# Rizopolozhensky Monastery (Deposition of the Robe), Suzdal > The Rizopolozhensky Monastery, also called the Convent of the Deposition of the Robe, is a working Orthodox convent founded in 1207, a 5–7 minute walk north of Market Square in central Suzdal. The grounds are free and open daily from about 8:00 to 19:00. The 72 m bell tower — the tallest structure in town — can be climbed for a small donation, usually 10:00–16:00. Allow 30–40 minutes, or an hour with the climb. Web page: https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/rizopolozhensky-monastery - City: [Suzdal](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal), Russia - YesGo score: 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - Opening hours: Grounds daily, roughly 8:00–19:00 (shorter in winter); bell tower daily 10:00–16:00; no closing day - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; candles and prayer notes by donation - Grounds open: Daily, roughly 8:00 to 18:00–19:00 depending on season and services - Bell tower: Daily 10:00–16:00; may close in icy weather - Bell tower climb: Donation at the door — guides quote about 100–200 ₽, cash - Dress code: Women: skirt and headscarf; men: long trousers, no hat inside churches - On foot: 5–7 minutes north of Market Square along Lenina Street - Cards: Foreign Visa and Mastercard do not work in Russia since March 2022 — bring roubles in cash - Phone: +7 (49231) 2-35-30 — to check hours and the climb (Russian) - Coordinates: 56.42443, 40.44608 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1207** — founded by Bishop Ioann of Suzdal — one of the few Russian monasteries known to predate the Mongol invasion (source: Russian Wikipedia, «Ризоположенский монастырь»; Wikidata Q4394609; top-suzdal.ru) - **72 m** — height of the Prepodobenskaya bell tower with its spire — the tallest structure in Suzdal (source: Russian Wikipedia; sobory.ru; RUSSPASS) - **St Euphrosyne** — relics of the 13th-century abbess, Suzdal's best-loved saint, back in the cathedral since April 2015 (source: Russian Wikipedia, «Евфросиния Суздальская»; top-suzdal.ru) - **1813–1819** — bell tower built, traditionally to mark the victory over Napoleon in 1812 (source: Russian Wikipedia; sobory.ru; RUSSPASS) - **1688** — the Holy Gates with their two tent roofs — the main entrance (source: Russian Wikipedia; top-suzdal.ru) - **16th century** — the Deposition Cathedral, the oldest building in the convent (source: Russian Wikipedia; top-suzdal.ru) - **27 Sep 2026** — Patriarch Kirill consecrated the restored Church of the Presentation (Sretensky church) (source: Patriarchia.ru; Foma magazine; Spas TV) - **1923** — the convent was closed and its bells were sent to be melted down (source: Russian Wikipedia; Tripster monastery description) - **1999** — returned to the Church and revived as a convent (source: Russian Wikipedia; Foma magazine) - **1934** — the Trinity church and its bell tower were blown up; a new Trinity cathedral was founded on the site in 2026 (source: Foma magazine; top-suzdal.ru) > **Dress code for the convent** This is a working nunnery, and the rules are kept. Women should wear a skirt below the knee and cover their hair; shoulders covered for everyone. Men need long trousers and take hats off inside the churches. Guides say skirts and scarves can be borrowed at the gate, but bring your own — on busy weekends the spares run out. ## Is the Rizopolozhensky Monastery free to visit? Yes. There is no ticket for the grounds or the churches — you just walk in through the Holy Gates. The only thing that costs money is the bell tower climb, which works on a donation basis: local guides quote anything from 100 to 200 roubles per adult, and less for children. Leave it in the box at the tower door. Bring cash. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked in Russia since March 2022, and a donation box takes notes anyway. Candles and prayer notes inside the cathedral are also by donation. ## Can you climb the bell tower? Yes, and it is the best free-ish view in Suzdal. The **Prepodobenskaya bell tower**, 72 m with its gilded spire, has had a viewing platform at the top since 2014 and reopened for visitors in November 2024 after repairs. Local guides give the climbing hours as 10:00–16:00 daily, so don't leave it to late afternoon. The donation quoted for the climb ranges from about 100 roubles to 200 roubles per adult, depending on the guide. The staircase inside is narrow and wooden, with a lot of steps — budget 10–15 minutes up at an easy pace. From the top you see nearly all of old Suzdal: the Kremlin, the domes of the St Euthymius and Pokrovsky monasteries, the loops of the Kamenka river and the fields beyond. In icy winter weather the climb can be shut, so if the view is the reason for your trip, check at the gate first. The tower went up in 1813–1819, traditionally as a thanksgiving for the 1812 victory over Napoleon. Its name comes from St Euphrosyne, venerated as a *prepodobnaya* (a monastic saint), and it is also called the bell tower of St Euphrosyne. ## What to see inside - **The Holy Gates** (1688) — two tent roofs side by side over the entrance, a rare shape and one of Suzdal's postcard views. - **The Deposition Cathedral** (16th century) — the main church, with three domes and a porch added in 1688. It holds the **relics of St Euphrosyne of Suzdal**, the 13th-century abbess of this convent. - **The bell tower** (1813–1819) — 72 m of pale neoclassical tiers; climb it for the view. - **The Sretensky church** (1878–1881) — the red-brick church of the Presentation, gutted by fire in the 2000s and consecrated again by Patriarch Kirill on 27 September 2026, with brand-new wall paintings. - **The Trinity cathedral site** — the Trinity church was blown up in 1934; a new cathedral was founded here in 2026, so expect a building site. ## What is the Rizopolozhensky Monastery? Its full name is the Convent of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God — a feast recalling how the Virgin's robe was placed in the Blachernae church in Constantinople. *Rizopolozhensky* simply means "of the Deposition of the Robe", so English guides list the same place as the Deposition of the Robe Monastery or Convent, and some spell it Risopolozhensky or Rizpolozhensky. Bishop Ioann of Suzdal founded it in **1207**, before the Mongol invasion, which makes it one of the oldest convents in Russia. In the 13th century its abbess was **Euphrosyne**, a princess's daughter who became Suzdal's most loved saint; she was canonised in 1698. The Soviets closed the convent in 1923, melted the bells and later blew up the Trinity church. Her relics spent decades in a museum and in another Suzdal church before coming back here in April 2015. Since 1999 the nuns have been back and the place is slowly being restored. It is not a museum: there are no exhibitions and few information boards. You come for the gates, the tower, the old cathedral and a quiet half-hour away from the busy Trade Rows. ## Opening hours and services The grounds open every day, roughly from 8:00 to 19:00; in winter and on service days guides say closer to 18:00. There is no closing day. The bell tower keeps its own hours, 10:00–16:00. Services are held daily, but no official timetable is published in English. Visit between the morning and evening services: the cathedral is calmer and you can approach the relics without getting in anyone's way. Photos in churches during services are not welcome. ## How to get to the Rizopolozhensky Monastery from Market Square 1. Start at the [Trade Rows](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-trade-rows) on Market Square (Torgovaya Ploshchad) — the Torgovaya Ploshchad bus stop on Lenina Street. Suzdal has no railway: buses from Vladimir (about 45 minutes) and Moscow arrive at the bus station 2 km east; a town bus or a 5-minute taxi brings you to the square. 2. Walk north along Lenina Street towards the St Euthymius Monastery. After 400–500 m the twin tent roofs of the Holy Gates and the tall bell tower appear on your right — you can see the tower from almost anywhere in town. 3. Go in through the Holy Gates. The whole walk takes 5–7 minutes. 4. From Moscow: direct buses leave from the Shchelkovskaya bus station, about 4.5 hours; or take a train from Kursky station to Vladimir and a bus on to Suzdal. Taxi apps work, but pay in roubles — foreign cards do not. ## Is it worth visiting? Yes, if you are in central Suzdal anyway: it is five minutes from Market Square, costs nothing to enter, and the bell tower gives the best panorama in town for the price of a coffee. The twin-tented Holy Gates alone are worth the short detour. Skip it if you are short of time and not interested in churches — there are no exhibits, part of the grounds is a building site, and the information is all in Russian. In that case look at the gates from the street and head on to the [St Euthymius Monastery](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/st-euthymius-monastery), which has museums, frescoes and a bell-ringing show. ## Before you go - [ ] Skirt and headscarf (women) or long trousers (men) - [ ] Rouble notes for the bell tower donation — foreign cards don't work - [ ] Arrive before 16:00 if you want to climb - [ ] Comfortable shoes for the narrow stairs - [ ] Visit between services to see the relics quietly ## Rizopolozhensky, St Euthymius or Pokrovsky? | | Rizopolozhensky Monastery | St Euthymius Monastery | Pokrovsky Convent | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Where | Centre, 5–7 min from Market Square | North end of Lenina Street, ≈ 15 min further | Across the Kamenka, facing St Euthymius | | Highlights | Twin-tent gates, 72 m bell tower, relics | Fortress walls, frescoes, bell ringing, museums | White churches by the river, royal nuns' history | | Entry | Free; tower by donation | Paid museum complex | Working convent, free | | Time | 30–40 min | 1.5–2 h | 30–40 min | All three sit roughly on one line heading north from the centre — easy to do in a row. ## Monasteries and churches in Suzdal compared Every church and monastery in Suzdal that YesGo has rated. - [Rizopolozhensky Monastery](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/rizopolozhensky-monastery) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; bell tower by donation - [Alexandrovsky Monastery](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-alexandrovsky-monastery) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free, no tickets - [St Basil Monastery](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-vasilievsky-monastery) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Church of Elijah the Prophet](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-church-of-elijah) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Pokrovsky Convent](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-pokrovsky-convent) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Suzdal Kremlin](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-kremlin) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Grounds free, cathedral 400 ₽ - [Saviour Monastery of St Euthymius](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/st-euthymius-monastery) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 1,000 ₽, children 7–14 500 ₽ - [Church of Boris and Gleb, Kideksha](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/kideksha) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 300 ₽, children 7–14: 150 ₽ ## Suzdal centre and monasteries in half a day The Kremlin, the Trade Rows, then north: the Rizopolozhensky bell tower, the St Euthymius Monastery and across the river to the Pokrovsky Convent. YesGo works out the timing and walks. 1. [Suzdal Kremlin](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-kremlin) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Grounds free, cathedral 400 ₽ 2. [Trade Rows](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-trade-rows) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free — open public arcade 3. [Rizopolozhensky Monastery](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/rizopolozhensky-monastery) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; bell tower by donation 4. [Saviour Monastery of St Euthymius](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/st-euthymius-monastery) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 1,000 ₽, children 7–14 500 ₽ 5. [Pokrovsky Convent](https://yesgo.io/russia/suzdal/suzdal-pokrovsky-convent) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free ## Tips - Climb the bell tower in the morning: entry stops at 16:00 and the stairs are quieter early. - The classic photo of the Holy Gates is from Lenina Street, with the bell tower rising behind. - Carry small rouble notes — donations, candles and the tower are all cash. - Bring your own headscarf and skirt rather than relying on the spares at the gate. - Want to hear the bells? Come just before a service — they ring beforehand. - Pair it with the Trade Rows and the St Euthymius Monastery — all on one street. - Signs are Russian only; a guided walk is the easiest way to get the stories behind the buildings. ## Questions ### Is the Rizopolozhensky Monastery free? Yes, the grounds and churches are free. The bell tower climb is by donation — guides quote roughly 100–200 roubles, cash only. ### What are the opening hours? The grounds are open daily from about 8:00 to 19:00 (shorter in winter). The bell tower is open 10:00–16:00. ### Can you go up the bell tower? Yes. It reopened for climbing in November 2024. The stairs are narrow and steep, and the climb may close in icy weather. ### How tall is the bell tower? 72 metres including the spire — the tallest structure in Suzdal. It was built in 1813–1819. ### Is there a dress code? Yes: skirts and headscarves for women, long trousers for men, shoulders covered. Spares are sometimes lent at the gate. ### How long do you need? 30–40 minutes for the gates, cathedral and grounds; about an hour if you climb the bell tower. ### How do I get there? Walk 5–7 minutes north from Market Square along Lenina Street. From Suzdal bus station it is about 2 km — a town bus or a short taxi ride. ### Who was St Euphrosyne of Suzdal? The 13th-century abbess of this convent, canonised in 1698. Her relics are kept in the Deposition Cathedral. ### Can I pay by card? Don't count on it. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked in Russia since March 2022 — bring roubles in cash. ### Is it the same as the Deposition of the Robe Monastery? Yes. Rizopolozhensky is the Russian name of the Convent of the Deposition of the Robe in Suzdal; guides also spell it Risopolozhensky. Don't confuse it with the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in the Moscow Kremlin. ## How we checked Founding year, gate, cathedral and bell tower dates and the tower's height were checked against Russian Wikipedia, sobory.ru, top-suzdal.ru and RUSSPASS. Sources date the cathedral variously to the early or mid-16th century, the 1520s (tourism33.ru) or 1560, so we say "16th century". The 27 September 2026 consecration is confirmed by Patriarchia.ru, Foma and Spas TV. On 30.10.2026 we searched again for hours and prices: neither the regional tourism portal (tourism33.ru) nor en.vladimirtravel.ru publishes them, and no official timetable turned up. Grounds 8:00–19:00 per top-suzdal.ru, putevka.com and Sputnik8; tower 10:00–16:00 per Zebra TV (2024) and top-suzdal.ru, while RUSSPASS lists 8:00–19:00 — marked "checking". The climb is listed as a donation (top-suzdal.ru), about 100 roubles (Sputnik8 guide), 100–150 roubles (putevka.com) or 200/100 roubles (a Sputnik8 tour description), so we give a range. The viewing platform dates from 2014 per Tripster. The phone number is from tourism33.ru and en.vladimirtravel.ru. Walking times are our estimate from the map. ## Sources - Russian Wikipedia: «Ризоположенский монастырь», «Евфросиния Суздальская»; Wikidata Q4394609 - sobory.ru: bell tower of St Euphrosyne of Suzdal — dates, height, bells - Patriarchia.ru, Foma magazine, Spas TV: consecration of the Sretensky church, 27 September 2026 - Zebra TV: the bell tower reopened for visitors, 14 November 2024 — hours - top-suzdal.ru: Rizopolozhensky Monastery guide — hours, donation, history - putevka.com: Rizopolozhensky Monastery (Suzdal) — hours, climb, dress code, transport - Tonkosti turizma: Rizopolozhensky Monastery — free entry - RUSSPASS: Prepodobenskaya bell tower of the Rizopolozhensky Convent - Vladimir Region tourism portal tourism33.ru: Deposition of the Robe (Rizopolozhensky) Monastery — address, phone, building dates - en.vladimirtravel.ru: viewing platform on the Prepodobenskaya bell tower - Sputnik8: churches and monasteries of Suzdal — grounds hours, bell tower climb - Tripster: sights of Suzdal — viewing platform open since 2014 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. 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