Suzdal, a city with a 1,000-year history, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia. Building houses taller than three stories is prohibited here, so the city has retained its ancient charm – the entire city unfolds before your eyes from any viewpoint!
When Moscow was just a small fortress, Suzdal was already part of the Silk Road and served as the capital of a principality. The ancient kremlin, or fortress, still stands here, and it looks nothing like the one in Red Square. In earlier times, kremlins were created as island cities. They consisted of an earthen rampart with a wooden framework inside and a fortress built along a river, which served as extra protection. Today, the Suzdal Kremlin is a museum complex where visitors can explore the city's rich history.
Suzdal is also brimming with treasures: archaeologists frequently discover medieval coins, jewellery, and fragments of ancient wine amphorae here. You can also admire 13th-century frescoes in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, whose oldest bells date back to the time of Ivan the Terrible!
What other traditions does this city in Russia’s Golden Ring preserve? Find out in the latest episode of Inland Visions.
