Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl is a city in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River about 250 kilometers northeast of Moscow. It serves as the administrative center of the oblast and is one of the oldest cities in Russia, traditionally dated to its founding in 1010 by Yaroslav the Wise. The city has a population of around 600,000.

In the Middle Ages, Yaroslavl developed as a major trade and craft center on the Volga. It later became part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow in the 15th century. In 2005 the Historic Centre of the City of Yaroslavl was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its well-preserved 17th-century architecture and urban layout.

Today the city has a diversified economy that includes machine building, timber processing, food industries, and services. It remains an important river port and railway hub on the Moscow–Yekaterinburg corridor. Tunoshna Airport serves regional air travel.

Culturally, Yaroslavl is noted for its historic architecture along the Volga embankment, including the Church of Elijah the Prophet, the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, and the Transfiguration Cathedral. The city hosts museums, theaters, and a university, and preserves a number of 17th-century churches that form the core of its historic center.