Russia is a huge country with a centuries-old and very interesting history. Thousands of tourists and pilgrims visit it annually. And the route includes eight main points. This is the Golden Ring of Russia: the cities of Suzdal, Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov the Great, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo and Vladimir. Each of them is unique and unusual in its own way. Today we will meet the first representative.
At the very source
Suzdal is located in the Vladimir region. He is the administrative center, standing on the banks of the Kamenka River. The city is surrounded by greenery, it is characterized by serenity and cleanliness. Here you can truly enjoy the picturesque views of great Russia, which the poets sang.
The history of Suzdal begins in the tenth century, as archaeologists and other scientists suggest. However, the first mentions in the annals appear only in the next century.
First entry: "Suzdal, year 1024." The city suffered a severe drought, which led to crop failure and famine. In already Orthodox Russia, loyal worshipers of idols - pagans - still remained here. They took the problem of lack of food as a sign and raised a rebellion, showing their dissatisfaction with the departure from the faith.
To solve the internal problem, the Grand Duke of Kiev himself arrived - Yaroslav the Wise. He did not begin to kindle the fire of hostility and, as always, acted deliberately and rationally. Just bought a lot of bread and distributed to the population. The problem was resolved; there was no reason for further unrest.
This is not to say that the history of Suzdal was simple: epidemics, fires, ruins, captured by enemy nations. However, he retained his best features and today happily reveals them to tourists.
Sights of Suzdal
The first interest in the city appeared in the seventies. Tourists gathered here, admiring and marveling at a beautiful picturesque place. After all, Suzdal has attractions that can be called primitive, historically valuable.
Today the city has become a huge museum, reserve, a real treasury of Russia.
Another distinguishing feature is the holidays. The authorities, entrepreneurs and museum workers of the city made a lot of efforts, but achieved incredible success.
Pancake week, Christmas, craft festival, cartoon festival, Indian summer are the days when thousands of tourists come to it, not only from Russia but also from far abroad.
This is an amazing place, visiting which once, I want to return again and again.
Below we will get acquainted with the museums, monasteries and churches of Suzdal.
Museum of Living History: "Shchurovo Gorodishche"
This is a modern monument of antiquity appeared not so long ago. After the shooting of the historical film, which took place on the territory of the city, the scenery remained. Based on them, a museum was created.
Various buildings, residential and household, reflect the life of the first settlers. They reveal the history of the time when people lived, doing needlework, pottery, worked in forges and baked bread in their ovens. Visitors can not easily plunge into the world of the past, not only see how everything could look, but also experience life.
Managers offer to try their hand at working with weapons, engage in agriculture, get acquainted with animals. The pens broken in the territory are not empty, there are horses and livestock here.
In general, the Golden Ring of Russia - Suzdal in particular - allows you to plunge into an amazing world that attracts many tourists.
In this, by the way, the presented museum also helps. Moreover, on a vast territory in a hectare, folklore events and various mass celebrations can be held.
Museum of Wooden Architecture
Wherever tourists go in the city, they will fall into the past, which has kept its secrets for contemporaries. Museums of Suzdal were created with a love of history, their ancestors, and every detail carries an atmosphere of good.
To get acquainted with the life of Russian peasants and see the real buildings of the past - that's why many tourists come here.
The Museum of Wooden Architecture has preserved presents truly unique things. For example, huts of peasants, two-story houses of that period. Here you can see how the poorest segments of the population, the middle class and wealthy people lived.
More recently, the exposition was replenished with a real mill, which was brought from another area. Almost all the buildings are collected in different parts of the country, but they all perfectly reflect the true history and life.
The Wax Museum
On the Kremlin street you can see an unremarkable building of the nineteenth century, but its contents are fascinating and even slightly scary. The wax figures of famous political and cultural figures, frozen in various poses, look so realistic that it seems: take a closer look and see how they breathe.
This material is not accidentally selected to create three-dimensional models. The use of wax began in ancient times. For witchcraft, processing mummies, protecting paintings from external influences. Over time, he became a material for creativity. In Rome, it was popular to make masks on the faces of living or dead people, who subsequently exhibited in houses.
Our contemporaries took a step further. Today, the city of Suzdal stores wax figures that are not just similar to their originals. They are immersed in the small world of celebrities. Special clothes, interiors, decorations - all this makes the images complete.
Posadsky house
A variety of monasteries of Suzdal are popular with tourists. On the territory of one of them, Spaso-Efremovsky, the Posadsky house is located.
It differs from other structures of the city. Elongated sharp back roof, carved shutters. The house is made like its wooden counterparts, but its main material is stone. This happened due to historical events. Residents of the city, engaged in trade, gradually began to grow rich and build more reliable and expensive houses.
The building became a museum only in the seventies. Today, the interior creates the impression that they still live in the house, and the owner only temporarily absented.
The interior has preserved such furniture details as built-in benches, carved tables, cabinets covered with oil paint.
It can be seen that the museums of Suzdal are distinguished by historical notes. Those who want to get acquainted with the life and living conditions of the 9-11th century will be able to get a lot of impressions and touch the history.
Suzdal Kremlin
Many buildings of the city are rooted in antiquity. Suzdal has kept its lively and interesting history. Sights hide it in themselves and pass it on to a new generation. One such place is the Kremlin.
In its present place many centuries ago a city was born. There is no known date for the first settlements. Various scientists and archaeologists put forward versions about the appearance of buildings in the 10th or 12th century.
If you have chosen the Golden Ring of Russia for a tourist trip, Suzdal should definitely be included in your itinerary.
Its Kremlin has many historical exhibits that attract the attention of visitors and arouse keen interest. The Nativity Cathedral, the Assumption Church in the Prince's Court, the St. Nicholas Church - all this is located on its territory.
Here you can get acquainted with the activities of famous people, see the treasures of churches, a variety of paintings and handmade objects.
Michali District
Curious researchers will never pass by this fascinating place. Mikhali is a settlement that stands apart from the city and lives its own life. It is considered a separate village, which can be reached on foot or by transport.
The Golden Ring of Russia: Suzdal, Mikhali - this place is fraught with a lot of discoveries and secrets that attract tourists from all over the world.
A unique church that has preserved the pseudo-Russian style of St. Alexander Nevsky. The walls are made of bricks, and the architectural layout is created in such a way that the building as a whole resembles a cross. A striking difference is the abundance of platbands, kokoshniks, patterns, columns.
In Soviet times, the church escaped the fate of many people like themselves; it was not made a warehouse or a village club. All this time she was empty. Perhaps that is why it retained its primacy.
Spaso-Euthymius Monastery
The northern part of the city, the left bank - here is another famous place. The Transfiguration Monastery was once renamed the Euthymius Monastery. That was the name of the first abbot.
Initially, the buildings were made of wood, but to this day they have not reached. Today, tourists can watch the architectural structures created in the early 17th century. The construction of such white-stone churches required a lot of funds, which were collected by the efforts of the nobility.
The monasteries of Suzdal keep many cathedrals. One of the most noteworthy is the Transfiguration of the Savior.
Once it was one of the best fortresses in Vladimir land. The monastery is surrounded by a huge stone wall, the height of which is more than a thousand meters. Twelve towers with loopholes. They are noticeable from afar and clearly stand out from the general background.
Pokrovsky convent
In addition to museum objects, the city of Suzdal has places that work to this day. For example, the existing convent, called Pokrovsky.
It appeared in 1936, and the peak of prosperity came during the reign of Basil III. At the beginning of the fifteenth century, everything in it underwent a complete reconstruction by order of the king. So the Cathedral of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Gate Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared.
The novice of the monastery was the king’s wife, who for many years of marriage could not give the country an heir. Even the rulers could not divorce in those days. Rather, even such a concept did not exist. That is why, by the order of her husband, Solomonia passed the tonsure and became a novice Sofia. From this moment she did not leave the cloister. And after death, her body rested in the church.
Alexander Monastery
Tourists who are interested in the Golden Ring of Russia visit Suzdal to get acquainted with architecture, culture, history.
One of the monuments is the Alexander Monastery, whose roots are in the depths of history. Alexander Nevsky, setting off on a campaign against the Germans, instructed to build a monastery in Suzdal, which would be a gift to his guardian angel.
In the 14th century, this building was under the wing of Moscow princes and was called the Great Lavra.
In the 16th century, the monastery was attacked by Poles, part of it burned down. The abbess filed a petition with the king asking him to build a new church building. Her words were heard and a letter came in response.
The churches of Suzdal are amazing historical monuments, each visit of which reveals something new.
A variety of architectural styles, historical details. Here everyone can find something interesting.
Rizopolozhensky monastery
Many unusual and attractive places are fraught with Russia. Suzdal was no exception. The Rizopolozhensky monastery was founded in the 12th century, at the crossroads of roads. One of his stories is connected with Euphrosyne of Suzdal, which is attributed to the face of saints, pilgrims come to her relics.
She was supposed to be married in a monastery, but the groom died right on the wedding day. Euphrosyne stayed and took the tonsure.
Suzdal offers amazing scenic views and many historical details to tourists. Here you can plunge into the atmosphere of antiquity and breathe in the aromas of the past.
The Golden Ring of Russia: the cities of Suzdal, Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov the Great - is only part of what the country is famous for, although it is quite bright and memorable.