Main Attractions

Main Attractions in Yaroslavl

There are many things to do and see in Yaroslavl. The main attractions being the beautiful churches, museums and the city centre in general. The following lists just some of the places you really should visit if you have the time when you are visiting Yaroslavl:

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral (Transfiguration of the Saviour) - The oldest building in the city that was constructed between 1506-1516 on the foundations of the original edifice dating back to 1216-1224. In the 16th century, the first stone wall is built around the monastery. In 1787, the monastery was closed and converted into a residence of the Yaroslavl and Rostov bishops. At that time, monastery buildings began to be reconstructed. New cells and the prior's chambers were built.

Apart from the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the oldest churches in the city date back to the 17th Century and belong to the so-called Yaroslavl type (built of red brick, with bright tiled exteriors). Those of St. Nicholas Nadein and Elijah the Prophet have some of the Golden Ring's most impressive frescoes. To see photos of some of these numerous and impressive churches around Yaroslavl, click here.

In 2010, the very impressive Uspenski Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption) was constructed and consecrated on the site of an earlier destroyed temple overlooking the Volga river, near the location where Yaroslav the wise is said to have founded the city. Click here to see photos of this beautiful Cathedral.

Yaroslavl is the site of the Volkov Theatre (built 1750), the oldest theatre in Russia, and the Demidovsky Pillar.

The city has many Russian Orthodox churches, one Russian Old Believers church, one Baptist church, one Lutheran church, one mosque and one synagogue.

The Planetarium is located near the city centre, and well worth a visit.

The Zoo is located on the outskirts of Yaroslavl. Although not too large, it is gradually evolving, and it is quite good value and an interesting place to visit.

Although just outside Yaroslavl, the following are also really worth visiting if you can:

• Tolga Monastery. A beautiful and serene place.

• Karabikha. The great Russian poet Nikolay Nekrasov lived and worked there for some time, and it now houses the Nekrasov museum. It is approximately 10 miles (15 km) south of Yaroslavl.