Besides the main cities in Russia that everyone has heard of, there are many small towns that are worth a visit if you go on a trip to Russia. These towns have many beautiful ancient buildings and are found in picturesque surroundings.
Sviyazhsk
One such example is the Russian town of Sviyazhsk. This little town has some amazing examples of eastern Orthodox murals that can be seen in the Assumption Cathedral. The Assumption Cathedral is in fact a designated UNESCO world heritage site that is well worth a visit. The town is situated where the Sviyaga and Volta rivers come together, and this town was founded as a fortress in 1551.
Uglich
The town of Uglich in west Russia is very old, and is believed to have been founded sometime between 937 and 1148 AD. Uglich is located on the Volga river and it has beautiful monasteries, churches and a few unusual museums you can visit. For example, there is a Hydropower Museum and a museum of Vodka that you can visit at Uglich. There is also the magnificent Uglich Kremlin which you can visit. This is one of the architectural treasures of Uglich.
Kirillov
This is a town that is well-known for the large monastery that they have. This is a beautiful town that is located on the shores of Lake Dolgoye and Lake Siverskoye. Founded in 1397 the town has about 7000 residents today. The town relies heavily on tourism and has been a popular destination since soviet times, with many people visiting the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery which also houses a museum of history, art and architecture.
Shlisselburg
Located on Lake Ledoga east of Saint Petersburg. This town is located on an island and it contains the Oreshek fortress that was established in the 14th century. This fortress is a UNESCO world heritage site that is well worth a visit. The town is also terrific with many interesting old 18th century churches that you can visit.
Ostashkov
Another great town to visit to see many 18th century churches is Ostashkov. This town was founded in 1770 and is found on the tranquil southern shores of Lake Seliger. There are many historical monuments present that a person can visit.
Rostov
Rostov is a town, usually called Rostov Veliky by Russians, that is part of what is called the Golden Ring. The Golden Ring is a series of ancient cities located northeast of the city of Moscow that were important in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church. Rostov has the most beautiful kremlin and is considered the best outside of the kremlin in Moscow. This town is located on the shores of the beautiful Lake Nero.
These are some of the best small towns that a person can visit when in Russia, particularly if you are interested in the history of Russia and in ancient architecture. These towns have many amazing old architectural buildings such as churches that you can visit. They are also located in beautiful surroundings making a trip that much more pleasant.
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