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)

Uspenskaya Square in Uglich

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

Point 4

Uspenskaya Square

⛲ Square • 📜 Historic site

Historical Background

Like any sizable medieval town, Uglich had a market square, which curved around the kremlin in a semicircle. Originally the area was built up with civilian buildings and crowded with market stalls. The stalls were sometimes set up haphazardly, with no regard for administrative rules, which caused many complaints and conflicts. This went on until 1793, when a fire in the town burned down most of the stalls and storehouses. The fire, however, played into the administration's hands, making it easier in 1794 to carry out the master plan for creating a market square. The market square served its purpose until 1921, when it burned down in yet another fire. It is said that the merchants themselves set this fire, unwilling to hand over their goods to the Bolsheviks. In Soviet times the square was renamed Uspenskaya, in memory of the Dormition Church that had stood on it.

Today

The part of the square that survived the fire of 1921 consists mainly of two blocks of trading rows, the house of the Evreinov merchants, which now houses the administration, and the building of the Kazan Church. Today the square hosts city events. Here you can also visit the Museum of the History of Russian Vodka, a gallery of Orthodox art, and a museum of 19th-century town life.