The belfry of the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery is a unique example of ancient Russian architecture. This structure combines several buildings erected in the 16th-17th centuries. The pillar-shaped Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, located under the bells, was created in the first quarter of the 16th century as a prayer church for the childless grand princely family of Vasily III and Solomonia Saburova visiting Suzdal. The church has a nine-sided tiered structure: on the second tier was the church, and on the third, arched tier, the bells hung. The top of the pillar is adorned with keel-shaped zakomaras and a small dome on a drum, covered with silver aspen shingles. The closest analogy is the Church of the Origin of the Honorable Trees in the Pokrov Monastery of Suzdal, although its top was changed to a tent in the late 17th century. Pillar-shaped churches under bells were built in Russia for a short time, and this church is one of the few surviving examples.

In the late 16th century, a rectangular structure with an arched span was added to the pillar to accommodate a large bell donated by the nobleman Demid Cheremisov. In the late 17th century, two more spans were added for new bells, and eventually, the belfry took on the appearance of a wall with a gallery-arcade, reminiscent of those in Rostov and Yaroslavl.

The bells in the belfry were of significant size. In the 17th century, the largest bell weighed 355 kilograms, and in the 18th century, 560 kilograms. Due to the heavy clapper, the "ochepnoi" ringing method was used, in which the bell was hung statically and swung with a pole attached to a movable wooden shaft. In the 17th century, a two-tent top was built over the belfry, which was later dismantled, along with a "clock tower tent" with a small tent. In the 1930s, all the bells were melted down for state needs.

After the restoration in the 1970s, the monument acquired a solid appearance of a wall with a three-span arcade connected to the pillar, dome, and clock tower, decorated with glazed tiles and a concise decor. The belfry houses 17 bells, and the bell ringers of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve perform ringing on them. Concerts of bell music are often held at the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery, open to all who wish to attend.

The belfry and the entire ensemble of the monastery are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.