5 Russian cities with golden gates. The most interesting facts about the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate- a monument of ancient Russian architecture, located in the city of Vladimir. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1164 under Vladimir Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky. The Golden Gate was used as a defensive structure and as a triumphal arch. They decorated the main entrance to the richest princely-boyar part of the city.
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Most likely, the Golden Gate was built by princely craftsmen. This, in particular, is evidenced by the princely sign left by the builder on one of the white stone blocks. The building was built using the technique of half-stone masonry, which was widely used in Vladimir-Suzdal architecture. The strict proportions of the passage arch, covered by a powerful semi-circular vault, and the special elegance of the small church at the top, gave the building a majestic character, well suited to its purpose. The date of laying the gate refers to 1158, the completion of construction - April 26, 1164, when the over-gate Church of the Rizpolozhenskaya was consecrated.
During the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the city was surrounded by an extended shaft and had seven entrance gates (except for the Golden ones, these are Copper, Irinins or Orinins, Silver, Ivanovo, Trade and Volga). Only the Golden Gate has survived to this day.
It was the most front gate of the city in the XII-XIII centuries. The Ipatiev Chronicle reports that the prince “made them with gold”, meaning that they were covered with sheets of gilded copper, which shone brightly in the sun and amazed the imagination of contemporaries. Close to the gates from the north and south adjoined bulk ramparts with deep ditches on the outside. A bridge leading out of the city passed through the moats from the gate. The height of the arch reached 14 meters. Massive oak gates, hanging on forged hinges, adjoined the arched lintel, which is preserved to this day. A wooden flooring was arranged along the top of this jumper, which served as an additional combat platform. From the flooring, only nests for beams in the masonry of the walls have been preserved. The entrance to the site was through a doorway in the southern wall, through which a stone staircase with a creeping duct vault passed. At the same level with opposite side stairs was the exit to the southern line of earthen ramparts. From the north, a passage led to the ramparts directly from the platform through a door in the wall. The staircase in the southern wall led further to the upper combat platform, which had battlements in the form of loopholes. In the center of this site, a white-stone gate church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God was erected. Most likely, it was a rather slender temple already familiar from the buildings of Yuri Dolgoruky type: square in plan, four pillars with three altar apses with inner and outer shoulder blades on the walls, three arched portals, a cylindrical drum and modest decoration in the form of a decorative belt running in the middle of the height facade.
The gate has been preserved with strong reconstructions. The ancient parts of this structure include a wide passage arch with powerful side pylons and a combat platform above them, which has come down in fragments.
Frequent devastating fires and invasions of enemies significantly distorted the appearance of the Golden Gate. According to written sources, the repair of the gate church was carried out in 1469 under the guidance of the architect and sculptor V. D. Yermolin. In 1641, by decree of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, the Moscow architect Antipa Konstantinov drew up an estimate for the repair of the gate, but restoration work began only at the end of the 17th century.
Golden Gate Museum
The Golden Gate is under the jurisdiction of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. In the gate church there is a military-historical exposition. The central place in the exposition is occupied by a diorama that conveys the dramatic events of February 1238: the defense of Vladimir during the assault by the troops of Batu Khan (author - People's Artist of the RSFSR Efim Deshalyt, 1972).
The exposition presents weapons and military equipment of different times: combat bolts of a throwing machine, arrowheads and spears of the 13th century, chain mail, reeds, a captured Polish crossbow of the early 17th century, flintlock guns of the Catherine era, a steel cuirass and blunderbuss from the period of the Patriotic War of 1812, a rifle, uniform, banners and awards of the late 19th century, captured Turkish weapons.
The exposition continues on the former battlefield, which was turned into a closed porch gallery at the beginning of the 19th century. Here is the "Gallery of Vladimir Heroes": portraits, memorial items, documents, photographs of 160 Heroes of the Soviet Union - participants in the Great Patriotic War and heroes of peacetime. The exposition presents samples of small arms created by gunsmiths from the city of Kovrov: Vasily Degtyarev, Sergei Simonov, Georgy Shpagin and others. An unusual showcase was made up of the belongings of cosmonaut Valery Kubasov.
Other information
- According to some researchers, in particular, Nikolai Voronin, the Golden Gates of Vladimir had no analogues in medieval Europe; the architecture of the European Middle Ages knew only purely fortified tower structures, while the Golden Gate in Vladimir, in addition to defensive functions, served as the main entrance to the city and served a direct religious purpose - they housed the functioning Rizpolozhenskaya Church.
- According to one of the legends, in June 1767, the carriage of Empress Catherine II, when she passed through Vladimir in Nizhny Novgorod, at the entrance to Vladimir, got stuck in the arch of the gate in a large puddle. By order of the Empress, the ramparts were partially torn down (dismantled) on both sides of the Golden Gate, and driveways were made to bypass the gate. The left shaft was subsequently completely torn down. Its remains can be seen behind the building of the Pedagogical Institute near the Golden Gate.
- In the middle of the 19th century, in connection with the laying of a water pipeline in Vladimir, the Golden Gate, which was inactive at that time, was supposed to be adapted for a water collector-distributor, but the project was not destined to come true. For these needs, a special building of the water tower was built near the gate, which now houses a museum and an observation deck.
- During the construction of the Golden Gate, a partial collapse of the arch occurred, fortunately, there were no casualties. Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky ordered a thanksgiving service on this occasion and replaced the construction team. According to legend, they were Italian masters who arrived from the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Year of construction: XI century. Architectural style: Byzantine, Old Russian. Nearest metro station: Golden Gates. Location: at the intersection of Yaoslavov Val and st. Vladimirskaya.
The Golden Gate is one of the most famous and oldest defensive structures. modern city Kyiv, which were built by Yaroslav the Wise in 1037, according to the mention in the Tale of Bygone Years. The main purpose of the construction of this fortification building was rather not a defensive function, but a military-political one - it was necessary to show the power of Kievan Rus both to the near abroad and to their fellow tribesmen. Yaroslav succeeded, the effect was amazing - the Golden Gate at that time was the largest stone building in all of Kievan Rus with a functioning church topped with golden domes located on top.
Of course, the Golden Gate fully fulfilled its purpose in protecting the city. They were part of the military defense system of the then city of Kyiv (at that time the city was named Yaroslav). The system looked like a closing ring around the city and started from the Lvov Gates (modern Lvovskaya Square), passed along Yaroslavov Val Street to the Golden Gate and descended to the Lyadsky Gates (modern Independence Square) and closed the circuit going up Malaya and Bolshaya Zhitomirskaya streets. The Golden Gate was the main entrance to the city. Before the construction of the Golden Gates, Kyiv was captured by enemies more than once, but as soon as this architectural marvel appeared, no one could pass through them. Even the Tatars, who in those days owned the latest tools for capturing buildings, could not pass through the Golden Gate. These are the outlines of the original Kyiv.
Ruin. The Golden Gate looked like this at the beginning of the 20th century. There are several theories as to why this gate was called the Golden Gate. One of them claims that Yaroslav copied the building and the name of an almost identical building located in Constantinople, the capital of the neighboring huge power of Byzantium, which was also the source of Christianity in Rus'. Scientists consider this version the most truthful. But some also suggest that the Gates bear their name from the golden domes that adorned the church located above the gates. Another theory is inclined to believe that such a name was given because princely treasures were hidden under them.
Monument to Yaroslav the Wise near the Golden Gate. In its original form, the Golden Gates stood for only 200 years and then were partially destroyed, but for modern Kyivans of those times they already carried a symbolic purpose. There were festive return of troops with a victory over enemies to the ringing of the bells of the Church of the Annunciation, various processions of guests of the city, including the most famous people of that time, one of them is the legendary Bogdan Khmelnitsky.
Then, with some periodicity, they tried to restore the Golden Gate, to preserve its primary appearance, but our ancestors, unfortunately, did not succeed. The current restorers had to hide the remains of the walls under thick layers of modern building materials in order to give us an idea of what the Golden Gate looked like 1000 years ago.
1. The creators of the "Golden Gate"
The construction of such a huge structure lasted only 4 years! Joseph Strouss was the developer of the project, the famous architect Irving Morrow was his consultant, and Charles Alton Ellis performed all the mathematical calculations. But the latter's name was not entered on the bridge builders' tablet because he had a bad relationship with Strouss. Such is the injustice!
2. Where does the name come from?
The poetic name of the bridge has its own history. Military topographer John Fremont in 1846 noticed the similarity of the Pacific Gulf with the Golden Horn Bay in the capital of Turkey - Istanbul.
3. The complexity of the design
The construction of such a structure required considerable effort. Just imagine what kind of load had to lie on a bridge 1970 meters long with a support height of 230 meters above the water and weighing almost a million tons! It had to withstand the Pacific current of 185 kilometers per hour and gusts of wind, causing the bridge to oscillate up to 9 meters.
4. Opening day
On the first day of opening at 6 am on May 27, 1937, the bridge was only accessible to pedestrians. But the very next day, the first cars drove to it. On the fiftieth anniversary, the Golden Gate was visited by 300,000 people. Until 1964, it was considered the largest suspension bridge in the world!
5. Why is the bridge so popular?
The Golden Gate Bridge is popular for several reasons. First, its bright red color makes it easily recognizable. Secondly, he is depicted on the emblem of the NBA basketball club Golden State Warriors and Cisco Systems. And thirdly, the picturesque landscape of the Golden Gate neighborhood flashed in many films, in particular, X-Men: The Last Stand and View to kill" - one of the parts of Bondiana.
6. But there is also a bad reputation
The number of suicides committed on this bridge brought bad fame to this bridge. According to statistics, every two weeks someone's life ends on it.
The city of Vladimir, which was founded in 990, has a large number of sights preserved from medieval times. One of the most important is the Golden Gate, built in the middle of the XII century and partially preserved to this day.
History of the Golden Gate in Vladimir
These gates are known as a monument of ancient Russian architecture, which is located in the city of Vladimir. They are also considered to be world heritage UNESCO. The year of their construction is 1164. This is the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Initially, they were used as a defensive structure. The gate was the main entrance to the very rich boyar and princely part of the city.
Presumably, the Golden Gate in the city of Vladimir was created by princely craftsmen. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that on one of the blocks of white stone used in the construction, there is a princely sign. The gates were founded in 1158, and their construction was completed at the end of April 1164, when the Church of the Rizpozheniye, located above the gates, was consecrated. During the reign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, the city was surrounded by a rampart, and there were six more gates, these are Trade, Ivanovo, Copper, Orinin, Volga and Silver. However, only the Golden ones have survived to this day.
Golden Gate in the city of Vladimir
It is said that the prince ordered the tops of the gate to be covered with sheets of copper with gilding, which sparkled brightly in sunny weather. From the south and north, the constructed bulk ramparts adjoined the gates, next to which there were deep ditches located on the outside. A retractable bridge was built across the moat that led outside the city.
The height of the arched span was 14 meters, there were massive gates made of oak boards. They were attached to strong forged hinges and attached to the lintel located on the arch. This lintel also served as the basis for a wooden deck, which was an additional defensive battle area. Until our time, only holes in the walls have survived, where the beams for the flooring were attached.
The entrance to the site itself was made in the southern wall, inside which a stone staircase was built, it led to another flooring located above. The latter had jagged finials that served as loopholes.
white stone church
The Golden Gates in Vladimir in the center of the platform of the upper tier have a square church built of white stone, which was erected in the name of the Position of the Robe of the Mother of God. Most likely, the church was a square building of the four-pillar type with three altar apses. The building had three arched portals and a cylindrical structure with a top. The middle of the church facade was decorated with a decorative stucco belt.
Until today, the building has come with large restructuring and alterations. The original parts of the building include a wide passage arch and massive side pylons, as well as a combat platform located above them, however, preserved in fragments. The building itself was made using half-stone masonry, which was widespread in the Vladimir-Suzdal architecture of that time. The church was very similar to the temples built during the reign of Yuri Dolgoruky.
Restoration of the Golden Gate
Numerous invasions of enemy troops and severe fires significantly changed the image of the Golden Gate in Vladimir. According to a number of sources, the restoration of the church built over the gate was carried out in 1469 under the guidance of a wealthy merchant Yermolin, who was also an architect. In 1641, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich issued a decree according to which the architect A. Konstantinov made an estimate for the restoration of the Golden Gate, but all restoration work began to be carried out only in the last quarter of the 17th century.
In 1778, during a strong fire, the gate was significantly damaged. A few years later, in connection with the general urban redevelopment, the bulk shafts that adjoined the walls at the gate were removed, ensuring free passage past them. Because of this, the gate supports were weakened, and there was a need for reconstruction. ancient building. In 1795, the project of the architect Chistyakov was approved, according to which buttresses were attached to the corners of the pylons and enclosed in rounded towers. At the same time, the vaults of the gates are being shifted using the old stone, and a new brick church is being erected.
Museum "Golden Gate" in Vladimir
The famous Vladimir gates are an integral part of the museum-reserve called "Vladimir-Suzdal". It includes 56 architectural monuments of the XII-XVII centuries. In the church, located at the top of the gate, there is a military-historical exposition. The main thing in it is a diorama, which shows the events of 1238, when the horde of Batu Khan attacked the city of Vladimir. The opening hours of the Golden Gate in Vladimir can be clarified on the official website of the museum, as restoration work is currently being carried out there.
And also in the museum the combat equipment of warriors, weapons belonging to different periods are widely represented. Here you can see: arrowheads and spears dating back to the 13th century, the chain mail of the Russian squad, a reed, a captured crossbow of the Polish army from the beginning of the 12th century, flintlock guns that were used during the time of Catherine II. And also a blunderbuss and a metal cuirass related to the period Patriotic War 1812. The museum presents portraits and documents of the Heroes of the Soviet Union, who were originally from Vladimir.
Hotel at the Golden Gate. Vladimir
A cozy small hotel was built not far from the gates themselves. Walk to them for about three minutes. It offers 24-hour check-in, comfortable rooms and free parking around the hotel. Other city attractions are also nearby.
You can book a room at the hotel near the Golden Gate in Vladimir by phone or through big number sites that provide this service. Numerous reviews of travelers say that this hotel is the best combination of price, quality and availability of the main attractions of the city of Vladimir.
Once in Vladimir, you must definitely look at the Golden Gate, which is one of architectural gems and a monument to ancient Russian architecture. The beauty and history of this beautiful building will not leave anyone indifferent.