Vladimir, once the medieval capital of Russia is now a small city 160 kilometers east of Moscow. It prides itself as being the heart of the Golden Ring. The first mention of the city of Vladimir, initially named Vladimir-on-Klyazma, appears in the Primary Chronicle.
Vladimir is perched on a steep bank overlooking the beautiful Klyazma River basin, and its historic center is dotted with momentous sights.
It used to be the capital of a principality at a time when Moscow was an obscure village. Vladimir preserves several of the finest monuments of white-stone medieval architecture in Russia that pull in tourists from all over the world. Vladimir has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are the Golden Gates, Vladimir's unofficial symbol, the Assumption and St. Demetrius Cathedrals.
