The oldest buildings in Russia have seen a lot: the great wars, the Tatar-Mongol invasion, fires, etc., but nevertheless survived to us in their original form. Already for this you have respect for the builders.
Many other buildings were destroyed or undergone significant changes. People will always be interested in history and everything connected with it, so we suggest you learn about the oldest buildings in Russia. We are sure - you will be amazed how beautiful buildings can be built by man.
10. The Golden Gate (1158-1164 gg.)
Location: Vladimir
An outstanding monument of Russia - the Golden Gate, is located in Vladimir. They were built under Andrei Bogolyubsky. The gates were the most elegant in the city, and Alexander Nevsky drove through them. In the XII-XIII centuries. they performed another function, except for entry - they served as a defensive structure.
According to legend, the oak doors were upholstered with copper sheets with a thick layer of gilding - just from here the name of the building, and the sparkle that evokes the admiring glances of contemporaries.
9. Assumption Cathedral (1158-1160)
Location: Vladimir
Assumption Cathedral - a unique architectural monument of Ancient Russia. It was built by masters who came from the Holy Roman Empire. Located in the center of the city. The facades of the building were richly decorated.
On the sides of the windows were masks: a lion's head and a woman's face. According to archaeological research, annexes were located at the west, south and north portals of the cathedral. In 1185, a fire occurred, but Prince Vsevolod III was able to restore the cathedral - it was in 1186-1189.
8. Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozh Monastery (1156)
Location: Pskov
Spas-Mirozhsky Monastery is one of the oldest, in the XII century it was commissioned by the Bishop of Novgorod. More than once the monastery underwent changes. Externally, it is a Byzantine one-domed cross-domed church - this classic architectural style was formed in Byzantium in the V — VIII centuries, and took a dominant position in the IX century.
The cathedral lacked one classical element - in more detail, 4 pillars. Otherwise, everything was done according to Byzantine recommendations. The temple without a foundation stands on a powerful limestone rock.
7. The Church of Boris and Gleb (1152-1157 gg.)
Location: Kideksha
The monument of Ancient Russia, built by Yuri Dolgoruky in about 1152, was included in the UNESCO list. It was built in memory of Gleb and Boris - the first saints in Russia. The church is located in the village of Kideksha - it is located 4 meters from the city of Suzdal. The decor is modest for a princely building: it is limited only to two-stage protrusions-blades and a simple curb belt.
The proportions of the arch girdle look somewhat awkward, but the matter is not the carelessness or ineptitude of the builders - the architect simply thought the decor as an addition, or even considered it an extra pattern.
6. Sentin Temple (967)
Location: Lower Teberda
The Sentin temple was built in 967 AD, a couple of decades before the Baptism of Russia. It is a cross. His frescoes were badly damaged, and some of them were lost. The Sentin Temple, located on the cliff of the Burun-Syrt massif, is very easy to reach by car. It is worth noting, on the spot there is an unusual pacification. The temple is the oldest building in Russia, not far from it is the Shoanin temple, which is also interesting to see.
The Santinsky temple was built in 967 (it was possible to find out thanks to an inscription in Greek under one of the frescoes that archaeologists discovered) during the heyday of the Kingdom of Alans, when it was under the influence of the Byzantine Empire.
5. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (1130)
Location: Pskov
The Orthodox Church is located in Pskov opposite the Kremlin. It belongs to the oldest Orthodox buildings in Pskov. It was built in the XII century, for several centuries it was the tomb of the princesses. Since 2007, serves as an inn of the Krepytsky Monastery for men. The building has curved lines, and it is also characterized by rudeness.
The building is squat and seems to have grown into the ground. The simplicity of the cathedral is emphasized by the complete absence of facade decoration. In ancient times, the cathedral was lit by windows, as well as drums. The building was restored in 1949-1950, but its appearance has not changed much. Inside the building there are preserved frescoes.
4. St. George Cathedral of St. George's Monastery (1119-1130)
Location: Velikiy Novgorod
In Veliky Novgorod, many monuments of Ancient Russia have been preserved. One of them is the St. George Cathedral of the St. George Monastery, which was built in 1119. The initiator of its construction was the son of Vladimir Monomakh - Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich ((1076-1132). In the past, the cathedral was the spiritual center of the Principality of Novgorod, now - the monastery.
Initially, the buildings were wooden, but in 1119, on the orders of Mstislav, a temple was built in its place, built of stone by the architect Peter. The painting of the cathedral, apparently, was completed shortly after construction - it is entirely associated with Kiev art traditions.
3. The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary of the Anthony Monastery (1117-1122)
Location: Velikiy Novgorod
The cathedral underwent perestroika and some changes, but could survive to this day. Compared to the stone cathedrals built by order of the prince, Rozhdestvensky is modest in size and has distinctive features. Instead of narrow windows with semicircular completion, wide ones are made.
Heads have a bulbous shape. The porch galleries were probably built later. Ancient choirs were destroyed. In 1898, the original murals were first found in the altar. Currently, all surviving fragments of the mural of 1125 have undergone restoration and have been cleaned. Rev. Anthony spent his last years here.
2. Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral (1113)
Location: Velikiy Novgorod
Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral was built in 1113 on the right bank of Volkhov. It is one of the oldest Novgorod temples. This place was the center of the political and commercial life of Novgorod in the XI century. The courtyard of Yaroslav the Wise was located here, from the 12th century they gathered on the square for a meeting - to protest government actions.
The restrained facade of the building resembles St. Sophia Cathedral. The four-pillar temple with 3 apses is crowned with 5 domes on light drums, which were restored during reconstruction in the 21st century. The interior is actively being restored, unfortunately, many frescoes have not been preserved, but some have survived to this day: “Three Saints”, “The Last Judgment”, etc. In 1992, the cathedral was included in the UNESCO list.
1. St. Sophia Cathedral (1045-1052)
Location: Velikiy Novgorod
St. Sophia Cathedral was built in the middle of the XI century. In its place was a wooden temple, but it was replaced by order. The cathedral was laid by the son of Yaroslav the Wise - Vladimir, Prince of Novgorod. The main volume of the cathedral has a length of 27 m and a width of 24.8 m (dimensions without galleries). The cathedral was consecrated only in 1052, in which the prince died and was buried here. Since the 30s of the XII century, the cathedral has become the main temple of the Veche Novgorod Republic.
Despite the fact that St. Sophia Cathedral was rebuilt, it did not lose its main features: grandeur and conciseness. Basically, stone was used in the construction, but brick was also taken - for example, in the laying of windows, portals and arches.