The building of the former monastery of the Archangel Michael is an
interesting architecture - historical complex in Yuriev-Polskoy.White towers and walls were built in 13-th century. The existing buildings are datedto more late time as the 17th - 18th centuries.
The western wall of the monastery fence saved early wall of the 17-th century and 3 old towers. Towers were rebuilt and then lost its fighting appearance. Other parts of the fence are older.
In the western line of fence is situated the Gate - Charch of St. Apostle John (1670) with the Holy Gates (1654). It seems like original portico with 4 semicircular openings 2 vaulted enfracues, and 2 entrances above them in the second floor to the church-porch is enveloping the temple in 3 sides with a belt of towers and with decorated semicircular windows. The five-headed temple with the wide cornice if comparion with brightful plastics of church-porch is a little poor and dreary. But in the whole there rather solemn and beautiful center of the from fence and main entrance to the monastery. Through the low semi-dark arch of Holy Gates, the incoming got into the central yard of the monastery, made by its two main buildings.
In front of the entrance there is a cathedral, on its sides are the bell-fry and the Church-Refectory.
These buildings differ from each other by their art significance and age.
The best of them is the bell-fry of the monastery of the Archangel Michael. It is very monumental and representative. Over bell arches rises a stately tent with projection on its edges, there levels of dormer windows and decorated by tent of shining green files.
The whole building from its general strong
proportions to defiles is fill with far not ascetic monastery mood; colourful plastics and
richness of attire showed the peoples tastes, which fill church architecture.The smart architecture of the bell-fry matches Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, that was built in 1729 instead of old one.
An ordinary work of provincial architecture of the 18th century in general, it is well unified with circular old buildings of ensemble. The huge volume of new cathedral, that is ended by dynamic five-headed, echoes the composition of up-gate temple, and the motive of its belief above kokoshniks the builder rephrased in a wide cornice of the cathedral, decorated finishing of which in general has something in common with decorated richness of bell-fry.
The southern side of monastery yard occupies the Church-Refectory of the Virgin Blacherniotissa (1625). It has type of lay-out and construction ordinary for buildings of the 17–th century. The building is two-storeyd. The foundation was used for household, its plan is copied in the higher floor. In the western half is a wide square onecrowded hall of refectory room; from the east it adjoins the narrow building of the church, and is connected with the hall by the big arch and two wide windows , then goes the altar. The interior makes a strong impression by its simplicity and impression near the belltry is situated a wooden church of St. George of the 18-th century moved out from former George monastery.