Do you want to visit the past? There is nothing easier - collect your bags and go to Suzdal. It is a unique city in which historical monuments of architecture are larger than modern buildings. If most of all you are interested in Russian wooden architecture, a museum with the same name under the open sky is required for a visit.
History of creation
On the picturesque bank of the Kamenka River (the outskirts of Suzdal), before the revolution there were two churches: St. George and Dmitrovsky. Both buildings were not preserved, and in 1960 in their place was an abandoned wasteland. The decision to create an outdoor exhibition was made in 1968. The authors of the idea wanted not only to build a "tourist" town in Russian traditions, but as accurately as possible to recreate a traditional village for our country, using original structures. The search for exhibits took some time. In total, more than 60 settlements in the region were visited and as many as 38 buildings were found suitable for the museum. Of these, 11 buildings were selected and subsequently transported to the prepared territory. Very soon, on the outskirts of Suzdal, unique houses began to appear, cut down without a single nail, and the Museum of Wooden Architecture began to receive guests.
Russian Village as it is
In order to get to the territory, tourists are invited to go through a hut with a high porch - this is the ticket office. "Wooden architecture" is a museum occupying 4,2 hectares, in which you can see as many as 18 monuments of architecture of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Different types and purposes. Two churches, windmills and houses of representatives of different social classes, as well as outbuildings and much more. The creators of the museum wanted to show visitors not only architectural forms, but also to acquaint them with the rural life of the past centuries. In many buildings, the interior is recreated, you can see the characteristic furniture and household items.
Religious objects
On the territory of the museum there are two churches and one chapel. The Resurrection Church with the bell tower dates from the 18th century. It was built in 1776 in the village of Patakino at the expense of the parishioners. The temple was a graveyard, until the beginning of 1930 it was celebratory services, as well as the burial service of the deceased. Later the church was closed, in 1970 it was transported to the museum. After the capital restoration and interior decoration, the altar was consecrated in 2008. The Transfiguration Church was brought to the Suzdal Museum of Wooden Architecture from the village of Kozlyatyevo in the Pokrovsky Uyezd. The construction was conducted with the help of the landlord Theodosia Nikitichna Polivanova. The temple has three tiers, two side aisles and an elegant porch. The building dates back to 1756, was moved to the museum in 1965. Interesting fact: on June 21, 2011, lightning struck twice in the cross of the church, the restoration work restored the original form to the temple by December 2011. A small chapel was transported to a museum from the village of Bedrino, this is a typical example of buildings of this type for its period.
Where did our ancestors live?
Social stratification was typical for all settlements of our country. And this is clearly demonstrated by "Wooden Architecture" - a museum that allows you to look at the interiors of our ancestors. In the exposition there are houses of middle-income peasants, wealthy and merchants. The family can be identified by the presence in the interior of "urban" household items - a sewing machine, a kerosene lamp, chairs and a bed instead of the usual shops and conics. Often well-off peasants arranged workshops on the ground floor of their dwelling. The Museum of Wooden Architecture in Suzdal clearly illustrates the example of the home of a wealthy merchant from the village of Log, how it was possible to organize a weaving light. Much easier is organized the way of life of middle-income peasants. This is chopped together with hut furniture and a minimum amount of mobile, simple ceramics and a small number of purchased products: a mirror and a samovar.
Windmills, wheel well and other buildings
On the outskirts of the village there are two windmills. Originally they were erected in the village of Moshok. Inside the windmills, the traditional interior is recreated according to the stories of the old-timers and works of art. The exposition of the museum includes a wooden scale model of the mill in the section, looking at it, it is not difficult to understand the principle of operation of these structures. Another interesting construction is the "stupal" well. And this is also not a reconstruction, but the original brought from the village of Koltsovo. In order to raise the water, a man entered the large wheel and stepped on special steps, unrolling the mechanism. Water was recruited into two large tanks. "Wooden architecture" is a museum reflecting the life and culture of our ancestors. There is also a bathhouse, carpenter's workshop, barns on its territory. During the tour you can see an old cart, samples of keys and locks of that period and many other interesting antiques.
Museum of wooden architecture today
Today, the exposition is open for tourist visits daily from 9.00 to 19.00. Sanitary day is the last Wednesday of every month. The visit is paid, the adult ticket costs 200 rubles (passage to the territory and examination of the interiors), there are discounts for children, schoolchildren, students and pensioners. Like many other museums of wooden architecture in the open, Suzdal invites everyone to attend national holidays and mass festivities. The most interesting events are "Cucumber Day", Maslenitsa and Holy Trinity festival .