This article will focus on one of the most interesting cities of the Golden Ring. Five monastery complexes, one Kremlin, about 200 architectural monuments - this is a list of what you can see in Suzdal. And all these objects are compactly located on a tiny area of nine square kilometers. You can come here for a day or for the whole weekend, with or without children. It will be interesting in Suzdal to everyone!
Suzdal - the largest tourist center of Russia
Thousands of tourists, not only Russian, but also from other countries, flock to this amazing town every year. Suzdal is a real treasury of historical and architectural monuments, a venue for a dozen interesting festivals and events. Families with children from Moscow come here very often, because it is much better than once again leading their offspring to McDonald's. Here you will be served traditional dishes of Russian cuisine, and even treated to local mead. And the question "what to see in Suzdal with children" just does not arise. Sights in the city - more than enough!
A separate highlight of Suzdal is its nature. The surrounding area of the settlement is unusually picturesque: green pastures and meadows stretched smoothly in the ribbon of the Kamenka River stretch to the very horizon. And over all this beauty for centuries dominated by silence, measured and calm.
Suzdal is no less beautiful in winter. What to see here at this time? Roofs of old houses and hills, marked by white snow, look even more colorful. In addition, in winter it is even more pleasant to warm up in one of the local restaurants after exploring the main attractions of the town.
So, what should a tourist see in Suzdal? This will be discussed later.
Suzdal - a city with a thousand-year history
For the first time this village was mentioned back in 1024 in the famous work of Nestor's "Tale of Bygone Years". The name most likely comes from the Old Slavonic word "edify", which means "sculpt from clay."
The history of Suzdal is complicated and eventful. The city was destroyed several times (by the Volga Bulgars, Mongol-Tatars, Poles, Crimean Tatars), and in the middle of the XVII century half of its population was wiped out by the plague. At the beginning of the 18th century Suzdal was experiencing an economic upsurge, however, from the middle of the 19th it gradually turned into a typical provincial town (due to the fact that the railway bypassed the village side).
Soviet power at first began to destroy the temples of Suzdal (15 churches were destroyed in total), but then it caught on. In the 60s, a large museum and tourist complex was created here, work began on the restoration of architectural monuments. Today Suzdal is a city that lives solely on tourism and tourism infrastructure.
What to see in Suzdal in 1 day? Of course, any local will tell you that one day is not enough. And this is pure truth, even despite the fact that all interesting objects are located compactly here. But in our article, we still try to answer this question and make a list of attractions that you need to visit in the first place.
How to get to Suzdal?
Unfortunately, there is no train access to Suzdal. With the rest of the "world" the city is connected only by bus.
The most economical way to get from the capital to Suzdal is as follows. First you need to catch an electric train at the Kursk station and get to Vladimir. There you should catch a bus that goes directly to Suzdal. From the railway station in Vladimir, such buses leave every 30-40 minutes. In another 45 minutes you will already be in the ancient city of Opole.
There are direct bus services from Moscow to Suzdal (departing from the Shchelkovo bus station). However, their schedule should be clarified at the box office.
Suzdal: attractions. What to see first?
One day for a full acquaintance with this city, of course, is not enough. But if you can’t stay here for longer, then you should clearly limit the list of attractions that you need to see in the first place.
So, what to see in Suzdal in 1 day? Here is a list of the most interesting sites and monuments:
- Suzdal Kremlin.
- Rizopolozhensky monastery (the oldest in Russia).
- Monastery of Saint Euthymius.
- Pokrovsky monastery.
- The architectural ensemble of the Market Square (including the Shopping arcade).
- Museum of wooden architecture.
- Street Stromynka.
Another unique attraction of Suzdal belongs to the objects of intangible heritage. It is impossible to examine or feel. We are talking about the famous Suzdal bell ringing. Want to listen? Go to the Spaso-Euthymius Monastery.
Sights of Suzdal. What to see second?
If you arrived in the city for more than a day, then you will have time that you can spend on exploring not so popular among tourists, but no less interesting sights. So, what to see in Suzdal in 2 days?
First of all, it is worth going away from the crowds of visitors and visiting the outskirts of the city. It is here that you can see unique churches with concave tents that are no longer found anywhere in Russia.
An interesting and unforgettable trip can be on the picturesque banks of the Kamenka River. You can just walk along the streets of the city in search of artfully executed carved facades of wooden huts. A visit to the Zarechnaya side, an area where 9 ancient temples dating from the XVII-XVIII centuries are concentrated, will also be informative.
In the vicinity of Suzdal, the village of Korovniki is interesting, as well as Kideksha with the preserved church of pre-Mongol times.
Suzdal Kremlin
What to see in Suzdal first thing? Of course, the local Kremlin!
The Suzdal Kremlin is the number one object for almost all visiting tourists. It is surrounded on three sides by the Kamenka River, and on the fourth - an earthen rampart, poured back in the 11th century. You can visit the complex on any day except Tuesday, from 10 to 18 hours.
The compositional center of the Kremlin is the Nativity Cathedral, the oldest building in Suzdal (erected in 1222). True, since that time he has gone through several major overhauls. Inside the cathedral, unique wall paintings are preserved, and in its necropolis are the remains of representatives of the boyar and princely dynasties, dating back to the 12th century.
In addition to the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, the architectural complex of the Suzdal Kremlin includes a bell tower with chimes, Bishops' chambers and four temples of the 17th-18th centuries, one of which is wooden.
Lazarevskaya church
What to see in Suzdal, except the Kremlin? It is impossible to ignore the other temples of this historic city. At least three dozen churches have survived in Suzdal. And one of the most beautiful is the church of St. Lazarus, dated 1667. Perhaps, in the originality and splendor of the decor, she has no equal in all of Suzdal! And the bell tower of the Lazarevsky temple can be called the most recognizable in the entire district.
The masterpiece of white stone architecture has five domes, and the cornice of the church is decorated with a belt of tiles. By the way, this technique of decorating Orthodox churches was first applied here. On the east side, three low apse are attached to the church.
Shopping arcade
What to see in Suzdal yet? Having visited the Kremlin and numerous temples of the city, you can proceed to the examination of civil architectural monuments.
A unique building adorns the Trading Square in Suzdal. These are the so-called Trading Rows - the first empire-style building in the city. It was built at the beginning of the XIX century according to the project of the architect Alexei Vershinsky. In the center of the shopping arcade there are portal gates, which are crowned with a high gilded spire with the figure of a falcon at the top.
At one time, there were at least a hundred merchant shops, which were later rebuilt into shops. Today , tourists are very fond of strolling through the long arched galleries of this magnificent building.
Stromynka Street
An important historical monument of Suzdal is Stromynka Street, or the Stromynskaya Road - the oldest route that connected Moscow, Suzdal and Vladimir in the times of Ancient Rus.
This road was laid about 1000 years ago, when Moscow did not even exist. On this way, Prince Vladimir Monomakh traveled from Kiev to Rostov (this fact is mentioned in the "Precepts" for 1017). The road got its name in the 13th century thanks to the village of Stromyn through which it passed.
The road lost its importance after the construction of the Vladimir Way at the beginning of the 16th century. Stromynka street in Suzdal today repeats the direction of the ancient Stromyn road. By the way, a street with the same name exists in the capital.
Museum of Wooden Architecture
The Museum of Wooden Architecture is another object worth visiting. You can do this from 9:00 to 16:30. The complex is closed on Tuesdays.
Among the exhibits of the open-air museum are two wooden churches of the 18th century, several old manors, houses, wells, a bathhouse and a barn. The real decoration of the park are wooden tent mills (XVIII century), transported here from the village of Moshok.
In addition, every year, in the middle of summer, a cheerful and noisy festival is held at the Museum of Wooden Architecture - Cucumber Day. The holiday is accompanied by mini-performances and performances, fairs and contests, as well as a tasting of various cucumber dishes.
Conclusion
Here he is - handsome Suzdal. Sights (what to see in this city, we, albeit briefly, told you) it is worth it to visit one of the historical centers of the Russian land at least once in a lifetime. Where to go with the whole family? What to see with children in Suzdal? These questions certainly worry many travelers. Judging by the reviews of tourists who have been here, there can be a lot of answers to them.
And all because Suzdal is a city in which the soul rests! And this statement is more than fair. After all, there is everything that a tourist and a traveler need: a rich history, numerous architectural monuments, temples, theme festivals, delicious food and various souvenirs.
What to see in Suzdal in one day? First of all, of course, the famous Suzdal Kremlin, numerous temples and monasteries, old wooden houses, a museum of wooden architecture, a complex of shopping arcades. It is not superfluous to also walk along the banks of the Kamenka River and the picturesque surroundings.