White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal (1992)
Russia

Владимиро-Суздальское княжество (Vladimir-Suzdal Principality)

Владимирско-Суздальская Русь (Vladimir-Suzdal Grand Duchy)

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These two artistic centres in central Russia hold an important place in the country's architectural history. There are a number of magnificent 12th- and 13th-century public and religious buildings, above all the masterpieces of the Collegiate Church of St Demetrios and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin. 

Vladimir is the capital of Vladimir Oblast, western Russia, on the Klyaz’ma River. Among the many notable structures here are Uspensky (Assumption) Cathedral (1158-61); the Golden Gate (1164), a former city gate; and several old monasteries.  The city is the site of a museum of history and religious antiquities, an art gallery, and a teachers college. Founded in 1108, Vladimir was the capital of Vladimir-Suzdal (the leading Russian state after the dissolution of Kievan Rus) from 1157 to 1238, when the city was destroyed by the Tatars. Moscow, emerging as a powerful state, acquired Vladimir in 1364.

• Russia 1992 and 1993. Definitive stamps. Golden Gate in Vladimir, 10k and 150 rubles, respectively. These issues are interesting, because they show something about the skyrocketing inflation rate in Russia during the early 1990s, immediately after the fall of communism. 
• Russia 1958. Golden Gate in Vladimir. 

Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, Vladimir-Suzdal Grand Duchy or Vladimir-Suzdal Rus, was a major principality which succeeded Kievan Rus as the most powerful East Slavic state in the late 12th century and lasted until the late 14th Traditionally perceived as a cradle of the Great Russian Language and nationality, Vladimir-Suzdal gradually evolved into the Grand Princedom of Muscowy (the latter giving name to the city of Moscow). 

Vladimir Monomakh, on securing his rights to the principality in 1093, moved the capital from Rostov to Suzdal. in 1104 he founded the town of Vladimir on the Klyazma River, 31 km south of Suzdal. His son Yuri Dolgoriky [George I The Long-Armed] moved the princely seat to Vladimir in 1157. The boyars of Rostov and Suzdal, however, were reluctant to concede supremacy, and a brief civil war followed. 

• Russia 2003. Vladimir Monomakh (1053-1125). 
• Russia 1995. Yuri Dolgoriky (1090-1157). 

In the mid-12th century, when Southern lands of Rus were systematically raided by Turkic nomads, their population started to migrate northward. In the formerly wooded areas, known as Zalesye, many new settlements were established. The foundations of Pereslavl, Kostroma, Dmitrov, Moscow, Yuriev-Polsky, Uglich, and Tver, were assigned (either by chronicle or popular legend) to George I, whose sobriquet alludes to his dexterity in manipulating politics of far-away Kiev. 

• Russia 1977. Art and Tourism. 
  • Vladimir, Olympic emblem over stone carving (fragment of St. Dmitry Cathedral) and arms of Vladimir. 
  • Leo-Tiger carving, St. Dmitry Cathedral (Vladimir). The cathedral is made of carved white stone, and was built in 1194-1197 by Vladimir Prince Vsevolod in honour if his newborn son, Dmitry. 
  • Vladimir, Hotel “Vladimir” and bridge over the river Klyazma. 

In 1238 the Mongol hordes under Batu Khan invaded Vladimir in what is known today as the Mongol Invasion of Russia, and burnt the city to the ground. 

• Russia 1995. Alexander Nevsky (1220-1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir. 

By the end of the century, only three cities -- Moscow, Tver, and Nizhny Novgorod -- still contended for the grand princely title. Their rulers, once installed as grand princes of Vladimir, didn't even bother to leave their capital city and to settle permanently in Vladimir. When the metropolitan of all Rus moved his chair from Vladimir to Moscow in 1321, it became pretty evident that the principality of Muscovy effectively succeeded Vladimir as the chief centre of power in North-Eastern Rus.

The Pearl of the Golden Ring, Suzdal, lies 198 km (128 miles) from Moscow. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, first mentioned in the chronicles in 1024. In the 12th century, under Yuri Dolgoruky, the town was the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal Principality. Later, when the capital moved to Vladimir, it remained important. 

• Russia 1977. Art and Tourism.  
  • Detail of Golden Gate from Nativity Cathedral (Suzdal), 13th century
  • Carving (fragment of “Golden Gate” of Nativity Cathedral) and arms of Suzdal. 
  • Suzdal, tourist complex and Pozharsky monument  Dmitry Pozharsky was the leader of the Russian army during the Polish invasion of 1610-12. 

In the 19th century, when a railroad was built between Moscow and Nizhni Novgorod, it passed Suzdal by. The town avoided becoming an industrial center and kept its original image intact. There are over 100 architectural monuments of the 13th to 19th centuries, crowded into a small area of only 9 sq.km (3.5 sq.miles). Suzdal is a unique museum town, and in 1983, it received the Golden Apple Prize, which is awarded by an international jury for the preservation of ocal colour and for the excellence of its tourist facilities. 

To take it all in, to breathe the atmosphere of days long gone, climb the steep bank of the Kamenka river in front of the Convent of the Intercession. You'll never forget the panorama of Suzdal. Naturally, your impressions will last longer fortified with a glass or two of Medovukha, an alcoholic beverage made with honey only in Suzdal. 

Sources and links:

• Microsoft Encarta 2002. 
• Insight Moscow. ISBN 9-62421-277-5.
• Wikipedia - Vladimir-Suzdal.
• Welcome to Vladimir - Official Vladimir City Website 
• Vladimir - Suzdal Museum - Reserve 

Other World Heritage Sites in Russia (on this web site). Inactive links are not described on stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Russia-section, for further information on such sites.