Pokrovsky (the Intercession Convent) sits on the opposite bank of the Kamenka from the town, reached by a short walk across the river meadows. It is an active convent today, which gives it a quiet, lived-in atmosphere different from the more museum-like monuments elsewhere in Suzdal. The white bell tower and domed church above the river make one of the best photographs in town.
Founded in the 15th century, the convent acquired a grim distinction as the place where Russian tsars sent wives they wished to dispose of — the Orthodox church permitting divorce only through the veil. The tombs of the exiled women are still visible in the Cathedral of the Intercession. A small hotel now operates within the convent walls, offering unusual accommodation in historic cells.