Russian historians say that the city of Yaroslavl could be founded between 988 and 1024, while the year of 1010 appears to be the most reliable date of city birth, because that year the fortress was layed, and prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich (known as Yaroslav the Wise) moved out Rostov.

For about a thousand years Yaroslavl has been a citadel of Russian statehood. Russian tsars, the Rurik and Romanov dynasties, and later Soviet government considered the city to be an important administrative unit.The city was founded as the first Orthodox city on the river Volga – its fortress was aimed at protecting north-eartern borders of Kievan Russia.

Since 1218 the city is the capital of its own princedom and becomes known as a developed cultural centre, however, its peaceful life is interrupted in 1238 by Tatar and Mongol invasion.

Later the city is involved in to the epicentre of all events and peripetias of Russian history. In 1380 Yaroslavl troops take part in the Battle of Kulikovo, which terminated the yoke of Tatars and Mongols, moreover, Yaroslavl is Moscow’s faithful ally, when Russian territories have been united under the auspices of the ancient capital. In 1463 Yaroslavl princedom is among first princedoms, which voluntarily enter Moscow state.

In the XV century the city carries a proud name of “tsar’s motherland”, and in the next hundred years other princedoms join Moscow, thus putting Yaroslavl in a very favourable position, since the trade way to Europe via the White Sea is being opened. The city develops rapidly and becomes strategically important – its is where in case of emergency Russian treasury is moved. Yaroslavl also serves as a prison for those threating state regime. When the Time of Troubles comes in 1612, Yaroslavl becomes actual capital of the state and the centre, where a patriotic rising of the nation under the leadership of Minin and Pozharsky starts.

The XVII century is when the city reaches its fullest flourishing. In the end in this century one-sixth oof Russia’s reachist merchants lives in Yaroslavl. Most engineering is performed after great fire of 1658, being the reason for terrific architectural solidity of the city. Yaroslavl school of icon painting forms at that time as well.

The XVIII century is critical for the city, because since Saint Petersburg is built, Yaroslavl suffers economical reorientation from the trade to industrial centre – the trade rates via Arkhangelsk (the White sea port) slow down. The city slowly turns to a large administrative and cultural centre, In 1750 first Russian public theatre is opened in Yaroslavl. In the nineties of the same century an outstanding monument of the ancient Russian literature – “The Tale of Igor's Campaign” – is found in the city.

In the following century the city’s look is finally formed – today it look the same. Reconstruction of Yaroslavl’s historic centre is finished – boulevards replace ancient walls and ditches, the city becomes the railway crossroad. In 1918 an antiauthority riot starts, during crackdown of which many architectural monuments are damaged. Demolition of churches and cathedrals in the thirties of the XX century causes even more damage – among irrecoverable losses there are Uspensky cathedral church and building of the Demidov’s Lyceum, key elements of the city’s architectural ensemble.

However, many world-famous monuments escaped the demolition - Preobrazhensky cathedral of Spassky monastery, ensemble of the Tolgsky monastery and some other magnificant churches.

Yaroslavl state university opens in 1970. The city boasts four theatres, a concert hall and a symphony orchestra.