The past and present of Yaroslavl are interwoven in a single unity. It was founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise on the bank of Volga at its confluence with the Kotorosl. As legend has it - and this finds expression in the coats of arms of the city and province - the prince conquered the pagans by killing the holy bear. In 1218 Yaroslavl became the capital of an independent principality. In 1612 it was in fact the capital of Russia for half a year, people's volunteers under the leadership of Minin and Pozharsky gathered here.
Its economic growth in the 16-17th centuries led to its "golden age" when the famous Yaroslavl School of Russian culture appeared and remarkable architectural monuments were built, such as the churches of Elijah the Propert, St John the Baptist and St John Chrysostom among them, which are justly considered the masterpieces of world art.