Russian wooden architecture: a museum in Suzdal

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

Do you want to visit the past? There is nothing easier - pack your bags and go to Suzdal. This is a unique city in which there are more historical monuments of architecture than modern buildings. If you are most interested in Russian wooden architecture, the open-air museum of the same name is a must-see.

History of Creation

On the picturesque bank of the Kamenka River (the outskirts of Suzdal) before the revolution there were two churches: Georgievsky and Dmitrovsky. Both buildings did not survive, and in 1960 there was an ownerless wasteland in their place. The decision to create an open-air exposition was made in 1968. The authors of the idea wanted not just to build a "tourist" town in Russian traditions, but to recreate the traditional village for our country as accurately as possible, using original buildings. It took some time to find the exhibits. In total, more than 60 settlements in the region were visited and as many as 38 buildings suitable for the museum were found. Of these wereselected and subsequently transported to the prepared area 11 buildings. Very soon, unique houses, cut down without a single nail, began to appear on the outskirts of Suzdal, and the Museum of Wooden Architecture began to receive guests.

Russian village as it is

In order to get into the territory, tourists are invited to go through a hut with a high porch - this is the ticket office. "Wooden Architecture" is a museum covering 4.2 hectares, where you can see as many as 18 architectural monuments of the 18th-19th 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 village life of past centuries. In many buildings, the interior has been recreated, you can see the characteristic furniture and household items.

Religious objects

There are two temples and one chapel on the territory of the museum. The Church of the Resurrection with a bell tower dates back to the 18th century. It was built in 1776 in the village of Patakino at the expense of parishioners. The temple was a cemetery, until the beginning of 1930, festive services were held in it, and the dead were also buried. Later the church was closed, in 1970 it was moved to the territory of the museum. After a major restoration and interior design, the altar was consecrated in 2008. The Church of the Transfiguration was brought to the Suzdal Museum of Wooden Architecture from the villageKozlyatyevo, Pokrovsky district. The construction was carried out at the expense of the landowner Feodosia Nikitichna Polivanova. The temple has three tiers, two side aisles and an exquisite porch. The building dates from 1756 and was transferred to the museum in 1965. An interesting fact: on June 21, 2011, lightning struck the cross of the church twice, restoration work returned the temple to its original appearance by December 2011. A small chapel was transferred to the 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-class peasants, we althy and merchants. The we alth of the family can be determined by the presence of "urban" household items in the interior - a sewing machine, a kerosene lamp, chairs and a bed instead of the usual benches and horses. Often, we althy peasants set up workshops on the ground floor of their dwellings. The Museum of Wooden Architecture in Suzdal clearly shows, using the example of the house of a we althy merchant from the village of Log, how it was possible to organize a weaving room. The life of middle-class peasants is much easier to organize. This is furniture chopped together with a hut and a minimum amount of movable, simple ceramics and a small amount of purchased items: a mirror and a samovar.

Windmills, wheel well and other buildings

OnOn the outskirts of the "village" there are two windmills. Initially, they were erected in the village of Moshok. Inside the windmills, a traditional interior is recreated based on the stories of 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 at all difficult to understand the principle of operation of these structures. Another interesting building is the “stepping” well. And this is also not a reconstruction, but the original, brought from the village of Koltsovo. In order to raise the water, a person went inside the big wheel and stepped on special steps, spinning the mechanism. Water was collected in two large containers. "Wooden Architecture" is a museum reflecting the life and culture of our ancestors. There is also a bathhouse, a carpenter's workshop, barns on its territory. During the tour, you can see an old cart, samples of keys and locks from 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 each month. A visit is paid, an adult ticket costs 200 rubles (passage to the territory and inspection of the interiors), there are discounts for children, schoolchildren, students and pensioners. Like many other open-air museums of wooden architecture, Suzdal invites everyone to folk holidays and mass celebrations. The most interesting events are Cucumber Day, Maslenitsa and Holy Trinity.