Little has survived since the days when Nizhny Novgorod consisted of wooden buildings: most of them were destroyed by frequent fires or replaced by stone buildings. There are only a few preserved monuments of Russian medieval architecture. But that only makes them even more valuable for the Russian people and interesting for travelers.

One of these architectural masterpieces of the 17th century is the Orthodox "Church of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary", known as Nativity (after the name of the street where it stands), or Stroganov, (after the surname of the famous merchant who financed the construction of this delightful Baroque church). The medieval red brick church, richly decorated with white stucco and multi-colored cupolas with openwork gilded crosses, is one of the most beautiful and visited landmarks of Nizhny Novgorod. Neither three hundred years of endless reconstructions, nor a few fires and destruction could destroy the Orthodox shrine. It still boasts its original white-stone carving, which can be also found in other Stroganov buildings. The church interior comprises 60 icons, including an ancient icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and several icons with the relics of the Holy Elders of Optina and St. Seraphim of Sarov. They are especially revered by believers who make pilgrimages to the church every year. Another local attraction is the bell tower clock, as it is associated with a fascinating story. Initially, it was an old astronomical clock. When it had stopped in 1750, there was only one boy who managed to fix it. It was Ivan Kulibin, the great Russian inventor, nicknamed "Archimedes of Nizhny Novgorod". However, it was replaced with another clock later. Unfortunately, the only preserved parts of this clock are seventeen old letters, as the dials were divided into 17 parts in Ancient Russia. Today, the bell tower is decorated with a 19th-century German clock donated by the city's history museum. By the way, the bell tower offers a fantastic view of Nizhny Novgorod and the picturesque banks of the Oka River.