Vladimir's Assumption Cathedral
A twelfth-century white-stone cathedral on a hill above the Klyazma River, once the model for Moscow's churches.
About
The five-domed cathedral stands high above the river valley and is visible from far away. The pale limestone walls, narrow windows and gold domes show the style of medieval Vladimir, which later influenced church building in Moscow.
Inside are frescoes by the medieval painter Andrei Rublev and his circle, which are among the most celebrated in the country. Nearby, the Cathedral of St. Demetrius is covered in carved reliefs of animals and saints.
Vladimir also has a small old centre, a Golden Gate in the city walls and a quiet river walk.
History
It was built in the 1150s for Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who made Vladimir the centre of his principality. Later rebuilt after fire, it became the coronation church for Russian rulers until power moved to Moscow. It is part of the White Monuments listing of 1992. The cathedral was damaged when the Mongols took Vladimir in 1238, and its frescoes were painted in 1408 by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Chorny. When Moscow's Dormition Cathedral was built in the 1470s, its architect was sent to study the Vladimir cathedral and told to use it as a model.
UNESCO World Heritage: Inscribed 1992.