The architectural monuments of the museum-reserve chronologically cover the long period – from the 12th to the beginning of the 20th century. The oldest among them are the white-stone monuments of the pre-Mongolian period (i.e. the period before the Mongol-Tartar invasion in 1237).
Numerous and varied are the architectural monuments of the 16th –17th centuries (mainly in the monasteries).
The late 18th – early 20th century architecture belongs to the gubernia period. The buildings of this period represent different styles. As a rule, the names of the architects are known to us.

Pre-Mongolian Architecture (10th – early 13th century)

Seven monuments represent the earliest period of Old-Russian architecture – the pre-Mongolian period (i.e. before the Mongol-Tartar invasion in 1237).

The period is divided into 3 stages:
1. The period of the united Kievan Russia (10th – early 12th century);
2. The period of feudal disintegration (12th century) – Different principalities carried out their own construction. There were 5 different schools, including that of the North-Eastern Russia. The white stone monuments of the Vladimir and Suzdal museum at Kideksha (the Church of SS.Boris and Gleb), in Vladimir (the Golden Gate, the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Cathedral of St.Demetrius), at Bogolubovo (the palace of prince Andrei Bogolyubsky and the Church of the Intercession) belong to this school.
3. The period before the Mongol-Tartar invasion (early 13th century) – The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Suzdal belong to this period.

Old-Russian Architecture (16th – 18th centuries)

Monuments of the Russian late medieval period, which was also the heyday of the development of Russian architecture in the time of the centralized state (16th –17th centuries) and in the period of the formation of new architectural styles (18th century).

These monuments are varied in function, artistic peculiarities, material, decor, etc.

The 18th century monuments are often archaic and preserve the features of the earlier period.

The Architecture of the Gubernia Period (late 18th – early 20th century)

The administrative reforms of 1775 led to the regular planning of the towns, to the regulated standardized construction within the limits of several certain styles (Classic and Empire styles).

The monuments of the late 19th – early 20th century are marked with new interesting stylistic features (Art Nouveau and the “Pseudo-Russian style”). The names of the architects from this period are often known to us, unlike that of the earlier times.