Founded in 1524 by VasiliyIII (the father of Ivan the Terrible) in honor of the return of city Smolensk to Russia Novodevichiy Convent has become a shelter and sometimes a prison for many ladies of Russian Royal and boyar families. It survived during the Napoleon army occupation in 1812 and was used as theMuseum of Women’s Emancipation at Soviet times. Being one of the best preserved samples of medieval Russian architecture it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.