Pechersky Ascension Monastery

Set on a wooded slope above the Volga east of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, this Orthodox monastery is one of the oldest and most significant religious foundations of the region. Its present ensemble of white churches, bell tower and monastic buildings dates largely from the seventeenth century, after the original site further upriver was destroyed by a landslide. The terraced grounds command sweeping views of the river below. As a working monastery it preserves relics and icons in a scenic riverside setting.