My birthplace

As you know, every person likes the place where he lives. And the love for the whole country, for the Motherland begins with the love for the native town, for the birthplace.

I live in the town of Vladimir. I am fond of this place and I am always eager to describe my native place. I was born there and I have lived there all my life.

Vladimir is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in our country. It was founded in 908 by Vladimir the Red Sun. In the beginning of the 12^th century Vladimir was the capital of the Kiev Rus and then, in the second half of the 12^th century, Vladimir was the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality.

There are lots of churches and cathedrals in my native town. The most famous are: the Golden Gates, the Assumption Cathedral, the Dmitriev Cathedral. But all these masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture suffered greatly during the Tatar and Mongol invasions.  After the Tatar defeat, in 1238, Vladimir lost its political significance, but remained the religious centre for many years after.

Modern Vladimir is a part of the Golden ring of the ancient Russian cities and a significant tourist center. Its three chief monuments, which I have already mentioned above, are recognized by UNESCO and included in the World Heritage List. In the historical centre of the town you can meet tourists from all over the world.

At the same time, the town of Vladimir is quite modern and busy. The streets are full of people; the roads are full of cars as in any other town or city. It is the place where you can easily find lots of cafes, restaurants and hotels.

In general, the town is highly industrially developed. There are a lot of plants and factories. At the same time it is a student town due to many educational establishments and schools. In addition, if you like to do outdoor activities or relax in the nature, there are a lot of parks and gardens, which, by the way, make the town look green and fresh.

I am sure that people of all ages can find what to do in Vladimir because there is a lot of entertainment there, which varies from disco clubs and cinemas to art galleries and libraries. There are many theatres, concert halls and exhibitions in Vladimir.

This is the town of contrasts where the past is tightly connected with the present. I am really glad that I am its citizen.

Stolyarov Maxim, form 8 «A»,Vladimir, school №13.

(Столяров Максим, 8 «А» класс, МБОУ СОШ №13, г. Владимир)