In Suzdal, one of the banks of the river Kamenka Alexander is an ancient monastery. According to ancient legends, it was built with the support of Alexander Nevsky, because in 1240 he decided to build a monastery to commemorate the victory over the Swedish troops, and sanctify it in the name of his guardian angel.

It is known that in the 14th century the monastery was especially popular among the princes, for example, Ivan Kalita and his son Ivan bequeathed to the convent of large land holdings. From that moment Alexander convent, soon became a male, became known as "the Great Lavra. There is an opinion that in this period the monastery was the burial place intended for Suzdal princesses, the evidence shows a few surviving headstones, which had inscriptions – Agrippina (1362) and Maria (1363).

The first buildings were made of wood until the present time have not survived. Since 1608 1610 and ending years of the Polish-Lithuanian army literally completely burned Suzdal, and together with him and Alexander abode. It took many decades, when he began a long-awaited revival of the monastery. In 1695 Metropolitan of Suzdal received from Natalya Kirillovna – mother of Peter the Great and tsarina – funds for the purpose of erecting a new Church with a bell tower, which after the construction was consecrated in the name of the feast of the ascension.

In the first decades of the 18th century one of the most popular and talented artists of the city of Suzdal I. Gryaznov yourself surrounded the convent of St. Alexander high stone wall, equipped with turrets that have been delicately stylized defenses; this man had built, and Holy gates.

In the middle of 1764 when Empress Catherine II conducted the reform concerning the secularization of the lands, provided for the closure of a number of monasteries. According to historical sources the Aleksandrovsky monastery was subject to abolishment, while the main Church of the monastery of the ascension – was to act as a parish.

At the end of 2006 Aleksandrovsky monastery was placed under the authority of Vladimir-Suzdal diocese, so he again resumed his work only as a monastery.

At the monastery is the bell tower, which is located next to ascension Church. The bell tower can be seen from a distance, it strikes with its height and stateliness because slender tent. The uniqueness of the bell tower is that it is the only all Suzdal, built under the tent type and contains absolutely no facade decorations. For the belfry characterized by massive octagonal pillar, which is on display on a small low bushel, almost completely devoid of decors design. The tent is decorated with modest archways, and is also equipped with Dormer window openings; he is perfectly highlighted by the clean and smooth the edge of the quadrangle. With the top of the belfry you can see the amazing beauty of the panorama that opens all around the city of Suzdal.

Alexander abode around the perimeter is surrounded by a brick fence, built in the 18th century; it has remained only some fragments, as well as the main gate, equipped with a gate tower. The architectural design of the gate is very simple – there are two of the octagon, which delivered with each other and covered with planks. In the very first layer of gate travel is a broad arch, the upper part of the tower is crowned with a small cupola. It is important to note that it is no accident that the entire ensemble of the gate is very similar to the Holy gate is known of the monastery. Both objects were designed and built by the same master by the name of Ivan Gryaznov, who played a key role in the construction of the monastery.

One of the main churches of the Alexander monastery is the ascension Cathedral, which today is called the Alexander Cathedral. The Church has two chapels, one of which is warm and is suitable for worship in the winter time.