Known as Pereyaslavl until the 15th century, it was founded in 1152 by Prince Yury Dolgoruky as a projected capital of Zalesye.
Pereslavl-Zalessky is located in south of Yaroslavl Oblast, near a border with Moscow Oblast, 140 kilometres (87 mi) northeast of Moscow, and 139 kilometres (86 mi) southwest of Yaroslavl.