Simonov Monastery

Welcome to the Simonov Monastery, one of Moscow's most evocative and historically layered sites. Located on the high left bank of the Moskva River, this monastery was once the most powerful and wealthy fortress-monastery…

We begin at the most impressive of the surviving fortifications: the Dulo Tower. Built in the late sixteenth century by the famous architect Fyodor Kon—the same man who designed the Smolensk Kremlin and Moscow's 'White City'…

Moving toward the center of the surviving complex, we find the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God and its attached refectory. This is a stunning example of 'Moscow Baroque' from the late seventeenth century, built by…

Standing in the open space between the surviving walls and the modern ZIL Cultural Center, we are standing on the 'invisible' history of the monastery. This was once the site of the magnificent Assumption Cathedral, built in the…

Just a few meters from the ancient towers sits the ZIL Cultural Center, an absolute icon of Soviet Constructivism. Built between 1931 and 1937 by the Vesnin brothers, it was designed as a 'Palace of Culture' for the workers of…

As we walk along the southern perimeter, we find a stretch of the original monastic wall and the smaller 'Salt Tower.' This section of the wall reveals the 'cultural layer' of Moscow—you have to step down to reach the original…

Behind the Tikhvin Church lies the area that was once the monastery’s elite necropolis. For centuries, the Simonov Monastery was the preferred burial place for Moscow’s nobility, including members of the Godunov family and famous…

As we conclude our journey through the fragmented grounds of the Simonov Monastery, let us reflect on the extraordinary survival of this place. We have seen the mighty Dulo Tower, which once held off armies, and the Tikhvin…