Vladimir.
Vladimir stands mostly on the left bank of the Klyazma, roughly 180 kilometres east of Moscow. In the 12th century it was the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, and the white-stone churches and Golden Gate surviving from that time are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
- Region
- Vladimir Oblast
- Population
- 349,951 (2021)
- Founded
- 1108
- Airport
- Moscow · MOW
Good news & stories
All good newsHistory
The traditional founding date is 1108, when Vladimir Monomakh built a fortress here, though some historians date the town to 990 and Vladimir the Great, which is the year the city administration recognises. Under Andrey Bogolyubsky, from 1157, Vladimir became capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality and enjoyed its golden age. The Mongol invasion of 1238 ended that flowering, and the city never fully regained its former standing. Even so, it long remained the nominal capital of the Russian lands after real power had passed to Moscow.
Culture & traditions
Vladimir's great treasure is its 12th-century white-stone architecture: the Dormition Cathedral, the Cathedral of Saint Demetrius and the Golden Gate. The Dormition Cathedral still has frescoes painted by Andrei Rublev in 1408. Many of the monuments in and around the city belong to the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. Vladimir is part of the Golden Ring and has a drama theatre, a puppet theatre and a philharmonic hall.
Sport
The best-known football club is Torpedo Vladimir, and the city also has a volleyball team, ice hockey clubs and table tennis. Vladimir is the home town of the great gymnast Nikolai Andrianov, as well as weightlifter Pavel Kuznetsov and biathlete Anfisa Reztsova.
Practical information
The train is the easiest option: Lastochka and Sapsan services link Vladimir with Moscow's Kursky station and Nizhny Novgorod, and at least twenty pairs of long-distance trains pass through daily. By car, the M7 highway runs to Moscow. Semyazino airport has no passenger flights, so most air travellers come via Moscow. The climate is temperate continental with long cold winters; May to September is the best time for walking.
What to see
- Dormition Cathedral — a 12th-century white-stone church with frescoes by Andrei Rublev
- Cathedral of Saint Demetrius — a 1190s princely church with rich stone carving
- Golden Gate — the ceremonial city entrance built in 1158–1164
- Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve — the key to the monuments of the city and its surroundings
Plan a trip
Vladimir · MOW
Airport: Moscow · compare fares on Aviasales
Search flightsAdvertisement. Go Travel Un Limited. Tax ID 9909520797. We may earn a commission from bookings through this link.
Vladimir
Compare areas, cancellation terms and the full price on Ostrovok.
Find a hotelAdvertisement. Bronirovanie Gostinits LLC. Tax ID 7703389880. We may earn a commission from bookings through this link.
With a local guide
Tripster experiences in our catalogue:
- Владимир 82
Tripster affiliate catalogue. We may earn a commission on bookings.
Prices, dates and availability are confirmed by the partner when you book.
Sources
Texts are prepared by the russia.direct editors from open sources and will keep growing. Spotted an error? Write to privet@russia.direct.