Golden Gate in Vladimir: history, features, interesting facts. Golden Gate (Vladimir) The Story of the Golden Gate

Many tourists are interested in the origin of the name of the attraction. Researchers adhere to the version that the gates were named so because the Church of the Annunciation was built over them. The dome of the church was covered with gold, hence the corresponding definition appeared. By the way, the construction of the temple was not small: the height reached 12 meters, and the width was almost 7. However, this is not the only assumption. Some historians refer to Constantinople: there were also Golden Gates there, and by analogy, Yaroslav the Wise gave the name to the Kyiv building.

Reliable defense and the main route to Kyiv

The Golden Gate performed not only a protective function. Also through them it was possible to get into the city, as they say, through the "front door". In this regard, the view at the gate was appropriate: an impressive battle tower, consisting of two tiers, solid brickwork, an arched facade and niches. The gate held back many enemy attacks, but in 1240 the horde of Batu Khan destroyed them.

Further fate and primary reconstruction of the monument

After the Mongol invasion, the gates were no longer used, and in the 18th century they had to be completely covered with earth, as there was a threat of their complete disappearance due to the war with the Turks. On the site of the former Golden Gate, the architect Debosket began to build new ones. In the 19th century, the monument aroused interest as a historical exhibit, and the authorities issued permission to start excavating it. In 1832, the remains of the walls reappeared almost out of oblivion, and Vincent Beretti immediately set about restoring them. For this purpose, the walls were reinforced with screeds and brickwork was made.

The golden gates shine again over Kyiv

1970 was the year of the revival of the legendary building. At that time, the place around the gate was put in order, and the best architects of Kyiv got down to business. Specialists studied all the historical information and drawings, prepared sketches. By the 1500th anniversary of Kyiv, the Golden Gate appeared before the residents and guests of the capital in its original form - with an iron lifting grate and folding doors.

Elements of the ancient gate are located in the inner part of the pavilion. Other museum exhibits are also located here - tools with the help of which reconstruction and construction work was carried out. The museum hosts tours, exhibitions, and excellent acoustics allows for concerts and thematic presentations.

The exit from the Zoloti Vorota metro station will take you directly to the monument.

A symbol of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is more than just a bridge that serves as a transportation link.

Since its opening after four years of construction in 1937, the $27 million bridge has appeared in dozens of films and other works of art.

Yet it is also a working bridge, monitored daily by some 200 employees to ensure the comfortable and safe passage of more than 100,000 vehicles per day, as well as thousands of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport passengers.

10 secrets of the Golden Gate Bridge:

1. Why is it called the Golden Gate Bridge? It's not made of gold

The Golden Gate Bridge got its name because it spans the Golden Gate Strait.

It is a strait three miles (4.8 km) long and one mile (1.6 km) wide that connects the Pacific Ocean with San Francisco Bay.

2. What color is the bridge? He looks red

It is not red, although it seems to many that the bridge has that color.

After the construction of the bridge, the US Navy, which then monitored waterways wanted to paint this bridge black and yellow for maximum visibility.

When the bridge was installed in the 1930s, the steel used to build it was a reddish color due to lead, and the team of architects who designed the bridge liked how the color looked against the landscape.

They mixed the paints and painted the bridge a color called International Orange, which is very similar to lead red.

3. Can I paint my house the same color?

It's hard to predict how your family and neighbors will react to an International Orange house, but it's possible to paint it that color. Copy the paint formula listed on the bridge website - it's free - and take it to your local paint shop.

4. Is the bridge completely repainted every year?

No. The top coat of paint has indeed been completely replaced with a new and environmentally improved paint. However, not all of its parts had the old paint stripped down to bare metal in order to be completely repainted.

5. What colors?

Every two years, bridge engineers inspect every inch of the structure and create a work plan for where to paint and make other repairs needed to keep the bridge in good working order.

After that, the painters get to work, as well as specialists who create protective temporary structures for them so that the painters can safely reach all painting points. To begin with, all the old paint is removed, and only then a new one is applied. Then they apply 4 layers of paint, up to 10 milliliters thick. This may take months, depending on the size of the processing area.

6. How long does the paint last after staining?

On average, engineers expect 25-30 years of paint durability without the need for repainting.

However, this depends on which part of the bridge is being painted and how it is exposed. Some parts of the bridge are still painted with the paint created by the architects after it was built.

7. What sounds do I hear on foggy days?

This is the unique tone of the bridge, created by four foggy pipes that produce a sound of 165 decibels. Its hearing range is up to six miles (about 10 km), and it activates when heavy fog can make it difficult for ships to see the bridge.

Of course, this is a safe bet, since ships have GPS systems and specially trained helmsmen, but no one wants to take risks.

These sounds are triggered manually, attempts to use automated systems failed because the salt water damaged the equipment.

8. Who is responsible for rescue operations On Bridge?

This is the responsibility of Darren McVey and his team. They have been doing this task for the past 17 years and have already lost count of the number of people they have saved.

If the person refuses to listen to the cops, McVeigh's team goes behind the bridge railings to rescue the person.

In September 2018, construction of a suicide containment system began on the bridge. It is designed to catch a person who is trying to jump off, but, according to experts, its very existence becomes a deterrent for those who want to commit suicide. Construction is expected to be completed in 2021.

9. Did the bridge really have a poem dedicated to it?

Actually, two. Both poems were written by engineer Joseph Strauss, who made preliminary sketches for the Golden Gate Bridge in 1921 and served as chief engineer during construction. Upon completion of the bridge, he wrote poems: “The Mighty Task is Done” and “The Golden Gate Bridge.”

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Golden Gate in , are an outstanding monument of ancient Russian architecture, annually attracting increased attention from the guests of the city. They were built in 1164, during the reign of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky of Vladimir, in addition to defensive purposes, they played the role of a triumphal building, symbolizing the greatness and strength of princely power. It was through them that the princely squads entered the city, returning from the battlefields, where they were noisily met by the people. The white-stone gates are made using the technique of half-stone masonry, which is widespread in Vladimir-Suzdal architecture. Together with three more gates to the city that have not survived to this day, the Golden Gates formed a single complex that served as an important link in the defensive system of Vladimir.

The Golden Gate is a massive three-tiered structure, along the edges of which there are low powerful towers with characteristic medieval battlements. Above the second tier, in the middle of which the image of Jesus Christ is clearly visible, there used to be the Rizopolozhenskaya Gate Church, which hospitably welcomed everyone who came to Vladimir in peace. Today, in its place is an exposition of the military history museum. An impressive diorama draws attention under the vaults of the chapel, where the February events of 1238 are presented, when the Mongol-Tatar hordes of Batu Khan captured Vladimir, despite the heroic resistance of its defenders. The diorama is equipped with musical and light stereo effects, which makes it look as realistic and spectacular as possible.

For more than 50 years, the Golden Gates have been under the jurisdiction of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve and serve as an integral part of it. Here visitors can see weapons and military equipment of different years, including the combat bolts of a throwing machine used for long-range shooting, arrowheads and spears of the 12th-13th centuries, military chain mail of Russian knights, a captured Polish crossbow, flintlock guns from the reign of Catherine II, soldiers' musketons of the Great Patriotic War of 1812, captured Turkish weapons and many other historical exhibits.

For a long time, the Golden Gate has been covered with many legends and myths, many of which researchers still cannot either confirm or refute. In any case, this building is considered one of the symbols that can often be seen on advertising brochures dedicated to the city or on souvenirs that are readily snapped up by tourists.

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.

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 Russia. 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.

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 for us to have an idea of ​​what the Golden Gate looked like 1000 years ago.

It is known that during the construction of the city of Vladimir, St. The Blessed Grand Duke Andrei imitated Kyiv in many ways. A similar imitation of the Kyiv Golden Gate, arranged by Yaroslav, was the construction of the Golden Gate, which was created by Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1164, at least the church built on the Golden Gate was consecrated this year, at the same time as him.

According to the legend of the description of the life of Andrei Bogolyubsky, this is what a miracle happened during the construction of these gates. When the Grand Duke created the stone Golden Gates and built a church on them, then a lot of people began to converge there to admire the beauty of the building. Since the construction site was still damp, the gate fell from its own weight, crushing twelve people. God-loving Prince Andrei, blaming himself for the death of these people, fell down with tears to the miraculous image of the Mother of God, and when the gates were raised, all the crushed ones turned out to be alive and unharmed, through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos.

In ancient times, the Golden Gates were part of the fortification built by Andrei Bogolyubsky around the entire city in the form of high earthen ramparts, on which strong walls rose. The ramparts adjoined on both sides to the very building of the Golden Gate and travel to the city was possible only through these gates. Thanks to these shafts, the Golden Gate in ancient times had the appearance of an irregular quadrangle, cut in the middle of the building by a huge arch with a semicircular vault (as the top of the gate, which stands out by several arshins, from later additions, is currently represented), on top of which is placed the temple of the position of the robe of the Most Holy Theotokos . This temple (which has not survived to this day in its original form) was probably built on the model of the Annunciation Church, which was on the Kyiv Golden Gates of Yaroslav, in imitation of which the Vladimir Golden Gates were erected, or was similar to the Trinity Church built on the gates to Kiev -Pechersk Lavra, Prince Nikolai Svyatosha of Chernigov in 1106, which, judging by the research of Professor P. A. Lashkarev, had some similarities with churches: Bogolyubovskaya and, in general, with monuments of church architecture of the Suzdal Principality of the XII century. Several centuries passed over this ancient building of the Golden Gate, and the punishing hand of the all-destroying time kept this monument of Russian architecture in all its integrity for a long time, and only in the last century did the Golden Gate undergo a significant external change.

The change in the appearance of the Golden Gate began due to the damage to the ramparts that surrounded the entire city and adjoined the Golden Gate. Our ancestors were very careful about protecting the earthen ramparts and walls that protected the city from enemy invasion. A careless attitude to the integrity of the ramparts began in the last century, and in 1729 corporal Koptev reported to the Vladimir provincial office that “on foot and horseback riders walk along the earthen ramparts of the city ... cut, and among other things "against the Spaso-Zlatovratsky monastery (now the parish church) and on both sides of the Golden Gate, through an earthen rampart, pedestrian roads." Then and finally the ramparts were dug out from the walls of the Golden Gate for the construction of driveways; on both sides formed a square. This digging of ramparts changed the former appearance of the Golden Gate and took away from them completely the character that they had, and then caused new changes in the facade. Since the Golden Gates were built without a foundation and the side walls were supported by earthen ramparts that tightly adjoined them, then with the removal of these ramparts, cracks appeared on the walls of the Golden Gates. Empress Catherine II, who was informed of this gradual destruction of the Golden Gate, strictly forbade the destruction of this wonderful ancient building and ordered new extensions to be made to the ancient walls. Instead of buttresses, four round low towers are attached to the four corners of the gate, of which a chapel is built in one. Over time, the top of the Golden Gate has also changed. The Rizpolozhenskaya church, which lowered Vladimir during the Tatar invasion, stood in a dilapidated state until 1687. This year the church was renewed and consecrated in 1691. But then, in 1778, during a severe fire that took place in Vladimir, the roof and interior decorations and all church utensils burned down and the church again remained in complete desolation until the beginning of this century. In 1810, the temple was finally rebuilt and consecrated under the Vladimir governor I. M. Dolgorukov.

The figure of the current church above the Golden Gate has nothing to do with the buildings of temples of the XII century.

But, despite these modifications, the Golden Gate still represents a wonderful monument. ancient architecture. With careful study, one can easily distinguish the ancient walls of the Golden Gate from later additions. The ancient walls are made up of white stone in the manner that was common with stone buildings of the 12th century, i.e. built of rubble and cobblestone; the walls on both sides are lined with white stones and filled with lime mortar; meanwhile, later buildings are exclusively brick.
It is highly desirable that this wonderful monument of antiquity finally attract the attention of archaeologists and lovers of antiquity and be restored in its original form, just as the St. Demetrius Cathedral and the Nativity Church in the Nativity Monastery were restored. It is difficult to restore the ruins of the Kyiv Yaroslavl Golden Gates, on the contrary, the Vladimir Golden Gates can be restored easily. The walls of the Golden Gate are almost all intact, mainly their inner side. The semi-circular vault of the huge arch of the gate, made entirely of white stone, supported by six white stone arcs, is especially well preserved. At the fourth of them, counting from the east side, another ancient arch, also of white stone, survived, rising from the base of the building to half of the main arch of the gate; to the pilasters from which this arch was led out, heavy door leafs pretended to be hung on huge hooks laid in the masonry and survived to this day; near the pilasters, recesses in the walls of the gate for locking the gate were also preserved, arranged so that on one side the lock was inserted into the wall, and on the other side it was brought in and lowered into another recess, for which the latter was given a special well-known form. In all arcs of the main arch of the gate, there are recesses inside the walls at the level with the surface of the lower arch.
These recesses served as a nest for the beams of the knurler, arranged above this lower arch, and was the place where the Vladimirites went out to “fight from the city” with the besieging enemies. The beams of the knurler were laid loosely so that it was possible to launch steles, pour boiling water, or throw stones at the enemies besieging the city.

A stone staircase led to this platform inside the south wall, ending in a door that is still visible on the inside of the south wall. Here on this platform defenders hometown stood breastfeeding against enemies for the honor and independence of the fatherland. The hordes of Batyev approached here on February 2, 1238, in this year of disasters for the whole Russian land, and here near the Golden Gate that terrible bloody battle took place in which all the valiant defenders of the city fell, and among the first princes Vsevolod and Mstislav, and then died freedom and honor of the Russian land.

Many other historical memories are connected with the Vladimir Golden Gate. Here, in front of the Golden Gates, Vladimirians swore allegiance to their princes, taking an oath and kissing the cross. So, under 1177, the chronicle says: “Volodimers (after the burial of the great Prince Mikhail, brother Andrei Bogolyubsky), remembering God and kissing the cross to Grand Duke George, going out in front of the Golden Gate, kissing the cross to Prince Vsevolod, brother Mikhailov and on his children , having planted him on his father and on his days so in Vladimir ”(S.R.L. vol. 1, 161 p.).

Here, at the Golden Gate, solemn meetings took place, arranged by Vladimirians for their princes, when they ascended the throne, or when they returned after victorious battles. So, according to the chroniclers: here St. The Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, who came to Vladimir from the Horde, was elected to the Grand Dukes by the Khan, amazed by his valor.

Metropolitan Kirill "all the abbots and citizens," says the chronicler, went out to meet the noble prince "from the Golden Gate and sat down and on the table of his father Yaroslav, the joy is great in the city of Vladimir." (Laurentian Chronicle, page 202).

On great holidays in ancient times, it was customary to make a procession from the Assumption Cathedral to the Golden Gate, and along the entire length from the cathedral to the Golden Gate ropes were stretched in two rows, on which veils embroidered with gold and pearls developed, so that the people passed between them, as between tapestries (Ipatiev Chronicle, page 127).

In addition to the Golden Gates in Vladimir, according to the chronicler, there were Silver, Copper, Irinins and Volga. But there are no traces left of them to this day.