Uglich: Palace Chamber, Cathedrals and City History

Uglich tells its story on several scales: According to tradition, the Church of Tsarevich Dmitry “on the Blood” stands at the place where the tsarevich died. The Palace Chamber and cathedrals offer different perspectives, with exhibitions on city history, art and crafts. This interplay between historical tradition and diverse collections gives a trip to Uglich a clear cultural focus.

The Palace Chamber and City History

The Palace Chamber of the Uglich appanage princes is one of the oldest residential buildings in Russia to have survived to the present day. It is also the oldest surviving architectural monument in the Uglich Kremlin ensemble. On the second floor, an exhibition tells the story of Uglich from its founding to the Time of Troubles. On the first floor, two halls house the section on the history of the 17th to 19th centuries. Together, the two exhibition themes span a broad historical arc while offering a distinct look at several later centuries.

The section “Uglich in Terracotta, Uglich in Tiles” offers a special focus: it displays more than 400 exhibits on the centuries-long development of Russian tile art. This complements the chronological account of the city’s history with a subject that evolved over many generations. Those interested in historic architecture will find a different perspective here than in the exhibitions on city history or religious art.

Tradition, Cathedrals and Art

Objects in the Church of Tsarevich Dmitry “on the Blood” also point to the history of the place. Its refectory displays a reliquary and a bier associated with the transfer of the tsarevich’s relics from Uglich to Moscow from May 29 to June 3, 1606. The Uglich exile bell is said to have proclaimed the beginning of the Time of Troubles in Russia with its ringing. Both traditions connect the era specifically to Uglich, but represent different forms of remembrance.

The Transfiguration Cathedral, Uglich’s main church, was consecrated in 1706 and is predominantly in the Naryshkin Baroque style popular at the time. Together with the Epiphany Cathedral, it forms an ensemble: the “summer cathedral” of the Transfiguration and the “winter cathedral” of the Epiphany flank a shared bell tower and form two wings. The Epiphany Cathedral is almost a century younger.

The Epiphany Cathedral displays portraits of Uglich residents from the 18th to 20th centuries, an exhibition on the iconography of Uglich’s saints, and applied art. It also features works of Old Russian and religious art from the 15th to 20th centuries. The exhibition themes thus range from portraits and depictions of saints to artworks spanning several centuries.

More Exhibition Themes and Choosing Accommodation

The Uglich Museum has eight permanent exhibitions as well as temporary exhibitions. The Museum of Leather Craft explores a subject of its own: its exhibition is dedicated to leatherworking, one of the oldest trades practiced by the city’s residents. Alongside the history of the principality, the cathedrals and art, the residents’ craft traditions are also part of Uglich’s cultural identity.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Uglich, you can plan your trip around the subjects that matter most to you: city history in the Palace Chamber, architecture and art in the cathedrals, or crafts at the leatherworking museum. These themes offer a concrete basis for considering what mix of cultural interests you would like to shape your stay.

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Return to the regional travel overview: Yaroslavl Oblast.