Vladimir Golden Gate

Where it is & how to get there

• Train: Lastochka from Moscow Kursky station takes about 1h45.
• On foot: The Golden Gate, Dormition and Demetrius cathedrals are all within 15 minutes of each other.
• Next stop: Suzdal is 45 minutes away by bus.

The story of the Golden Gate

Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky made Vladimir his capital and built the Golden Gate in 1164 as the grand entrance to the city, once covered in gilded copper. It is a rare survivor of old Russian city defences.

Nearby, the Dormition Cathedral (1158–1160) holds frescoes by the famous icon painter Andrei Rublev, and the Demetrius Cathedral is covered with hundreds of stone carvings. These white monuments are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Combine with Bogolyubovo church.
• Look closely at the animal carvings on the Demetrius Cathedral.
• Climb into the Golden Gate museum for a small diorama of the old city.
• Visit the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, a short trip away.

What's around the Golden Gate

• Dormition CathedralRublev frescoes inside.
• Demetrius CathedralFamous stone carvings.
• BogolyubovoVillage with the Church on the Nerl.
• Suzdal45 minutes by bus.

Questions travellers ask