Uglich: A Journey Through the Centuries

9 points6 km4 hours

Over its long life, Uglich has witnessed the whole of Russian history. It was the center of a small principality; the last heir of the Rurikid dynasty died here; merchants carried on a lively trade; and in Soviet times one of the country's first hydroelectric power plants was built in the town. Join us for a walk through the streets of ancient Uglich to learn its life story.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (9)

Princes' Chambers in Uglich

Point on route “Uglich: A Journey Through the Centuries”

Point 2

Princes' Chambers

🏰 Palace • 📜 Historic site

Historical Background

In the 13th century Uglich was the capital of a small independent principality of the same name. Its first ruler, Prince Vladimir Konstantinovich, a grandson of the better-known Vsevolod the Big Nest, is believed to have built the first palace complex in the kremlin. In the second half of the 15th century, under Prince Andrei Vasilyevich the Elder (nicknamed Goryai), there was a great deal of building, during which the palace was also rebuilt. It is believed to have been one of the largest in appanage Rus. The surviving princely chamber was built at that time as well, for some reason as a separate building.

The Chambers After the Time of Troubles

During the many attacks by Polish invaders the palace burned down, but the chambers miraculously survived those turbulent times. After that the building was abandoned and slowly crumbled for a century and a half. During that time people tried to take it apart for bricks to build the Transfiguration of the Savior Cathedral and to set up a wine cellar in it, but each time something got in the way, leaving the building one step from complete ruin. Restoration of the chambers began only in the late 18th century, and the building was fully reconstructed only in 1890–1892, first with money from public-spirited merchants and then with donations collected at the initiative of the governor of Yaroslavl.

How Did the Building Survive?

Besides the threat of natural decay with time, the people of Uglich themselves tried to tear the building down or convert it. First they wanted to take it apart for bricks to build the Transfiguration of the Savior Cathedral. But, as the people said, some unknown force kept throwing the workmen off the porch and would not even let them start dismantling the building, which frightened the townspeople into leaving it alone. Next an even worse fate loomed: it was to be turned into a wine cellar. No one knows exactly why this plan was stopped. One popular view is that the town governor simply did not want a conflict with the locals, since the people regarded the chambers as an ancient relic preserving the memory of the great princes of Uglich and of the most revered local saint, Tsarevich Dmitry.