Suzdal is a small city in the Vladimir region that is packed with interesting historical buildings, landscapes and museums. Here are ten places to visit if you're in town for a day or two.
Resurrection and Kazan churches
Suzdal is a city of monasteries and churches. In the very center of the city on the shopping square are the Kazan and Resurrection cathedral churches. Both were built in the beginning of the XVIII century in the traditional Russian style, and each has its own unusual details of design Kazanskaya, for example, is a metal crest on the ridge of the roof, Voskresenskaya - the dome of the bell tower.
shopping malls
Next to the main square are the shopping rows - a long gallery with arches and columns. The rows were built in the early 19th century, and trade is still going on here. Now they sell souvenirs, household items, antiques and even clothes. There is also an exhibition-fair of paintings by local artists and, of course, food stalls - guests of the city are advised to try mead, which is plentiful and different.
Pokrovsky Monastery
The women's monastery on the right bank of the Kamenka River was built in 1364 and for a long time was considered the largest in Russia. The main attraction of the monastery is the three-domed Pokrovsky Cathedral, but there are many more interesting historical buildings of different centuries on the territory.
Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery
The men's monastery on the left bank of the river, which from the outside resembles an ancient Russian fortress, is surrounded by brick walls with towers and loopholes. Now the monastery works as a museum complex. Here you can look at religious utensils, frescoes and ancient books of XII-XVII centuries, walk along the fortress wall and listen to the male Orthodox choir in the main cathedral.
Suzdal Kremlin
This is the oldest part of the city - the Kremlin was built in the X century. The earthen ramparts and fortress moats have survived to this day. There are several churches on the territory of the Kremlin. One of them, Nikolskaya, resembles a simple village hut. There is also a museum "Hierarch's Chambers", where you can look at ancient icons and paintings in the interiors of the XVIII century. You will also find a reconstruction of a zemstvo school and a provincial fair.
Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life
A large open-air museum: wooden buildings of the XVIII-XIX centuries, which were brought here from all over the Vladimir region. There are several wooden churches, dwelling houses, mills, wells, barns and more. You can enter many buildings and see how they were decorated.
Kamenka observation deck
There are several observation platforms along the river, offering beautiful views of the Old Russian city. One of the most successful ones is near the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery.
Elijah the Prophet Church
A small one-dome church on Ivanova Hill, which is clearly visible from both banks. Near the church there are apple orchards and a viewing platform with a view of the Kremlin. Now the church is closed, but anyone can admire the view.
Ilyinsky Meadow
A large, beautiful meadow near Ivan's Mountain. From here there is a wonderful view of the Church of Ilya the Prophet, the water, the Kremlin and the surrounding trees, and there are also lake gulls and many other birds living here. The Network advises wearing comfortable shoes and going here only in dry weather.
Shchurovo ancient settlement
Museum of living history, created on the basis of the sets for Pa Lungin's movie "Tsar", which was filmed here. For the filming they built a whole settlement here: huts, a barn, a blacksmith's shop and all the necessary buildings. Now you can immerse yourself in the life of a Russian village, shoot archery, ride a horse, attend master classes or simply enjoy a meal from a traditional Russian oven.
There are other interesting places in Suzdal that a traveler should definitely visit.