golden 
Gate is made of white limestone. The height of the arch is 14 metres 
and the total height of the building is about 30 metres. Halfway of the 
main arch a smaller arched crosspiece was added, into which the 
powerful doorfolds were fitted. 

It's a pity one can't see them now because they disappeared without a 
trace after the Tatars left the town. On the top of the powerful cube there 
is a small church and a gallery with four windows on each side around it. 
In the 18th century, for the sake of town traffic, the earth fortifications 
adjoining the Golden Gate were removed. To save the building from the 
destruction, the walls of the Golden Gate are reinforced by four round 
towers on both sides of the Gate. The towers have two narrow windows 
in their lower part and three fake oval windows in the upper part.
Each tower has a heavy wooden door. Between the towers we may see 
the facades of the houses. We predict they were the living quarters but 
they are not used any more. On the top of each living quarter there is a 
small spire decorated with an eight- pointed star on the ball on the top 
of it.

Today the Golden Gate houses a military historical museum and a gallery 
of heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia born in Vladimir and the Vladimir 
region. The heroes portraits, documents and personal belongings are on 
display. To reach the museum, which is at the top of the building, you are, 
first of all, to cross the street (because now the Gate seems to stand on a 
small island surrounded by the sea of cars and buildings), to open a heavy 
wooden door and to go upstairs. There are 65 stairs up all in all there. On 
entering the museum you will see a panorama depicting the Tatar 
occupation. It is extremely colourful and, surrounded by the sounds of the 
battle, the shouts of the occupants and the defenders, the smoke of burnt 
dwellings, you'll feel as if you were the one in the very thick of things.

From the museum windows you can see the main street. To the left of the 
Gate there is Kozlov val (Goats' Hill). This rampant was built up in 1108. 
It was a part of the walls protecting the town.

In winter the youth of Vladimir gathers there and goes tobogganing on 
small sledges or on a piece of cardboard. Everyone, young and old, is 
enjoying himself, though it may be quite dangerous. In the winter evening 
you may see either the ground under the snow or deep snow ruts on the 
hill. In summer people come on the top of it to get rid of car exhausts and 
to enjoy fresh green grass and a lovely view on the innumerable churches 
which can be found in the town centre.

To the right of the Gate you can see the oldest building of the Vladimir
State Pedagogical University. Now the Faculty of Literature and the 
Russian Language is situated here. It was erected in the last century. 
Near the university there is School #1 (all the schools in the town have 
their numbers). It is one of the oldest schools of Vladimir.

Opposite the school there is a wonderful church. Its outlook is very
unusual for our town. It is made of red bricks whereas all others are 
made of white limestone or are painted white. In this church there is 
now a museum of crystal. Behind the church Vladimir Drama Theatre 
is situated. Its front wall is decorated with wooden figures of 
skomorokhi (folklore singers of ancient Russia). They are dancing 
their merry dances and making tricks.

There are some good and funny superstitions connected with the 
Golden Gate in our town. If the car with a newly wed couple drives 
around the Gate three times (all other cars stop usually, let it go and 
signal to it) or a fiancee carries a bride through the archway, then 
their future life together will be very happy and long.

If you come to the Golden Gate in a cold winter evening (as we did), 
when the sun has already set, you see that it becomes more and 
more festive. It seems to stand at the head of all the town streets. 
It looks motionless and a bit solemn. Still atmosphere surrounds 
you, cars and trolleybuses slowly pass by, you feel rushing of light 
cool wind on your face. Frosty air nips your nose. Fresh air mixes 
with an unpleasant smell of car exhaust. If you hands get frozen
and you want to go home, something makes you stand there for 
one more moment. You don't want to come back to the grey reality 
of today's life, you wish you stayed in the past, breathed the air of 
old times. Perhaps the ancient warrior's soul conceived in the 
Golden Gate is sleeping now, but we are sure it will wake up
and stand up to defend us and fight for our bright future.

Welcome to Vladimir! We would be glad to see you in our town 
some day. Don't miss the chance!

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