Posad

Usually called Posad in everyday life, Sergiev Posad is a provincial town of 100+K people. Apart from spirituality, there're some other aspects it boasts - chemicals, fireworks and agriculture.

But despite the Posadians' high educational and mental level, living standards here are worse among other sub-Moscow towns due to political pretences. Many locals work in Moscow, so Posad may impress as a residential area with a lot of garbage around. You'll inevitably see beer plastic bottles and cigarette butts thrown in the streets.

Behind the Orthodox Vatican facade and even in Posad City (a business area by the terminal stuffed with trade centers), many shabby houses stand spoiling the picture. If you really wanna see Posad, put up with its drunkards and beggars.

Lavra

The Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra (Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra) is an architectural ensemble of churches, chapels and cathedrals within fortress walls and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monastery in the Red Army ave. (Krasnoy Armii) is open daily from 8am to 6pm. The churches are publicly open Monday through Friday.

The Lavra is a unique monument of the 16–17th-cc. fortress architecture. The walls have 3 tiers, the towers - up to 6 tiers. The 1st tier was built by Tsar Ivan IV in the 16th c., the 2nd and 3rd — in the 17th c., after the Polish siege.

This magnificent 14th-c. monastery is the jem of the Golden Ring drawing pilgrims from around the country and abroad. It's also the only town on the historic Golden Ring that's a comfortable 1-day trip from the capital. The Golden Ring is a set of towns NE of Moscow that formerly comprised the Zalesye region. Its early-medieval towns also played a significant role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church, preserving the memory of Russian history milestones. Called "open air museums" and featuring unique monuments of Russia's 12–18th-cc. architecture, they include kremlins, monasteries, cathedrals and churches. These towns are among the most picturesque in Russia and prominently feature Russia's famous onion domes. The Golden Ring includes Pereslavl-Zalesky, Rostov Veliky, Uglich, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Gus-Hrustalny, Suzdal, Vladimir and Alexandrov (the nearest to Sergiev Posad by train).