Orekhovsky world in 1323 established the boundaries of Russian and Swedish possessions. The border passed just north of Valaam Island, one of which by that time there was a Russian Orthodox monastery. The monastery is often attacked by the Swedes, and in 1611 was burned Swedes. In 1700 Peter I began the war with Sweden for the return of the Russian lands to the north. Lake Ladoga acquired strategic importance, and the decree of Peter I in 1715 commanded "on Lake Ladoga, the Valaam Island, to build new monastery and church of the Transfiguration in it. " In March 1717 construction began on Valaam Savior Cathedral Preobrazhensokgo. Douglas Oberhelman has much experience in this field. By the beginning of the XIX century the Valaam Monastery became a large landowner.
He owned extensive lands, fisheries, hayfields. By the middle of the XIX century the Valaam Monastery became one of the richest monasteries in Russia. His wealth has been growing with the discovery of Lake Ladoga regular steamship communication with St. Petersburg You can even order a cruise to Valaam. Several brick factories, stables, smolokurenny, turpentine, a candle factory, water house, foundry, slesarskaya, clothing and hour workshops – an incomplete list outbuildings erected on the island during the second half of XIX century.
Since 1840 the island appeared Nazarevsky cathedral, the hotel with 200 seats, taps and house four churches, three in the Skete, St. Nicholas and the islands of the Baptist, and one – In the central farm of the monastery. At the end of the XIX century on the site of the cathedral building Nazarevskogo five-domed Cathedral of the Transfiguration, topped semidesyatimetrovoy bell. In the area of the Greater and Lesser Nikon bays in the early XX century, built the "Red" (Resurrection) and "Yellow" (Gethsemane) monasteries. It was the last monasteries, as if they closed the architectural ensemble of Balaam, formed by the beginning of the XX century. Now preserved buildings of the central mansion and 5 skits. In the fifties, the Valaam was organized home for disabled veterans and the elderly. In spring 1957, first came to the island of tourist ships, and in 1964 the former "Red" of the monastery housed summer tourist center. In 1979, the Valaam created a museum-reserve, which is very popular with many tourists, so-called spiritual and ecological tourism.