Suzdal kremlin

Suzdal kremlin Review

The Suzdal kremlin, which may have first been built in the 10th century, sits on an earthen rampart, with the Kamenka River flowing around all but the east side (demarcated by ulitsa Lenina). The dominant monument in the kremlin (and indeed the town) is the mid-13th-century Sobor Rozhdestva Bogorodnitsy (Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin), topped by deep-blue cupolas festooned with golden stars.

Original limestone carvings can still be found on its corners and on its facade. Its exquisite bronze entry doors are the oldest such doors in Russia, having survived since the 13th century. Inside, the brilliant and colorful frescoes dating from the 1230s and 1630s are without compare.

The long, white, L-shaped three-story building that the cathedral towers over is the Archbishop's Chambers. Behind its broad windows you'll find the superb "cross chamber" (named for its shape), which is a large hall without any supporting pillars—the first hall of its type in all Russia. The kremlin also holds museums of antique books and art.