Authentic history of Valaam monastery began with the fourteenth century and the beginning of the XVI century there was already more than six hundred monks. Stone construction began on Valaam only from the end of the EIGHTEENTH century, when the monastery was headed by the famous Sarov elder Nazarius, but the heyday of the monastery occurred in the nineteenth century under Abbot Nazariy, who continued the stone building and renewed missionary activity. By the mid-nineteenth century, the monastery resembled a small state with his autocrat-rector, spiritual police, subsistence farming, trade and Finance, as well as a very strict Charter-law.

Central manor of the monastery is perched high on a hill and is a harmonious ensemble in the center of which is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, visible from many parts of the island. It is surrounded by a body of monks ' cells, and on the slopes of the hill the orchards. Cathedral of cross-dome, eight pillars is divided into three naves. Lower, the winter Church, consecrated in the name of St. Sergius and St. George, upper - in the name of transformation. The multi-tiered bell tower, there were fortified with 13 bells, of which there remained only the highest. The bell tower completes the hip roof with cupola original form on an octagonal drum.

The Holy gate and the Church of Peter and Paul turned to the Grand staircase leading from the Wharf. Buildings built in the Russian style, the Church of Peter and Paul - in the style of Russian classicism of the XVIII century.

To the Northern line exterior caret Central monastic manor is adjacent to the old monastery cemetery was used for burials in the eighteenth to mid-nineteenth century. The most scenic route from Central monastic manor to the Abbot cemetery. At the beginning of the alley lined Siberian fir, and more - the European larch. For oak grove is a cemetery complex, built in 1876.

St. Nicholas island is located at the exit of the Monastery of the Bay, at its Northern end. The island is cultivated by monks in the eighteenth century, when there were fishermen's huts and wooden memorial cross. On the site of the rose cross chapel in the name of Saint Nicholas, the patron Saint of the seas. In 1809 he built a stone chapel, and in 1853 the Church. In the monastery lived 12 monks, who in addition to fishing carried out customs clearance of arriving pilgrims (on Balaam was not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages and tobacco).

The Valaam monastery of All Saints (White) is located on the island Skete. it was the most severe skit on the territory of the monastery, the pilgrims were allowed here only once a year. Keith appeared in 1793, in the middle of the XVIII century, built a wooden Church in the name of Saint Alexander Svirsky, in 1850, built a two-storey Church, the upper tier in the name of All Saints resplendent in the Russian land. In the years 1842-1845 built all 8 buildings of the Hermitage, United deaf fence in a rectangle, the corners of which are mounted octagonal tower with tented roofs.