Nikitsky Men's Monastery is located on the outskirts of Pereslavl-Zalessky, in its northern part, by the shores of Lake Pleshcheyevo. It is the oldest monastery in Pereslavl, founded in 1010. According to legend, it was established by Prince Boris, son of Vladimir the Red Sun, who, along with Bishop Ilarion, built the first churches in this pagan land on the shores of the lake. All the monastery's buildings before the 16th century were wooden and have not survived to this day.

The period of prosperity for Nikitsky Monastery came in the 16th century when it attracted the attention of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. By his decree, new buildings and walls with towers began to be constructed, as the tsar was preparing a reserve fortress here in case of betrayal by the oprichniki stationed in the nearby Alexandrov Sloboda. On the site of the current gate bell tower with the Church of Archangel Gabriel, built in 1818, there previously stood the gate church of Saint Michael the Archangel with a bell tower. The modern bell tower is significantly taller than the old one from the time of Ivan the Terrible and is designed in the traditions of its time, which sharply distinguishes it from the rest of the ensemble, except perhaps for the tower tops that replaced the previous spires in the 19th century. The bell tower was built in the new fashion of that time: three tiers above the gates are adorned with pediments, and above rises a narrow dome with a spire and cross, giving lightness to the entire structure. This monumental three-tiered bell tower with rounded corners and applied decor does not quite fit into the ensemble of the monastery, the foundation of which consists of buildings from the 16th-17th centuries, but serves as a height landmark for this holy abode and is visible for many kilometers.

In 1923, Nikitsky Monastery, like other monasteries in Pereslavl-Zalessky, was closed, its property was requisitioned, and the monks were expelled. All the buildings and outbuildings of the monastery were transferred to various institutions and a collective farm, and from 1953 to 1959, a military unit was stationed here. All the bells were removed from the monastery bell tower and sent for melting. The frescoes on the vaults of the Holy Gates were painted over. Only in 1993 did the monastery begin to revive after desolation and destruction, when the first monks came here. Over time, the monastery gained helpers and benefactors, and from 1999, major repair and restoration work began. After the restoration of the Nikitsky Cathedral and the Annunciation Church, work began on restoring the monastery bell tower. The dome with the cross was reinstalled, intermediate beams, inter-tier ceilings, and stairs inside the bell tower were restored, the foundation under the building was strengthened, and new bells were purchased and hung. In recent years, the facades of the bell tower have been painted in white and blue tones, and the vaults of the Holy Gates have been repainted.