It was founded by Yury Dolgoruky in 1152.[citation needed] First part of its name derives from Yury's patron saint, St. George. The second part is derived from the word polsky meaning "in the fields". This specification was needed in order to distinguish the town from the earlier established fortress of Yuryev (nowadays Tartu), at the time located in the woods in what is now Estonia and then the biggest Russian settlement in the territory of the Chuds.
Upon Vsevolod III's death in 1212, the town was assigned to one of his youngest sons, Svyatoslav. It was that prince who personally designed the town's chief landmark, the Cathedral of St. George (1230–1234). It is the latest pre-Mongol construction in Russia, unprecedented in abundance of stone sculptures, and also the model for first stone churches in the Moscow Kremlin. In the 1460s, the cathedral's dome collapsed, thus burying most of unique sculptures which had adorned the cathedral walls. The collapsed roof was sloppily restored by a well-known Muscovite artisan, Vasili Yermolin, in 1471.
St. George's Cathedral (1230-1234) was the last stone church built in Russia before the Mongol invasion
Администрация Владимирской области. Постановление №433 от 13 июня 2007 г. «О реестре административно-территориальных образований и единиц Владимирской области», в ред. Постановления №169 от 5 марта 2015 г. «О внесении изменения в Постановление Губернатора области от 13.06.2007 №433 "О реестре административно-территориальных образований и единиц Владимирской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Владимирские ведомости", №114, 20 июня 2007 г. (Administration of Vladimir Oblast. Resolution #433 of June 13, 2007 On the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Formations and Units of Vladimir Oblast, as amended by the Resolution #169 of March 5, 2015 On Amending Resolution #433 of the Oblast Governor of June 13, 2007 "On the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Formations and Units of Vladimir Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
Законодательное Собрание Владимирской области. Закон №55-ОЗ от 11 мая 2005 г. «О наделении Юрьев-Польского района и вновь образованных муниципальных образований, входящих в его состав, соответствующим статусом муниципальных образований и установлении их границ», в ред. Закона №54-ОЗ от 14 июня 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Приложение 8-1 к Закону Владимирской области "О наделении Юрьев-Польского района и вновь образованных муниципальных образований, входящих в его состав, соответствующим статусом муниципальных образований и установлении их границ"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования (17 мая 2005 г.). Опубликован: "Владимирские ведомости", №156–157, 17 мая 2005 г. (Legislative Assembly of Vladimir Oblast. Law #55-OZ of May 11, 2005 On Granting Yuryev-Polsky District and the Newly Established Municipal Formations It Comprises an Appropriate Status of the Municipal Formations and on Establishing Their Borders, as amended by the Law #54-OZ of June 14, 2012 On Amending Appendix 8-1 to the Law of Vladimir Oblast "On Granting Yuryev-Polsky District and the Newly Established Municipal Formations It Comprises an Appropriate Status of the Municipal Formations and on Establishing Their Borders". Effective as of the day of the official publication (May 17, 2005).).
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