In Suzdal there are no tall buildings to preserve the architecture of the old Russian town. They are prohibited. The air is very clean in Suzdal as there are no factories there.
Perhaps, this town is a perfect place to understand and get to know Russia better. It can seem to you that it is possible to meet the real epic heroes from Russian folk tales in Suzdal.
Suzdal is “an open air museum”. Many of the monasteries of Suzdal are located on the banks of the Kamenka river, that is why these places are very perfect.
In the XII century during the reign of Yuri Dolgoruky Suzdal was the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal Principality, but then the capital was moved to Vladimir. The name of the Principality was substituted for the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality.
Since XIII century Suzdal was the capital of an independent Principality. At the beginning of XIV century the city became the capital of the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod Principality. In 1392 it formed part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow and gradually lost its former importance.
Sights of Suzdal
In this article it is not possible to post about All sights of the town. Here we’ll write only about the main attractions of Suzdal.
The Suzdal Kremlin
The Suzdal Kremlin is the oldest part of the town. It dates back to the 10th century. But the wooden walls and towers of the Kremlin – built in XI-XII centuries – have not been survived. You can only see the earthworks of an ancient fortress. The Kremlin and the buildings surrounding it, were constantly being rebuilt many times. Now on the territory of the Suzdal Kremlin you can see the Monastery of Our Saviour & St. Euthymius and the Cathedral of the Nativity (XIII century) the Convent of the Intercession.
In the pictures you can see the Cathedral of the Nativity before restoration. Now the Cathedral has its blue domes with bright stars.
The Suzdal Kremlin. The Cathedral of the Nativity
The Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery
In Suzdal not far from the Kremlin there is the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery, it was founded in the middle of the XIV century. The monastery is surrounded by walls with twelve towers.
The complex was planed to be a fortress, that is why there are lots of domestic buildings there. All these buildings give an idea of the past.
In the monastery there are frescoes by Gury Nikitin and Sila Savin. In XVII century the artists painted these beautiful frescoes.
Divine Frescos of the Monastery
The Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery was one of the most famous men’s monasteries in Russia. Now the Monastery is a Museum. It is open to public.
Five times a day you can listen to ring chimes from the monastery’s belfry.
The Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery in Suzdal, the Monastery Bell-tower into the Sunset
The Museum of Wooden Masterpieces, Suzdal
If you have no time to vizit Kizhi (link), You can see some pieces of Russian wooden architecture in Suzdal. from different places wooden Churches, mills, Russian houses and other wooden constructions were brought in the town.
Wooden Church of the Transfiguration/ transformation/ (village Kozl’ayt’evo), 1756 year. This church has a tiered structure.
Church of the Transfiguration (in back sunshine lighting)
In some Russian huts domestic chores of the peasants are recreated.
Russian Wooden Hut, 1861
Alexandrovsky Monastery
The monastery is situated on the bank of the Kamenka river. According to a legend, the monastery was founded by Prince Alexander Nevsky in 1240. However, the buildings that we see today were erected in the XVII century with the money from the Russian tsarina Natalia Kirillovna (mother of Peter the Great).
In Suzdal there are over 30 monasteries and churches. But here in this article there is info only about a few ones.
Suzdal Mead
Suzdal Mead is one of the most famous ancient alcoholic drinks. Just imagine that lots of gourmets visit Suzdal just only to taste this Suzdal mead drink!
In Suzdal there are special “secret” recipes for this drink: it is made with honey, with lots of berries, spices or herbs to give different special flavours to the drink.
Drink the Mead, but not much indeed! It may seem to you that the drink is mild – no alcohol in it, but it is not true – it contains alcohol!
Night in Suzdal
If you stay in Suzdal for a night – you will be able to enjoy the charm of the ancient town. You can walk along the streets of the town, which is in the rays of the sun. You’ll see that the sun is tinting the walls of ancient monasteries and churches with different shades of white. Take a stroll along the banks of the Kamenka river, enjoy the river coolness, breathe the fresh air and admire the reflection of the sun in the river water.
You can Book a hotel in Suzdal here .
Visit Suzdal for sure!
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To discover Russia with Alexey Gureev