The first settlement in the place of modern Suzdal appeared in IX or X century, but the town is first mentioned in ancient record in 1024 in connection with the rebellion of smerds that was suppressed by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. During the reign of Vladimir II Monomakh, the town becomes a strengthened fortress. The son of Monomakh, Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy (Long-Arm), makes Suzdal a capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality. During the reign of Andrey Bogolyubsky, a capital moved to a town of Vladimir, but the development of Suzdal continued, even after Mongol-Tatar invasions. In the end of XIV century, the town obeyed to Moscow, and since that time Suzdal never again participated in important political events. From that time, its role was to be a rich trade and craft town and a center of regional Orthodox Church. The city development plan in 1778 was not fulfilled, so the town preserved its original planning. In the area of 9 square kilometers, there are about 300 historical and architectural monuments, many of which are included into UNESCO World Heritage Site as the White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal. The town is a famous center of art crafts: iconography, silver stamping, wood carving and gold embroidery. It is also famous for production of medovukha (Slavic honey-based alcoholic beverage)

Top sights in Suzdal

The architectural complex of the Monastery of Saint Euthymius is a UNESCO world heritage site, its ensemble is part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-reserve. The Monastery was founded in 1352 in the city of Suzdal, Vladimir region, as a fortress for protection from enemy attacks. The original wooden buildings did not survive, the current design of the monastery ensemble was formed in the XVI-XVII centuries. The monastery was built on money of the nobility. The major investments were made by Vasili III of Russia, tsar Ivan the Terrible, Pozharsky princes. The main cathedral in the monastery is the five - domed Transfiguration Cathedral, the oldest building in the ensemble. On the facades of the Cathedral restorers have found the XVI century frescoes and paintings of Gury Nikitin and Sila Savin, known masters of the XVII century. In 1766 a prison was organized in the monastery. In Soviet times the building of the prison was used as a prison of special purpose and an infamous prison for political prisoners. Now there are exhibitions, facility and ancillary services in the Monastery buildings. The restored bells are ringing several times a day all over the country on the monastery's belfry.
Monastery of Saint Euthymius

The architectural complex of the Monastery of Saint Euthymius is a UNESCO world heritage site, its ensemble is part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-reserve. The Monastery was founded in 1352 in the…

The history of Museum of wooden architecture and peasant life in Suzdal started in 1960's. The Museum was placed on the banks of Kamenka river in the outskirts of Suzdal, on the site of unpreserved Demetrius monastery (XI century). From different villages of Suzdal region were brought here preserved wooden buildings: churches, residential houses and outbuildings. It turned out to be a kind of village, where was concentrated all that was preserved from the XVIII-XIX centuries, that was not destroyed by fire, not demolished or broken during hard times. Among the exhibits stand out the Transfiguration and the Resurrection Churches. They are typical for that time samples of wooden temple architecture, common to villages throughout the region. The museum history started from transferring the Church of St. Nicholas, that stands outside museum territory. The Museum territory includes the house of Agapov merchants housing the exposition
Museum Of Wooden Architecture

The history of Museum of wooden architecture and peasant life in Suzdal started in 1960's. The Museum was placed on the banks of Kamenka river in the outskirts of Suzdal, on the site of unpreserved…