Uglich Kremlin: address, photo, history

One of the items of the Golden Ring of Russia is the city of Uglich. It is an obligatory stop for cruise ships traveling along the Volga. Every year thousands of tourists visit Uglich, and many of them come from abroad. The ancient city once played a big role in the history of Russia. For example, in it the branch of the royal family of Ryurikovich was cut off, which gave rise to a long period of Troubles. But even without this circumstance, Uglich would have been worth a visit. In this city, many ancient monasteries are preserved, representing beautiful examples of Russian architecture. But the main local attraction is the Uglich Kremlin. The photo of this fortification, towering on the right bank of the Volga, serves as a visiting card of the city. In this article we will make a virtual journey into the depths of centuries: we will visit the princes' chambers and the church of Dmitry-on-the-Blood, we will see the "exiled" bell, we will feel the significance of this place for Russian history.

How to get there

Tourists will be easy to find the Uglich Kremlin. The address of this fortress-museum is "not a house and not a street". The city is located in the Yaroslavl region (Russian Federation), and the Kremlin - in the historical center of Uglich. The postal code of the object is 152615. You can get to the city by train or by bus. They go from Moscow (from the metro station "Botanichesky Sad") to Rybinsk. They are passing Uglich. From the capital bus station in Shchyolkovo to the city of the Golden Ring three times a day flights depart. And, finally, the train. This is the most convenient type of public transport, especially if you plan an independent weekend tour. The composition of "Moscow-Uglich" leaves on Friday evening from Savelovsky station. If you prefer to travel by own car, the way to the Kremlin will take about four hours. We must first taxi to the Yaroslavl highway and go along the M8 to the settlement Sergiev Posad, then turn to P104. You can choose another route: along the A104 (Dmitrovskoye Shosse) before turning to Taldom, and then - along the signs for Kalyazin.

Where to stay

If you want to examine in detail the Uglich Kremlin, we recommend you to choose the hotel "Uspenskaya". This hotel stands just opposite the historical and architectural complex. The museum works from nine in the morning until six in the evening. In the warm period (May-October) it functions without days off and lunch break. From November to April the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Uglich Kremlin: history

The traces of the first settlement date back to the tenth century. It was then that Ian Pleskovich, the appanage prince, asked Olga permission to build on the right high bank of the Volga a citadel enclosed by a system of fortifications. Inside there were streets and houses, churches and squares. All this was enclosed by wooden fortress walls with eleven towers. The Uglich Kremlin was built between the tributaries of the Volga: a stone stream and the river Shelkovka. In addition, a ditch connecting these two water arteries was dug. So the Kremlin rose like an island connected to the outside world by bridges. The walls and structures inside the fortress were wooden. Now the inaccessibility of the Kremlin is indicated only by a dry moat. In the fifteenth century, the appanage prince Andrey Goriay started a large construction in his patrimony. In particular, he ordered the erection of stone chambers and other structures inside his family. But the Polish intervention destroyed the buildings. Only a smaller part of the prince's chambers remained, which are a rare example of medieval Russian architecture.

Uglich and the young prince

With the strengthening of the rule of law and the annexation of the Uglich principality by Moscow, the palace of former rulers began to be used as the residence of the tsarist governors. But in 1584 he served as the place of expulsion of the last wife of Ivan the Terrible, Maria Nagoya. The royal couple was not crowned, since the monarch had already had several marriages before. Therefore, the rights to the throne of the young son of Mary, Dmitry, could at any time be questioned. Ivan the Terrible died when the Tsarevich was only two years old. The eldest son of John IV, Fyodor I., joined the throne, and the new tsar sent his widowed stepmother and half-brother to the Uglich Kremlin. And he was instructed to follow them to the faithful deacon Mikhail Bityagovsky. In May 1591, the eight-year-old prince was found with a cut throat. Since Fedor had no offspring of a masculine gender, the dynasty of the Rurikovichs faded. The time of the Troubles and the succession of the False Dmitrists began.

Sent bell

About that in Moscow they want to decide the young prince, they have been whispering in Uglich for a long time. The circumstances of the child's death were very vague. Some said that Tsarevich Dmitry played with peers in throwing knives, as he had an attack of "falling" (epilepsy), as a result of which he pierced his throat himself. But the queen and her brother defended the version of the murder and called the guilty son of the deacon, Danil Bityagovsky. As a result, the furious crowd tore these two Muscovites. A few days later an investigation commission arrived from the capital (Vasily Shuisky was also included in its composition, later became a tsar). She admitted that the death of a minor prince was caused by an accident. And for the time of trouble the townspeople answered in full. More than two hundred people were executed. Affected and Uglich Kremlin, or rather - the bell tower. From her "Fedot Cucumber, the widow pop" sounded the alarm, notifying about Dmitry's death and thereby calling for the murder of his killers. And so the "bell" was cut off from the ill-fated bell, they tore out the "language" and sent him into exile to Tobolsk. He returned from a kind of exile only in 1892.

The Church of Demetrios-on-the-Blood

On the spot where the young prince died, a small wooden chapel was soon erected. In 1630 a church was built in its place. She was also made of wood. In 1690 it was replaced by a stone structure, which we can observe now. The Church of Dmitry-on-the-Blood is an elegant example of Russian architecture. It consists of a temple, a refectory, a porch and a bell tower. And crown the structure of red brick five azure heads.

The Uglich Kremlin with the church of Dmitry-on-the-Blood is a single ensemble. The red and white facade of the church perfectly harmonizes with the semi-columns, platbands and cornices. Inside the church you should pay attention to the frescoes of the seventeenth century. They are not entirely canonical. They depict the death of Tsarevich Dmitry, as well as the massacre of his killers. The paintings of the refectory are more typical. There you can see pictures of biblical stories. At a low stand at the church of Dmitry-on-Blood hangs the very same "exile" bell.

The Uglich Kremlin: princely chambers

It is a unique monument of early medieval civil construction. As we have already mentioned, the palace was built in the fifteenth century by the brother of Ivan III, the prince of Uglich Andrey Gorya (Bolshoy). Most of the chambers were destroyed by the Poles. Archaeologists have found only the foundations of the walls, covered with a large layer of soot and ash. The fire survived only a smaller part of the palace, built of a large red brick. This three-story building with a front porch with ornate decorations. It leads to the hall. In the basement of the building are two rooms, and on the second floor - three. At the highest level is a spacious hall with a vaulted ceiling, decorated with paintings. After the tragic death of Tsarevich Dmitry in the chambers, no one lived. They were dilapidated, and they even thought about dismantling them. But still in 1892 they were restored. Then it was decided to create the Uglich Kremlin-Museum. The elegant porch of the princely chambers is unauthentic. It was built in the late nineteenth century by architect N. Sultanov.

The Transfiguration and Epiphany Cathedrals

There are other sacral buildings on the territory of the Uglich Kremlin. The Transfiguration Cathedral is a striking example of the 17th century architectural school in Yaroslavl. This five-domed temple is visible almost from all points of the city. Particularly beautiful is the southern facade, decorated with floral and floral ornaments. However, the portico in the spirit of classicism, built in the nineteenth century, somewhat does not fit into the overall ensemble. In the interior is valued wall painting, made by serf Golitsyn, a certain T. Medvedev. Very close to the Transfiguration of the Savior is the Epiphany Cathedral of the Uglich Kremlin. It was conceived as a temple for winter worship. The construction of this cathedral was conducted from 1814 to 1827. The temple is completely executed in the style of classicism. The building has huge windows, its facade is cut by pilasters, and all the double-skinned roof is crowned. To the temple adjoins the apse in the form of a semicircle and a small porch with a portico.

Museum of Antiquities

The Uglich Kremlin, whose photo is often the best advertising for traveling around the Golden Ring, is also known for being an ancient museum. The first exposition was opened in 1892 with the participation of the brother of the emperor, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and his wife. At first, the exposition occupied only one hall on the second floor of the princely chambers. Gradually the collection grew. Now the museum is occupied by the church of Dmitry-on-the-Blood. In this department are stored artifacts related to the death and canonization of the innocent Dmitry. On the third floor of the princes' chambers, one can see Uglich's antiquities: silver jewelry, wooden hand-made articles, fragments of sewing.