In the historical center of Nizhny Novgorod, on Freedom Square is Russia's only museum-prison "Nizhny Novgorod jail", which is a branch of the State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve. Prison Castle, built in 1823 by architect I.E.Efremovym province, is an architectural complex consisting of an administrative building, a prison and a high brick wall. Rectangular in the bottom cell block has four round towers at the corners and built a small church with a belfry in the central part.

The prison was used for its intended purpose until October 1914, after which the provincial jail Nizhny Novgorod was transferred to a new body to Arzamas highway. State History and Art Museum-Reserve building was handed over in 1981, before it was located in the pharmacy management. With the city's museum were open dormitories, single, solitary confinement and the prison Temple, located in the basement directly under the church. Earlier in the prison yard were: room, guardroom, barracks, a smithy, a stable, a hospital and other outbuildings, and in the outer courtyard of the barracks were located for the deportation of political prisoners and detainees. In conclusion, the Nizhny Novgorod prison at various times were: Maxim Gorky, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Vladimir Korolenko, Yakov Sverdlov, and other well-known public and political figures of 19-20 centuries.

In 2008, the prison began restoration work, opened an ancient painting in the temple premises under a large layer of plaster Soviet. Temple of the Mother of God "All grieving pleasure" was a two-story layout. Painted columns and altar doing prisoner - the master of noble origin (archives - Bobylev). Also found were the decorative motifs on the metal architectural elements with the image of a bunch of grapes, leaves, and so on.

Next to the museum "Nizhny Novgorod jail" are historical and architectural museum-reserve, the Opera House and the Theatre for Young People. A few blocks from Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin and the central area of ​​the city.