Never before or after this beauty was built between 1193 and 1197 have Russian stone carvers achieved such artistic heights. The attraction here is the cathedral’s exterior walls, covered in an amazing profusion of images. The top centre of the north, south and west walls all show King David bewitching the birds and beasts with music.
Vladimir prince Vsevolod III (Vsevolod the Big Nest) had this church built as part of his palace. He appears at the top left of the north wall, with a baby son on his knee and other sons kneeling on each side. Above the right-hand window of the south wall, Alexander the Great ascends into heaven, a symbol of princely might; on the west wall appear the labours of Hercules.
