Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery

In 15th century, this monastery was built to serve as a military outpost of Zvenigorod city. It is situated on a high hill called Storozhi Holm (Watching Hill). Its position grants the monastery guests a picturesque view of the Moskva river and its surrounding lands. The white stone cathedral of the Virgin's Nativity occupies the central place in the monastery. Some of the frescoes in its altar date back to the 1420s. The rest of the interior was painted in 1656.

Nowadays, the monastery hosts the Zvenigorod regional museum and the Museum of the royal and boyar everyday life.

History of the monastery:
In the 17th century the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery has played an important role in defending the Russian territories against the Polish - Lithuanian invasion. It was once the prison of Marina Mniszec, wife of the False Dmitry, before her crowning. Marina Mniszec was crowned as a legitimate tsarina but has fled Russia soon after the murder of False Dmitry.

In mid-17th century Zvenigorod city became the favourite hunting and pilgrimage place of the tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, known as "Tishaishii" (most quiet one) because of his meek character and was chosen as his suburban residence.
The new status brought about the reconstruction of the monastery and soon, the old wooden fence is replaced by a brick wall with watchtowers and embrasures. New churches, a new three-storyed refectory, high bell-tower and a white-stone royal palace and a festive chamber for tsaritsa follow soon after. New structures are added to the old Cathedral of the Virgin's Nativity.
During those times, the monastery became one of the richest landowners in Russia.
Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich has bestowed upon the monastery several fisheries and salt mills at the Volga and Kama rivers and put 19 other monasteries all over Russia under its control. During his reign, the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery owned 17,5 thousands of serf peasants. Alexei Mikhailovich also donated innumerable riches in money and various precious things to the monastery.

In 1812, during the Napoleon war, the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery has been taken by French troops and plundered.