In 2024 Suzdal will celebrate its 1000th anniversary! The history of Suzdal is associated with the name of the great Russian princes: Vladimir Monomakh, Yuri Dolgoruky, Andrei Bogolyubsky, Vsevolod III and Yuri Vsevolodovich.
In the Tale of Bygone Years, the town is mentioned in 1024 in the form "Suzhdal", and apparently by that time it was already a fairly developed town.
In the 11th century, Suzdal was the patrimony of Vladimir Monomakh, thanks to whom it actively developed and soon became the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality.
The main attraction of Suzdal is its fortress-kremlin (and the Nativity Cathedral with blue domes with stars, which is visible from almost everywhere). From 3 sides, the town was protected by natural barriers (the steep bank of the Kamenka River and hills), and to strengthen the protection, earthen ramparts were erected, along which we can still walk enjoying the views!
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Even during his lifetime, Vladimir Monomakh transferred the Suzdal land to his son Yuri Dolgoruky, during whose reign temples and monasteries were built, the city was strengthened, and political influence was growing.
After the death of Yuri Dolgoruky, the property passes into the hands of his son, Andrei Bogolyubsky. At this time, the influence of Suzdal as the center of the principality was weakening, and it became part of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, the capital of which was the city of Vladimir.
And at the beginning of the 14th century, Suzdal was also the center of the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod principality. At that time, handicrafts were actively developing here. In Suzdal they even minted their own coins.
However, after the formation and strengthening of the Moscow Principality, the capital was moved to Moscow, and from that time the period of decline of Suzdal begins in history.
Since the 16th century, Suzdal has become one of the largest centers of Russian monasticism. Amazingly, during the time of Ivan the Terrible, there were as many as 11 monasteries in Suzdal! Only 5 have survived to this day, but for such a small city, this is also a lot!
Since 1922, Suzdal has become a tourist center of Russia and has been actively developing in this status to this day. Welcome to SUZDAL !
