Novodevichy Convent

This is the bridge where R first learned of the love locks. 

These nuns were enjoying the sunshine, too.

Although the sky was bright blue and the sun was shining it was cold and breezy.  We did not walk through the park or the convent grounds and the cemetery closed before we got to its' gates.  Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 in commemoration of the conquest of Smolensk in 1514, it was built as a fortress. The convent was known to have sheltered many ladies from the Russian royal families and Boyer clans.  During the Soviet years the convent was turned into museums and apartments sparing it from destruction.  In 1994 nuns returned to the convent.  A couple of Tolstoy's novels have events that take place near the convent.