I Love My Birthplace.

I live in Vladimir region. It is situated in the Central Federal District. Vladimir region includes 16 wards, 22 towns, 37 urban villages. Some towns are the part of The Golden Ring of Russia. Vladimir is the administrative centre. Vladimir region occupies a large territory of about 129 thousand square kilometers. The population is more than one million and a half. Vladimir region borders on Ivanovo, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ryazan and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

Vladimir region is the land of rich and glorious history, generous nature and magnificent white-stone temples. The greatness of The Dormition Cathedral that is  decorated with fresco’s by Andrei Rublev, unique elegance of the pearl of the "Golden Ring” – The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl and the white-stone fretted lace of The Cathedral of St. Demetrius for eight centuries have been amazing travelers with their splendor. The look of ancient towns – Suzdal, Alexandrov, Murom, Yuryev-Polsky, Gorokhovets is wonderful and original. These towns with centenary history preserve unforgettable warm colour of ancient provincial Russian towns, which  strike the abundance of the ancient Russian architecture monuments, the scope of the monastic ensembles, the museum treasures created by folk craftsmen.

Vladimir region corresponds a plain covered with mixed forests. There is Smolensk-Moscow Upland in the north-east, Vladimir opolye in the interfluves of the Nerl and the Kirzhach, Meshchera Lowlands in the south. Vladimir region is situated in subtaiga zone. Forests cover about 42% of the territory. The main breeds are pine-trees and fir-trees. Our forests are rich in animals, such as hares, foxes, squirrels, elks, different birds and plants. One can find a lot of fish in our lakes and rivers. There is the National Park Meschera in Vladimir region.

The climate is moderate continental. The average temperature of January is -11°C and in July it is +17°C. Annual precipitation is about 500 mm per year.

Vladimir region is one of the most ancient history and art centers of Russian land. Territories, which are included in Vladimir region, from time immemorial composed a heart of Vladimir-Suzdal princedom.

Vladimir Great Princedom was formed because of the transfer of the capital Rostov-Suzdal princedom to Vladimir-on-Klyazma. During the rule of Andrey Bogolyubsky and his successors the princedom reached its prosperity.

At the second half of the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries The Great Vladimir Princedom was the largest economic, political and cultural centre of Russia. The transference of political centre of Russia to Vladimir played a big role in the formation of the Great Russian nationality and Russian nation. The economic and political influence of The Vladimir-Suzdal Princedom was undermined by ruinous mongolian-tatar invasion in 1238.

The culture of The Great Vladimir Princedom has left a deep impression in the history of the North-East Russia. The Vladimir architecture school has made an influence on the stone architecture of Moscow and many other towns. The political and cultural traditions of The Great Vladimir Princedom were taken by The Great Moscow Princedom at the period of The Russian centralized state formation.

Vladimir province was formed in 1778. It was one of the most industrialized province in the European part of Russia. Textile production has been developing since seventeenth century. There were iron-making and glass plants. Most of industrial manufactories were located in villages and settlements.

In the nineteenth century Vladimir province was the center of textile production. A large spread got cottage crafts. Weaving mattered a great deal. Since the end of the seventeenth century icon painting has been famous. All-Russian glory got Vladimir and Suzdal stonemasons, Pokrov and Gorokhovets carpenters.

After destruction of Vladimir province in 1929 its territories were in the structure of Ivanovo, Moscow and Gorky regions.

During The Great Patriotic War a large contribution to the victory made defense enterprises, especially the Plant named after Degtyarev.

Vladimir region was founded in the present borders in 1944.

Vladimir region is indeed a wonderful one: at every turn there is something to catch your eye. Therefore thousands of tourists arrive in our region. From year to year it draws more and more lovers of art, architecture and crafts. They are impressed by the beauty of our monuments, memorials, churches and cathedrals. The region may be justly called a treasury of national art.

Vladimir region can be regarded as a true museum region, a region which has played an important part in the development of Russian culture. The artistic ideals of people, formed by many centuries, are expressed in Vladimir region architecture with great power and vividness.

Vladimir region has a fascinating history and it would be difficult to find another Russian region that would compare with it in this respect.

 Ростовцева Виктория
МБОУ гимназия №1 им. А. Н. Барсукова г. Коврова Владимирской области
10"А"
г. Ковров