These dramatic photographs show a huge fire breaking out last night in the bell tower of a Russian monastery dating from the 16th century . The blaze at the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow broke out late yesterday in wooden scaffolding surrounding the tower as it undergoes restoration . The emergencies ministry for Moscow said the tower itself did not suffer significant damage and the fire 's spread had been halted around midnight . Scroll down for video . Fire : The blaze at the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow broke out in wooden scaffolding surrounding the tower as it undergoes restoration . Blaze : The emergencies ministry for Moscow said the tower itself did not suffer significant damage and the fire 's spread had been halted . Stunned : Dramatic photographs showed shocked orthodox nuns watching firefighters extinguishing the blaze last night . Emergency : The octagonal tower , which is more than 200ft tall , is on the site of one of the Russian capital 's top visitor attractions . Noted for its buildings and cemetery : The convent - which was founded in the 1520s - sits above an oxbow turn in the Moscow River . One vivid image showed shocked orthodox nuns watching firefighters extinguishing the blaze last night . The octagonal tower , which is more than 200ft tall and dates from the late 1600s , is on the site of one of the Russian capital 's top visitor attractions . The convent - which was founded in the 1520s - sits above an oxbow turn in the Moscow River , and is noted both for its buildings and its cemetery . Many of Russia 's most celebrated figures are buried there , including Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Russia 's first president , Boris Yeltsin . Also among those buried there is playwright Anton Chekhov , and composers Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev . Cemetery of celebrities : Many of Russia 's most celebrated figures are buried there , including Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Boris Yeltsin . Tower : Built in the so-called Moscow Baroque style , the convent was part of a series of monasteries integrated into the city ’ s defence system . Top attraction : The convent was closed in 1922 and became the Museum of Women ’ s Emancipation before reopening as another museum . How it normally looks : A nunnery was reintroduced there two decades ago in 1994 , and it was given Unesco World Heritage status in 2004 . Buried in cemetery : Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ( left ) , Russia 's first president , Boris Yeltsin ( centre ) , and playwright Anton Chekhov ( right ) The convent , built in the so-called Moscow Baroque style , was part of a series of monasteries that were integrated into the city ’ s defence system . It contains what Unesco states is an ‘ important collection of paintings and artefacts ’ , and was used by women of the Tsar ’ s family and the aristocracy . The convent was closed in 1922 and became the Museum of Women ’ s Emancipation , before later being reopened as an historical and art museum . A nunnery was reintroduced there two decades ago in 1994 , and it was given Unesco World Heritage status ten years later in 2004 .
Blaze at Novodevichy Convent broke out in wooden scaffolding surrounding tower as it undergoes restoration . Emergencies ministry for Moscow said tower did not suffer significant damage and fire 's spread was halted . 200ft octagonal tower , which dates from the late 1600s , is on site of one of Moscow 's top visitor attractions . Convent founded in 1520s , sits above oxbow turn in Moscow River , and is noted for buildings and cemetery . Among those buried in cemetery are Soviet leader Dmitri Shostakovich and composer Nikita Khrushchev .