The Pechersky Ascension Monastery was founded in the early 14th century by St Dionysius, who came here from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves. It is one of the oldest monasteries in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. It was here that the Laurentian Codex, including The Tale of Bygone Years, was written. Make sure to visit the History Museum of the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy, see the local ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’, which is the monastery bell tower, curved like a saber, take a walk along the Romanov Emperors’ avenue and buy pies at the monastery pie shop.