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Start: Vladimir, Russia
End: Suzdal, Russia
Distance: 47.5km
Elevation Gain: 1248ft
Elevation Loss: 1262ft
Time: 4h17m
Reading Material:Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II, 1941-1944 – Anna Reid
Audio Material: Diane Rehm Friday News Roundups

Description
A quick jaunt from Vladimir to Suzdal with a detour to Bogolyubovo.

Bogolyubovo is only 10km from Vladimir but legend has it that Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky’s horses returning from battle refused to keep going, so the Prince had to stay the night. While stopped along the Nerl river, he saw a vision instructing him to build a church, resulting in the creation of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl.

Vision or not, it really is a splendid place for a church. The Nerl meanders through marsh (flooding earlier in the spring) and the simple structure rises up from the water. Even better, you have to walk a good 1km on foot to reach the church which really adds to the magic.

I also visited the large Holy Bogolyubovo Monastery. Lots of Sunday activity but nearly everywhere I turned, a sister ordered me to head the other direction. The bike suit is not so good for wandering inconspicuously. The oldest part of the monastery contains the stairs and archway were Prince Bogolyubsky was eventually killed by some jealous local nobles. Hard life being a prince in Kievian Rus.

Another 30km up the motorway and I arrived in Suzdal, also an ancient capital. Unlike Vladimir, Suzdal was bypassed by the railway, so remained hidden for most of the industrial age and only has ~10,000 residents. However, the tourist age has recently discovered its multitude of churches, religious sites and old mead recipes, so the place probably swells to 75k during the summer.

I’ve recently developed a head cold, so we’ll see if the healing power of churches (and mead) can cure it over the next few days while I’m in town.