The Ryazan Kremlin is on the high hill, near the Trubezh River, 2 kilometers from the place where it flows in the Oka River. In the Middle Ages on the other side the Lybed River also ran at the foot of the Kremlin, but now it is non-existent. To the south of the Kremlin there was built a very strong rampart of 20 m high. It survived to our days.
The first Slavic settlement was founded in this place in 6 century. And it was just there that in 1095 a fortress was built, which later became the city of Pereslavl-Ryazansky. In 12 century the city already occupied the whole Kremlin hill. It has an area of some 26 hectares.
Ryazan Kremlin was made an architectural museum-reserve by the decision of the Ryazan provincial scientific archival commission on June 15, 1884. As a result, its monuments and cathedrals are still in a very good condition. It is one of the oldest museums in Russia.
You can enter the Ryazan Kremlin from the Cathedral park by way of the Glebovsky bridge. The first thing you see when entering the Kremlin is a magnificent 83-meter bell tower. It is one of the best examples of classic-style bell towers.
They began to erect stone buildings at the Ryazan Kremlin in 15 century. The Archangel cathedral and the cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross are in the center of the Kremlin. The former fully preserved its original appearance (cross-in-square church) while the latter was completely rebuilt in 19 century. However in the sanctuary of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross cathedral you can see the white stone masonry of 15 century, the oldest one at the Ryazan Kremlin. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross cathedral once was the burial vault of Ryazan princes.
A large territory of the Transfiguration monastery stretches along the rampart to the left of the Assumption Cathedral. On the territory of the monastery you can see the Epiphany church and the Transfiguration cathedral, as well as the Consistory building and the Hotel of the Nobles.
Two museums are behind the Assumption cathedral: the Palace of Prince Oleg and the Choir Building. The Palace of Prince Oleg was built in 17 century. Today it houses the vast collections of the Ryazan architectural museum-reserve. Within the exposition «From Rus` to Russia», you can know there the history of Ryazan Region, including the bloody days of the hard fight with the Golden Horde.
