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Golden gate

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In the second half of the XII century five external gates were built in Vladimir, that were used as siege towers with transportation purpose. Only main of them, the Golden gate, used for ceremonial entrance to the city, remained to our days. The construction of the gate had an informal occasion: with the help of the gate, Andrei Bogolyubsky was going to show once again that the capital of North-Eastern Russia is not inferior to Kiev neither in wealth nor in influence. The gate was built by local craftsmen. The arch of the Golden gate was closed inside with the heavy oak doors, upholstered in gold-plated copper, hence the name of the gate. Above the arched doorway is located the church dedicated to the Deposition of the Virgin's Robe, a miniature variation of the white-stone temple. For more than 8 centuries of its existence, the Golden gates have seen a lot, including visit of important Russian leaders, Alexander Nevsky and much later, Catherine II. Invasions and fires have significantly distorted the appearance of the Golden gate. At the end of the eighteenth centurythe Gate was reconstructed. Vertical structures, enclosed in rounded pylons, were attached to the corners of the construction. The arch masonry was renewed and a new brick Church was built on the top of the gates, which consecration took place in 1810. Now Golden gate is a home for a Museum of military glory, and below the arch of the church on the gate, there is a large diorama illustrating the capture of the city by the Mongols. In 1992, the Golden gate was included in the World Heritage list of UNESCO.

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