Church of Maria Magdalena is the most Russian building in the city: its design was developed by architect Leon Benois, while the construction was financed by emperor Nicholas II who wanted to make a present to his wife, a native of Darmstadt. The emperor couple was present both during the laying of the foundation and consecration of the church that was literally situated on Russian land: soil under the foundation was brought in from every Russian province. The church in the early Yaroslavl style had become the first building on the Mathildenhöhe hill where the artists’ colony appeared later. Part of the decoration was lost during the World War I, another part is exhibited in the city museum. External ornamented tiles and floor tiles from Villeroy & Boch, images of saints on the walls, iconostasis from London have been preserved in the church. The church functions today.