Vyazniki is one of the most beautiful cities in the Vladimir region located in its eastern part, on two hills, in the lower reaches of the Klyazma River. The history of the city goes back a long way. It arose on the site of the ancient city of Yaropolch Zalessky and Vyaznikovskaya Sloboda known since the 16th century.
The city of Vyazniki is located 111 km from Vladimir, 298 km from Moscow, and 122 km from Nizhny Novgorod.
The first written mention of Yaropolch dates back to 1389, the first year of the reign of Dmitry Donskoy’s eldest son, Vasily Dmitrievich. Vyaznikovskaya sloboda arose at the foot of the hill on which the Yaropolch city was located. The origin of the name of the city of Vyazniki is associated with elms (in Russian, 'вяз' [viaz]), which grew in large numbers in this area. There is also a legend that the name of the city comes from the word 'to get stuck' (in Russian, 'вязнуть' [viaznut]), since the city is located on a muddy and boggy place.
A lot of crafts and trades developed in the Sloboda. Craftsmen, including blacksmiths, jewellers, bone carvers, stone cutters, potters, woodworkers, exchanged their products with other cities and villages of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus, traded with Kiev, Crimea, Byzantium, and Volga Bulgaria. Linen manufactories developed, forced by the needs of the regular army and navy created by Peter I. In 1778, by a decree of Catherine II, Vyazniki received the status of a chief town of the Vyaznikovsky district of the Vladimir province and its own coat of arms with a lion in the upper part and an elm (a tree whose name is associated with the city's name) in the lower part.
In the 19th century, Vyazniki became a major center of the linen industry with the linen weaving factories of the Senkovs, Demidovs and Elizarovs operating in the city. The beauty and authenticity of the urban landscape, the unusual ajacency of modern buildings to well-preserved mansions of merchants and manufacturers of the 18th to 19th centuries, and the famous cucumbers and cherries of Vyazniki make up that special charm of a small Russian town which attracts many tourists here. Our land was famous all over Russia for its talented icon painting, various lacquer miniatures, uniquely expressive Mstera embroidery, shipyards and canvas of rare quality admitted even by Peter the Great.
People living in Vyazniki are proud of the heroic past of their fellow countrymen. 27 Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia and 5 Heroes of Socialist Labour were born and raised here. The Soldiers of Victory exhibition in the Vyazniki Historical and Art Museum, tells about them. A bronze bust in honour of V.N. Kubasov, a pilot and cosmonaut and a double hero of the Soviet Union, coming from Vyazniki, is installed in the city.
