[GERMANY.BAYER 00687] 'Wasserburg.' Wasserburg is situated at a small peninsula in the Lake of Constance, against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Photo Paul Smit.

[INDIA.UTARPRADESH 27189] ’Aurangzeb Mosque in Lucknow.’ The roof of the Bara Imambara in Lucknow offers a view of the Aurangzeb Mosque, a fine example of later Indo-Muslim architecture. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.188] ‘Monastery of St. Sergius.’ The Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius in Sergiev Posad (formerly known as Zagorsk) is one of Russia’s most important religious centers. The monastery was founded in 1340 by the monk Sergius who united the country against Mongol rule. Closed by the communists, it was reopened after W.W.II as a museum and a working monastery. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.149] ‘Rostov’s kremlin.’ The fairy tale of Rostov-Veliky’s kremlin is best appreciated from a boat on Lake Nero. The two highest structures are the Gate-Church of St. John (with green domes) and the Assumption (Uspensky) Cathedral (with gray domes). Although founded in the 12th century nearly all the buildings in the kremlin date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.141] ‘West wall of Rostov’s kremlin.’ The western wall of Rostov-Veliky’s kremlin displays an impressive ensemble of domes and towers. From right to left: a wall-tower, the Gate-Church of St. John with two gate-towers just in front of it and finally another wall-tower. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.129] ‘Fishing near the kremlin.’ Boys fishing on Lake Nero have a superb view of the many domes in the kremlin of Rostov-Veliky. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.090] ‘Shopping arcades.’ The 18th and 19th century shopping arcades of Kostroma were built in a neoclassical style. The Church of Our Saviour (1766) is flanked by a high classical bell-tower. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.066] ‘Green domes.’ Yaroslavl experienced a trade boom in the 17th century, as a result of which churches are hidden around every corner. Such as the many domed Church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo (1671-87), which can be found on the south bank of the Kotorosl River. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.060] ‘Church on Volga bank.’ In the Korovniki quarter at Yaroslavl, the Church of St. John the Chrisostom (1654) occupies a prominent place on the bank of the Volga. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.040] ‘View from bell-tower.’ At the Monastery of the Archangel Michael in Yuryev-Polskoi, the five domes of the 17th century Gate-Church of John Theologos are visible from the top of the monastery’s bell-tower. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.036] ‘Monastery of Yuryev-Polskoi.’ The town of Yuryev-Polskoi is still surrounded by its 12th century kremlin ramparts. From it you have nice view across the wall of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael with its 18th century Cathedral (centre) and 17th century Gate-Church of John Theologos (left with five little domes). Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.026] ‘Four story church.’ In the village of Ves, north of Suzdal, the ruins of the Church of the Holy Trinity and Archangel Michael have a romantic and almost surreal atmosphere. The four stories of the high church symbolize the four holy entities to which the church was dedicated. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[INDIA.UTARPRADESH 27193] 'Roof top view in Lucknow' The roof of the mausoleum of the Bara Imambara in Lucknow offers a view of the Jama Masjid Mosque to the west. The mausoleum of the Bara Imambara in Lucknow was built in 1784 by Asaf-ud-Daula, the ruler who made Lucknow capital of the Avadh state. Photo Paul Smit.

[ROMANIA.MOLDAVIA 24.123] ’Neamt Monastery.’ Outside the 15th century Neamt Monastery stands, topped by a huge dome, the Aghiastmatar Pavilion, built for the ritual of "blessing the Water". Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.162] ‘Cathedral of Tutayev.’ The small Volga town of Tutayev possesses a 17th century Resurrection Cathedral which preserves movingly beautiful frescoes in its interior. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.145] ‘Rostov’s kremlin.’ The fairy tale of Rostov-Veliky’s kremlin is best appreciated from a boat on Lake Nero. The two highest structures are the Gate-Church of St. John (with green domes) and the Assumption (Uspensky) Cathedral (with gray domes). Although founded in the 12th century nearly all the buildings in the kremlin date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.140] ‘West wall of Rostov’s kremlin.’ The western wall of Rostov-Veliky’s kremlin displays an impressive ensemble of churches and towers. From right to left: the St. Gregory Church, a wall-tower, the Gate-Church of St. John with two gate-towers just in front of it and finally another wall-tower. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.117] ‘Monastic gate.’ The massive North Gate of the Monastery of the Saints Boris and Gleb is flanked by small shops that are built against the monastic wall. The monastery is situated in the small town of Borisoglebsk, 15 km west of Rostov-Veliky. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.079] ‘Leaning tower.’ The leaning tower of a ruined church withers away in romantic splendour at Roshtdestveno village, 35 km southeast of Yaroslavl. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.063] ‘Colourful tiles.’ In the Korovniki quarter at Yaroslavl, the Church of St. John the Chrisostom (1654) has windows that are framed by the colourful glazed tiling for which the Yaroslavl region is renowned. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.042] ‘Ringing gas-canisters.’ At the Monastery of the Archangel Michael in Yuryev-Polskoi, a bell-ringer in the monastery’s tower strikes bells that are made of old gas-canisters. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.037] ‘Monastery of Yuryev-Polskoi.’ From the kremlin ramparts of Yuryev-Polskoi you have a nice view of the Monastery of the Archangel Michael with its 18th century Cathedral (centre) and 17th century bell-tower (left). Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.029] ‘Four story church.’ In the village of Ves, north of Suzdal, the ruins of the Church of the Holy Trinity and Archangel Michael have a romantic and almost surreal atmosphere. The four stories of the high church symbolize the four holy entities to which the church was dedicated. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.018] ‘Colourful tower.’ In the centre of Suzdal the colourful bell-tower of the St. Antipius Church (ca. 1700, left) and the domes of the St. Lazarus Church (1667, right) form a striking ensemble. Photo Mick Palarczyk.