Joseph-Volotsky monastery was founded in 1479 by the monk Joseph of Volotsk. By the mid-sixteenth century, the monastery became one of the richest in Russia, it was patronized by Tsar Ivan the terrible.

The oldest building of the monastery, monumental refectory, built in 1504, one-pillar hall, built on the model of the faceted chamber of the Moscow. On the North side of the building in 1573 was buried Malyuta Skuratov.

The assumption Cathedral was built in the late seventeenth century at the expense of deacon Zachariah Silin. The Cathedral is a square at the base of the building, richly decorated with tiles, borders, pillars, domes and a hipped roof. Inside there is a carved iconostasis of the XVII century, Golden columns, and in the cellar there are the relics of the monk Joseph. The painting of the Cathedral was made in the early XX century, Palekh masters in the ancient manner.

Gate five-domed Church of Peter and Paul 1589 built on the contribution of Malyuta Skuratov, and has undergone some changes. Scenic upper gallery, in which this Church on the perimeter and the rich decoration of glazed ceramics on the sides of the entrance gate.

Surrounding the monastery walls and towers built in the middle of XVII century on the site of the former that were severely affected in the time of Troubles. Topped with a peaked tents and intricately decorated brickwork and multicolored tiles, they are surprisingly enliven the austere monastic architecture.

At the end of the XVII century, the monastery bell tower was added to 10 storeys and was just five meters below the Ivan the Great in the Moscow Kremlin. The bell tower was blown up during the great Patriotic war. Now it remained only the ruins of the base, covered by a wooden tent.

The premises of Joseph Volotsky monastery for a long time was used as a dungeon for state prisoners. There were shuiski and Maxim the Greek, Polish and French prisoners of war. In 1920 the monastery was closed and only in 1999 the monastery was revived for the monastic life.