The main cathedral of the city is the Nativity of Christ Cathedral which is situated on Ploschad Lenina, which is also known as Sobornaya Ploschad (Cathedral Square).  The first stone cathedral to stand here was built in 1696 replacing two earlier wooden churches which were part of a monastery.  Between 1829 and 1831 the cathedral was extensively reconstructed in the empire style and a new bell tower was added.  The bell tower stood for 100 years - it was demolished in 1929 during the Soviet era when the cathedral was used variously over the years as a theatre, club, bakery and house of culture.  In 1990 the building was returned to the Orthodox Church.  It was reopened in 1992  after restoration work.