The Svyato-Uspensky Paisievo-Galichsky Convent is one of the best sights in Galich although it is actually located just outside of the city albeit on the top of a hill, meaning that it is nevertheless visible from the city centre. The monastery is said to have been founded in the mid-14th century and was originally known as the Nikolsky Monastery. In 1425 a boyar decided to build a new cathedral here and was considering what the new building should be dedicated to when suddenly, according to legend, two angels appeared holding what has since become known as the Ovinovsky Icon depicting the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral was therefore dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and the monastery became known as the Uspensky Monastery ('uspenie' is Russian for dormition). The second part of the name is in honour of St Paisy of Galich - a 15th century archimandrite of the monastery.

In the mid-17th century the monastery's wooden buildings were replaced with stone versions. This included the Dormition Cathedral and the neighbouring smaller Trinity Church, which were built between 1642 and 1646.

In 1919 the monastery was closed and in the 1930s its churches were closed and by the end of the century were allowed to fall into disrepair. In 1994 a decision was taken to reopen the former monastery but as a convent and in 1997 the first service in decades took place in the Dormition Cathedral.

The easiest and most scenic way of getting to the convent is to cross the bridge by the railway station heading away from the city. You will then see a path which takes you up the hill next to a forest. Continue to follow this path and after about 10 minutes the convent will come into view.