Yaroslavl (Russian: Яросла́вль) is a city in Russia, the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, located 250 kilometers (155 mi) north-east of Moscow. The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. Population: 613 088 (2002)

History

The legend says this town of the Golden Ring was founded by the famous Russian prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1010 as a fortified settlement on the Volga river. After a huge fire of 1658 that turned most of the city into ruins, Jaroslavl was rebuilt in stone and reached the peak of its architectural development with palaces and churches richly decorated with beautiful frescoes and ornaments thus earning the title "Florence of Russia". The first Russian professional theater was established in Jaroslavl by Volkov in 1750. Since the 18th century Jaroslavl has been an important industrial center. Today it is a quiet metropolitan city, one of Russia's largest regional centres, a capital of the Jaroslav province and one of the most beautiful cities of old Russia.

Main sights.

Apart from the Spaso-Preobrazhensky ("Transfiguration of the Saviour") Monastery the oldest churches in the city date back to the 17th century and belong to the so called Yaroslavl type (built of red brick, with bright tiled exteriors). Those of St. Nicholas Nadein and Elijah the Prophet have some of the Golden ring's most impressive frescoes.
Yaroslavl is the site of the Volkov Theater (built 1750), the oldest theater in Russia. The city has many Russian Orthodox churches, one Russian Old Believers church, one Baptist church, one Lutheran church, one mosque and one synagogue.

Districts

Yaroslavl is divided into six city districts. The center is located on the northern bank of the Kotorosl where it converges with the Volga, on the Volga's western bank. The Center is the economic and political center of the city. The center is also the oldest district in the city, where the city was first settled. The center contains the majority of landmarks and attraction in the city, including the Volkov theater, the Church of Elijah the prophet, the soccer stadium, the Volga embankment and the monastery, often mistakenly called the kremlin. Pyatyorka is located north of the center, but still under its administrative jurisdiction. Pyatyorka is largely a residential region with very little of note, aside from a few Houses of Culture.

Across the Kotorosl lie Frunzensky and Krasnoperekopsky city districts, which are divided by Moskovsky Prospect. Frunzensky is a relatively new district, constructed in the post-war era and offers little of particular interest. Perhaps Frunzensky district's greatest attraction is the Yarpivo brewery. Most of the buildings are of typical grey Soviet construction. Frunzensky district is divided into three microdistricts: Suzdalka, Dyadkovo, and Lipovaya Gora.

Krasnoperekopsky city district is one of the oldest parts in Yaroslavl. During pre-revolution days, it was home to the bulk of Yaroslavl's industry, and a good deal of industry remains today. Krasnoperekopsky district is divided into two microdistricts, one of which is Neftestroy, a relatively pleasant up-and-coming region, named for its proximity to Yaroslavl's oil refinery. Neftestroy is home to the newly-built hockey arena, and there are plans to build an indoor soccer stadium there by the millennial anniversary of Yaroslavl's founding. By contrast, on the other side of the railway tracks that run through Krasnopereposk district lies the Perekop proper. Today, the Perekop is known as one of the most dangerous areas of Yaroslavl. It consists largely of run-down, pre-Soviet izbas, and decaying factory buildings. There are plans to pump life into this depressed district, but at the time of writing it remains extremely impoverished and dangerous. Much of Yaroslavl's mafia grew out of the Perekop. Ironically enough, the Perekop offers some of Yaroslavl's most beautiful parks and churches, most notably the Church of Saint John the Baptist, which is located right next to a paint factory on the Kotorosl embankment; and Peter and Paul's Cathedral, a peculiar Protestant-looking Orthodox church.

North of the center there is a small industrial region, which is home to the tire factory, the sponsor of Yaroslavl's soccer team, and the engine plant, as well as many other smaller factories. Further north on the Western bank lies Dzerzhinsky city district, named after "Iron" Felix Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Cheka, the Soviet secret police. Dzerzhinsky district's core microdistrict is Bragino, named after a small village that was eventually consumed by Yaroslavl's post-war expansion. Bragino is the largest area in Yaroslavl in terms of population, but like Frunzensky district, it is largely a residential region, mostly consisting of middle to lower-middle class families.

On the other bank of the Volga lies Zavolzhsky city district (lit. one behind the Volga). Zavolzhsky district is Yaroslavl's quietest and most rural area. In Zavolzhsky, blocks of pre-fabricated Soviet apartment blocks are broken up by beautiful birch and evergreen forests. The region is largely residential and has little to offer aside from its forests.

Notable residents

Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, was born in a nearby village and went to school in Yaroslavl.
Andrei Khomutov, member of the Soviet national hockey team that won countless World Championships and the 1981 Canada Cup.
Fedor Volkov, founder of the 1st Russian theatre.
Nikolai Nekrasov and Leonod Trefolev, poets.
Leonid Sobinov, opera singer.
Konstantin Ushinsky, founder of the Russian pedagogics.

Main points of interest: One of the oldest in Russia Tolgsky Monastery (14th century), with many magnificent frescoes in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin (17th century), the Holy Gates with the Clock Bell-Tower, and the Refectory Chambers large quarters for formal receptions. The monastery is still being used by nuns today. The Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour was founded in the 12th century, and became one of Russia's richest and most fortified monasteries by the 1500's. Spaso-Preobrazhenski Monastery (12th century) where the famous Tale of Igor's Campaign, a precious gem of old Russian literature was found. Numerous churches, most of them of the 17th century in the city itself and in the suburbs. 3 theatres, 4 museums including a suburban house of Nekrasov (1821-78), a famous Russian poet, editor, and publisher, private "Time and Music" museum with the largest collection of antique clocks, hand bells and household items.