Alexandrov is famous as the residence of the Russian tsars, which arose around the Alexandrovskaya Sloboda first mentioned in the 14th century in the letter of Ivan Kalita. From 1302 to 1778, this place belonged to the Moscow lands and the personal lands of the royal family. In 1513, the best Russian and Italian architects built a country palace ensemble here to become the residence of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III.
The city is located in the northwest of the Vladimir region, 125 km northwest of Vladimir and 111 km northeast of Moscow.
Since 1564, by the will of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible, Alexandrovskaya Sloboda has become the de facto capital of the Russian State for 17 years. From this very place, Ivan the Terrible ruled Russia for 17 years, inviting the best architects, icon painters, and musicians to his residence. The first conservatory and provincial printing house in Russia appeared in Alexandrovskaya Sloboda. Here, Ivan the Terrible got married twice and lost his son Ivan. Young Peter I and young Elizabeth used to live in Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, and Emperor Alexander I used to stay here.
In 1778, by a Decree of Empress Catherine II, Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda became a city. In 1781, the city received a coat of arms depicting a locksmith vise and two anvils, since Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda had long been famous for its blacksmithing.
During the Soviet times, Alexandrov became one of the leading centers of radio engineering. Famous people persecuted for political reasons used to live in the city then known as 'the capital of the 101st kilometre.
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