The tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. Description of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. How many towers does the Moscow Kremlin have: list, description and history Small Kremlin tower

The Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers and they are all different, no two are alike. Each tower has its own name and its own history. And probably many people don’t know the names of all the towers. Shall we meet?

BEKLEMISHEVSKAYA (Moskvoretskaya) tower is located in the south-eastern corner of the Kremlin. It was built by the Italian architect Marco Fryazin in 1487-1488. The courtyard of boyar Beklemishev adjoined the tower, for which it received its name. Beklemishev's courtyard, together with the tower, served as a prison for disgraced boyars under Vasily III. The current name – “Moskvoretskaya” – is taken from the nearby Moskvoretsky Bridge. The tower was located at the junction of the Moscow River with a moat, so when the enemy attacked, it was the first to take the blow. The architectural design of the tower is also connected with this: the tall cylinder is placed on a beveled white stone plinth and separated from it by a semicircular ridge. The surface of the cylinder is cut through by narrow, sparsely spaced windows. The tower is completed by a machicolli with a battle platform, which was higher than the adjacent walls. In the basement of the tower there was a hidden rumor to prevent undermining. In 1680, the tower was decorated with an octagon carrying a tall narrow tent with two rows of dormitories, which softened its severity. In 1707, expecting a possible attack by the Swedes, Peter I ordered bastions to be built at its foot and the loopholes to be expanded to install more powerful guns. During Napoleon's invasion, the tower was damaged and then repaired. In 1917, the top of the tower was damaged during shelling, but it was restored by 1920. In 1949, during the restoration, the loopholes were restored to their previous form. This is one of the few Kremlin towers that has not been radically rebuilt. The height of the tower is 62.2 meters.

The KONSTANTINE-ELENINSKAYA tower owes its name to the Church of Constantine and Helena that stood here in ancient times. The tower was built in 1490 by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari and was used for the passage of the population and troops to the Kremlin. Previously, when the Kremlin was made of white stone, there was another tower in this place. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy and his army went to the Kulikovo field. The new tower was built for the reason that there were no natural barriers on its side from the Kremlin. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful diversion gate and passage gates, which later, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were dismantled. The tower got its name from the Church of Constantine and Helena, which stood in the Kremlin. The height of the tower is 36.8 meters.

The Alarm Tower got its name from the large bell, the alarm, that hung above it. Once upon a time there were guards on duty here all the time. From above, they vigilantly watched to see if the enemy army was approaching the city. And if danger was approaching, the watchmen had to warn everyone and ring the alarm bell. Because of him, the tower was called Nabatnaya. But now there is no bell in the tower. One day at the end of the 18th century, at the sound of the Alarm Bell, a riot began in Moscow. And when order was restored in the city, the bell was punished for divulging bad news - they were deprived of their tongue. In those days it was a common practice to recall at least the history of the bell in Uglich. Since then, the Alarm Bell fell silent and remained idle for a long time until it was removed to the museum. The height of the Alarm Tower is 38 meters.

ROYAL Tower. It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns right on the wall, and on them there is a peaked roof. There are neither powerful walls nor narrow loopholes. But she doesn’t need them. Because they were built two centuries later than the other towers and not for defense at all. Previously, there was a small wooden tower on this site, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched over Red Square. Previously, there was a small wooden tower on this site, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched over Red Square. Later, the smallest tower of the Kremlin was built here and called it Tsarskaya. Its height is 16.7 meters.

SPASSKAYA (Frolovskaya) tower. Built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari. This name comes from the 17th century, when an icon of the Savior was hung over the gates of this tower. It was erected on the spot where in ancient times the main gates of the Kremlin were located. It, like Nikolskaya, was built to protect the northeastern part of the Kremlin, which had no natural water barriers. The passage gates of the Spasskaya Tower, at that time still Frolovskaya, were considered “holy” by the people. No one rode through them on horseback or walked through them with their heads covered. The regiments setting out on a campaign passed through these gates; kings and ambassadors were met here. In the 17th century, the coat of arms of Russia - a double-headed eagle - was installed on the tower; a little later, coats of arms were also installed on other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658, the Kremlin towers were renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. It was named so in honor of the icon of the Savior of Smolensk, located above the passage gate of the tower from the side of Red Square, and in honor of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, located above the gate from the Kremlin. In 1851-52 A clock was installed on the Spasskaya Tower, which we still see today. Kremlin chimes. They call it chimes big clock, which have a musical mechanism. The bells play music at the Kremlin chimes. There are eleven of them. One large one, it marks the hours, and ten smaller ones, their melodious chime is heard every 15 minutes. The chimes contain a special device. It sets the hammer in motion, it hits the surface of the bells and the Kremlin chimes sound. The Kremlin chimes mechanism occupies three floors. Previously, chimes were wound manually, but now they do it using electricity. The Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with the star is 71 meters.

The SENATE Tower was built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari, rises behind the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin and is named after the Senate, whose green dome rises above the fortress wall. The Senate Tower is one of the oldest in the Kremlin. Built in 1491 in the center of the north-eastern part of the Kremlin wall, it performed only defensive functions - it protected the Kremlin from Red Square. The height of the tower is 34.3 meters.

NIKOLSKAYA Tower is located at the beginning of Red Square. In ancient times, there was a monastery of St. Nicholas the Old nearby, and above the gate of the tower there was an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The gate tower, built in 1491 by the architect Pietro Solari, was one of the main defensive redoubts of the eastern part of the Kremlin wall. The name of the tower comes from the Nikolsky Monastery, which was located nearby. Therefore, an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed above the passage gate of the strelnitsa. Like all towers with entrance gates, Nikolskaya had a drawbridge over the moat and protective grilles that were lowered during the battle. The Nikolskaya Tower went down in history in 1612, when militia troops led by Minin and Pozharsky burst into the Kremlin through its gates, liberating Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. In 1812, the Nikolskaya Tower, along with many others, was blown up by Napoleon's troops retreating from Moscow. The upper part of the tower was especially damaged. In 1816, it was replaced by the architect O.I. Bove with a new needle-shaped dome in the pseudo-Gothic style. In 1917, the tower was damaged again. This time from artillery fire. In 1935, the dome of the tower was crowned with a five-pointed star. In the 20th century, the tower was restored in 1946-1950s and in 1973-1974s. Now the height of the tower is 70.5 meters.

The CORNER ARSENAL tower was built in 1492 by Pietro Antonio Solari and is located further away, in the corner of the Kremlin. The first name was received at the beginning of the 18th century, after the construction of the Arsenal building on the territory of the Kremlin, the second comes from the estate of the Sobakin boyars located nearby. There is a well in the dungeon of the corner Arsenal Tower. It is more than 500 years old. It is filled from an ancient source and therefore it always has clean and fresh water. Previously, there was an underground passage from the Arsenal Tower to the Neglinnaya River. The height of the tower is 60.2 meters.

The MIDDLE ARSENAL tower rises from the side of the Alexander Garden and is called so because there was a weapons depot right behind it. It was built in 1493-1495. After the construction of the Arsenal building, the tower got its name. A grotto was erected near the tower in 1812 - one of the attractions of the Alexander Garden. The height of the tower is 38.9 meters.

The TRINITY Tower is named after the church and the Trinity Compound, which were once located nearby on the territory of the Kremlin. Trinity Tower is the most high tower Kremlin. The height of the tower currently, together with the star from the side of the Alexander Garden, is 80 meters. The Trinity Bridge, protected by the Kutafya Tower, leads to the gates of the Trinity Tower. The tower gate serves as the main entrance for visitors to the Kremlin. Built in 1495-1499. Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin Milanets. The tower was called differently: Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya and Karetnaya. It received its current name in 1658 after the Trinity courtyard of the Kremlin. In the 16th-17th centuries, the two-story base of the tower housed a prison. From 1585 to 1812 there was a clock on the tower. At the end of the 17th century, the tower received a multi-tiered hipped superstructure with white stone decorations. In 1707, due to the threat of a Swedish invasion, the loopholes of the Trinity Tower were expanded to accommodate heavy cannons. Until 1935, an imperial double-headed eagle was installed at the top of the tower. By the next date of the October Revolution, it was decided to remove the eagle and install red stars on it and the other main towers of the Kremlin. The double-headed eagle of the Trinity Tower turned out to be the oldest - made in 1870 and prefabricated with bolts, so when dismantling it had to be dismantled at the top of the tower. In 1937, the faded gem star was replaced with a modern ruby ​​star.

KUTAFYA tower (connected by a bridge to Troitskaya). Its name is associated with this: in the old days, a casually dressed, clumsy woman was called a kutafya. Indeed, the Kutafya tower is not high, like the others, but squat and wide. The tower was built in 1516 under the direction of the Milanese architect Aleviz Fryazin. Low, surrounded by a moat and the Neglinnaya River, with a single gate, which in moments of danger was tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge, the tower was a formidable barrier for those besieging the fortress. It had plantar loopholes and machicolations. In the 16th-17th centuries, the water level in the Neglinnaya River was raised high by dams, so that water surrounded the tower on all sides. Its original height above ground level was 18 meters. The only way to enter the tower from the city was via an inclined bridge. There are two versions of the origin of the name “Kutafya”: from the word “kut” - shelter, corner, or from the word “kutafya”, which meant a plump, clumsy woman. The Kutafya Tower has never had a covering. In 1685, it was crowned with an openwork “crown” with white stone details.

The COMMANDANT'S Tower got its name in the 19th century because the commandant of Moscow was located in the building nearby. The tower was built in 1493-1495 on the northwestern side of the Kremlin wall, which today stretches along the Alexander Garden. It was formerly called Kolymazhnaya after the Kolymazhny yard located near it in the Kremlin. In 1676-1686 it was built on. The tower is made up of a massive quadrangle with machicolations (mounted loopholes) and a parapet and an open tetrahedron standing on it, completed with a pyramidal roof, an observation tower and an octagonal ball. The main volume of the tower contains three tiers of rooms covered with barrel vaults; The completion tiers are also covered with vaults. In the 19th century, the tower received the name “Komendantskaya”, when nearby in the Kremlin, in Poteshny palace XVII century the commandant of Moscow settled. The height of the tower from the side of the Alexander Garden is 41.25 meters.

The ARMORY tower, which once stood on the banks of the Neglinnaya River, now enclosed in an underground pipe, received its name from the nearby Armory Chamber, the second comes from the nearby Stables Yard. Once upon a time there were ancient weapons workshops located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. The ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to the wonderful museum located nearby behind the Kremlin wall - the Armory Chamber. Many Kremlin treasures and simply very ancient things are collected here. For example, helmets and chain mail of ancient Russian warriors. The height of the Armory Tower is 32.65 meters.

Built in 1490 by Pietro Antonio Solari. Travel card. The first name of the tower is the original one, it comes from Borovitsky Hill, on the slope of which the tower stands; The name of the hill apparently comes from an ancient pine forest that grew on this site. The second name, assigned by royal decree of 1658, comes from the nearby Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist and the icon of St. John the Baptist, located above the gate. Currently, it is the main passage for government motorcades. The height of the tower is 54 meters.

WATER TOWER - so named because of the machine that was once here. She lifted water from a well located below to the very top of the tower into a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. This is how in the old days the Kremlin had its own water supply system. He worked for a long time, but then the car was dismantled and taken to St. Petersburg. There it was used to construct fountains. The height of the Vodovzvodnaya tower with a star is 61.45 meters. The second name of the tower is associated with the boyar surname Sviblo, or the Sviblovs, who were responsible for its construction.

Annunciation Tower. According to legend, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously kept in this tower, and in 1731 the Church of the Annunciation was added to this tower. Most likely, the name of the tower is associated with one of these facts. In the 17th century, for the passage of laundresses to the Moscow River, a gate was made near the tower, called Portomoyny. They were laid in 1831, and in Soviet time The Church of the Annunciation was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation Tower with a weather vane is 32.45 meters.

TAINITSKAYA Tower is the first tower founded during the construction of the Kremlin. It was named so because a secret underground passage led from it to the river. It was intended to be able to take water in case the fortress was besieged by enemies. The height of the Taynitskaya tower is 38.4 meters.

Built in the 1480s. The tower ends with a simple tetrahedral pyramidal tent. The interior of the tower is formed by two tiers of vaulted rooms: the lower tier with a cross vault and the upper tier with a closed vault. The upper quadrangle is open into the cavity of the tent. One of the two towers that did not get a name. Height 34.15 meters.

Built in the 1480s. Above the upper quadrangle of the tower there is an octagonal tent with a weather vane; the upper quadrangle is open into the tent. The interior of the tower includes two levels of premises; the lower tier has a cylindrical vault, and the upper one is closed. Height 30.2 meters.

PETROVSKAYA tower, together with two unnamed ones, was built to strengthen the southern wall, as it was most often attacked. Like the two nameless ones, the Petrovskaya Tower at first had no name. She received her name from the Church of Metropolitan Peter at the Ugreshsky Metochion in the Kremlin. In 1771 during construction Kremlin Palace the tower, the church of Metropolitan Peter and the Ugreshskoe metochion were dismantled. In 1783, the tower was rebuilt, but in 1812, the French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818, the Petrovskaya Tower was restored again. Kremlin gardeners used it for their needs. The height of the tower is 27.15 meters.

The history of the Kremlin towers began in the 80s of the 15th century, when the Emperor of All Rus' ordered the renovation of the citadel. At the same time, Italian architects were called in - the best builders in Europe. As a result, there are 20 towers. Of these, 19 were erected between 1485 and 1516. Another, small Tsarskaya tower, appeared in 1680.

By this time, a unified architectural style of the Kremlin had already emerged. In 1624, the first tent roof rose over the Spasskaya Tower. Gradually, the remaining towers were decorated with elegant tents, softening the initially harsh appearance. Over the centuries, the Kremlin towers changed their names, were dismantled, restored again, added something to their unique appearance, and lost some elements.

Corner towers

In the corners of the irregular triangle formed by the fortress walls, cylindrical towers were erected.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower is the southwestern tip of the triangle and one of the five Kremlin towers topped with stars. In the old days it was called Sviblova - after the nearby courtyard of the boyars Sviblo. In the 17th century, a clever device appeared in the tower, supplying water from the river to the Kremlin - the first water supply system in the capital of the Russian Empire. In 1812, the tower was destroyed by an explosion and 5-7 years later it was restored.

In the southeastern corner is the Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) tower. One name is associated with the boyar Ivan Beklemishev, whose mansion was adjacent to the defensive structure, the other with the name of the Moskvoretsky Bridge. The tower was repaired after the events of 1812 and 1917, but did not undergo serious reconstruction.

The corner Arsenal Tower was less fortunate. The most powerful of all the Kremlin towers was previously called Sobakina (after the nearby courtyard of the Sobakin boyars), had a secret passage to Neglinnaya and a well in the basement, which supplied the fortress garrison with water during the siege. Damaged in 1812 during the bombing of the Arsenal. In the 19th-20th centuries, the tower experienced repairs, interior remodeling and restoration work.

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Intermediate towers

Quadrangular towers located along the perimeter of the walls were the key points of the defense system. The most famous of them is the Spasskaya Tower, built on the eastern wall to protect the main gate of the Kremlin. Previously, it was short and was called the Frolovskaya strelnitsa - after the name of the church of Frol and Lavra. The name “Spasskaya” is associated with two gate icons - the Savior of Smolensk and the Savior Not Made by Hands. The upper quadrangle of the tower is decorated with chimes, and the spire is crowned with a ruby ​​star.

Other towers of the eastern wall:

• Tsarskaya (in the form of a tent on poles);
• Alarm (used to warn about fires and other dangers);
• Konstantino-Eleninskaya (the name is associated with the Church of Constantine and Helena; until the middle of the 17th century - Timofeevskaya);
• Senate (named in 1787 after the completion of the Senate Palace);
• Nikolskaya (passage tower topped with a star; named after the icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk).

Towers of the southern part of the wall:

• Blagoveshchenskaya (named after the icon of the Annunciation);
• Tainitskaya (“a building with secrets”, from which the construction of red brick fortifications began in 1485);
• First Nameless (formerly Porokhovaya - due to the gunpowder warehouse located in it; it was restored several times);
• Second Nameless;
• Petrovskaya (named after Peter, Metropolitan of Kyiv; the second name is Ugreshskaya, after the courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery).

Towers of the northwestern wall:

• Srednyaya Arsenalnaya (before the construction of the Arsenal building - Granyonaya);
• Troitskaya (the highest, travel pass, crowned with a ruby ​​star);
• Komendantskaya (formerly Kolymazhnaya - after the nearby Kolymazhny yard);
• Armory (named after the building of the Armory Chamber; until the 19th century, Konyushennaya);
• Borovitskaya (tower with a ruby ​​star and a gate for the passage of government motorcades; the name comes from the pine forest that covered the hill in ancient times).

Opposite the Trinity Tower stands the elegant Kutafya Tower, through the gates of which tourists and other visitors enter the Kremlin. Its name is associated with a portly woman-housewife; it is also associated with the word “kut”. The second name of the tower is Predmostnaya. This is a diversion tower, the only one preserved in the architectural and fortress complex, in which everything breathes history.

How many towers are there in the Moscow Kremlin- a question from the school curriculum. It is equally useful to know which one is called what and why it is called that. Behind each of them is history, time, destinies!

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The most famous tower of the Kremlin, which all residents of our country will definitely recognize. After all, it is on it that the famous chimes are located, which strike twelve times and announce the arrival of the New Year. The tower clock rings the Russian anthem and Mikhail Glinka's "Hail" several times a day, and the main bell strikes every hour.

Corner Arsenalnaya (Dog) tower

The pot-bellied Corner Arsenal Tower is the most powerful in the entire Kremlin wall. It played a big role in the defense of the fortress, and under Peter I its loopholes were expanded and cannons were installed in them. The tower was an important strategic object also because in its depths there was a spring of spring water, which would come in very handy if the fortress were under siege.

Middle Arsenalnaya (Faceted) Tower

The tower is called Granena for its sharp shapes and straight lines. At its foot is the famous grotto - the Italian Grotto or simply “Ruins”. It was built in the first half of the 19th century as a symbol of the revival of Moscow after the devastating fire of 1812.

Trinity Tower

The central passage tower of the Moscow Kremlin, which in the Middle Ages was used as a royal and patriarchal exit. Together with the Kutafya Tower and the Trinity Gate, it forms a single link of defense. However, today it is used for tourists to enter.

Kutafya Tower

The appearance of the tower led researchers to believe that the word “kutafya” means “clumsy.” But most likely the word came from “kut” - “angle”. Today, the tower houses a storage room; the glass pavilion on the second floor houses the ticket office and the entrance to the Kremlin.

Commandant (Kolymazhnaya) tower

In ancient times, the Commandant's Tower was called Kolymazhnaya after the name of the Kolymazhny yard, located in the Kremlin. But already in the 19th century the name was changed due to the residence of the commandant of Moscow located in the Poteshny Palace.

Armory (Konyushennaya) tower

Many towers and structures of the Moscow Kremlin were rebuilt and modified over time. But the Armory Tower continues to delight the eye with its slender architecture. Her appearance, with the exception of some additions that took place in 1676-1686, has remained virtually unchanged for more than five centuries.

Borovitskaya (Predtechenskaya) tower

For several centuries the tower was called the Predtechenskaya - after the nearby Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist. But the royal decree was not a hindrance to the people - the name did not stick, and a year later the tower again became Borovitskaya. Either because of the dense forest that once made noise next to the Kremlin, or in honor of the city of Borovsk, whose inhabitants built the Kremlin.

Vodovzvodnaya (Sviblova) tower

The first water supply system in Moscow appeared in this tower: a special machine was installed in it, which supplied water under pressure from the Moscow River. Today she is crowned with the smallest of the Kremlin stars. And every citizen of Russia can see the Vodovzvodnaya Tower on the inside cover of their passport.

Annunciation Tower

The tower is associated with a legend about the miraculous appearance of the Annunciation icon on one of its walls. Holy Mother of God" They say that this is why the tower began to be called Blagoveshchenskaya. Other researchers say that the name is related to the name of the church.

Taynitskaya Tower

It was from this tower that the entire Moscow fortress once began. But only the name remained from the previous structure: the tower was repeatedly rebuilt, destroyed and rebuilt.

First Nameless Tower

Another tower, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times. For the first time, adjustments to its appearance were made by the construction of the Kremlin Palace, and the second time by the Patriotic War of 1812. Today the tower reaches a height of 34 meters, and is crowned by a pyramidal tent.

Second Nameless Tower

Adjustments were also made to the design of this tower due to the construction of the Kremlin Palace. Before its construction began, the tower was completely dismantled, and when Catherine II ordered the construction to be stopped, it was put back together. Today it is one of the smallest towers in the Moscow Kremlin.

Petrovskaya (Ugreshskaya) tower

Like many Kremlin towers, the Petrovskaya (or Ugreshskaya) Tower got its name from the church of Metropolitan Peter and the monastery courtyard of the same name. The tower was destroyed during the Polish intervention in the 17th century, restored after the Time of Troubles, then dismantled for the construction of the Kremlin Palace and rebuilt again. And only in the 19th century, under the leadership of the architect Beauvais, the building was restored to its historical appearance.

Moskvoretskaya (Beklimishevskaya) tower

The Beklemishevskaya tower is named after the boyar Beklemishev, whose courtyard was located not far from the Kremlin. Its second name is Moskvoretskaya - after the name of the bridge located nearby. By the way, this is one of the few towers that have survived to this day practically unchanged and have not been rebuilt.

The modern Kremlin was built at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries. Impregnable fortress It was surrounded on all sides by water: from the south - the Moscow River, from the north and west - the Neglinnaya River, from the east - a ditch 10 m deep and 32 m wide, lined with white stone.

The length of the fortifications is more than 2 kilometers, height from 5 to 19 m, thickness from 3.5 to 6.5 m. 18 combat towers protrude from the walls. The distance between them made it possible to shoot through the entire protected perimeter. Initially, the towers were flat on top, only canopies protected the warriors from rain and snow.

In the 17th century, when the borders of the state moved away from Moscow and the Kremlin gradually lost its military significance, the towers were decorated with decorative tents.

Several times the Moscow Kremlin was threatened with destruction. At the end of the 18th century, by order of Catherine II, architect V.I. Bazhenov designed the demolition of the ancient walls and the construction of a new palace in their place. In 1812, Napoleon wanted to blow up the shrine of Russia. In 1917, the Red Guards fired at the fortress with three-inch guns to drive out the cadets from it. In 1945, the Germans bombed the city. However, fate preserved the Kremlin, and in our time it has become a symbol of Russian statehood.

Spasskaya Tower

The most majestic and beautiful tower of the Kremlin, it is rightfully considered the main one. Ceremonial processions pass through its gates. Initially it was called Frolovskaya, and Spasskaya - from 1658, when an icon of the Savior was installed above the passage gate. The tower has ten floors, three of which are occupied by Chimes - striking clocks.

Nikolskaya Tower

It got its name from the nearby St. Nicholas Monastery. One of four "pass-through" towers. The gate is protected by a diversion archer. The tower was blown up by the French in 1812 and restored in 1816.

Corner Arsenal Tower

The tower received its current name only about 200 years ago. Previously, it was called Sobakina after the estate of the Sobakin boyars located nearby. The tower protected the confluence of the Neglinnaya River with an artificial ditch dug along Red Square. A spring was hidden in the dungeon of the tower.

Trinity and Kutafya towers

The Trinity Tower was named by a special royal decree after the nearby Trinity courtyard. It was built near the Neglinnaya River itself. Its massive base goes deep into the ground. To cross the river, a bridge was built, protected by the Kutafya bridgehead tower.

Borovitskaya Tower

The passage Borovitskaya Tower got its name from an ancient coniferous forest. Not the tallest stepped tower looks very powerful. A road passed through its gates along which household goods, food and water from the Moscow River were delivered to the Kremlin.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower

A well was dug inside the Vodovzvodnaya or Sviblova Tower (named after the nearby courtyard of the Sviblov boyars). Using a special machine, water was raised into the central reservoir, and from there it was supplied through lead pipes to the upper Kremlin gardens. This was the first water supply system in Moscow. The tower was blown up by the French during the Napoleonic invasion of 1812. It was restored by the architect O.I. Beauvais.

Beklemishevskaya Tower

Slender, round in plan corner tower named after the Beklemishev boyars, who had their own courtyard nearby. Sometimes it is also called Moskvoretskaya due to its location at the confluence of an artificial ditch with the Moskva River.

Tsar's Tower

The elegant turret was built to replace a dilapidated wooden tower, from which, according to legend, Ivan the Terrible loved to watch the events on Red Square. On the second tier hung a bell - the Spassky alarm.

Other towers

• Senate Tower
• Middle Arsenal Tower
• Commandant's Tower
• Weapon Tower
• Annunciation Tower
• Taynitskaya Tower
• 1st Nameless Tower
• 2nd Nameless Tower
• Petrovskaya Tower
• Konstantino-Helenskaya Tower
• Alarm tower

reference Information

Moscow Kremlin - a unique fortress in the center of Moscow and the oldest district of the city. The Kremlin is considered the heart of Russia - both because the Russian capital began its journey from here, and because the center of the state has long been located within the walls of the fortress: first the royal chambers, and now the residence of the President of Russia.

And, of course, great importance has always been attached to the defense of the Kremlin.

In plan, the fortress is an irregular triangle: the Kremlin acquired this shape during the Ivan III the Great, during which they began to build new red brick walls to replace the old white stone ones built during Dmitry Donskom. Simultaneously with the construction of the walls, new towers were also erected, which formed the defensive lines of the new Moscow fortress. The main array of walls and towers was built in 1485-1495; part of the Kremlin fortifications were completed until 1516, when the Tsar was already Vasily III. Initially, the towers were erected without tiered hipped roofs - they were added only in the 17th century.

There are a total of 20 towers along the Kremlin wall.

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) tower

Architect: Marco Ruffo.

Years of construction: 1487-1488.

Height: 46.2 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

The name is given by the building Arsenal, built at the beginning of the 18th century.

Trinity Tower

Architect: Aleviz Fryazin (Old).

Years of construction: 1495-1499.

Height: 80 meters.

Completion:

Located on the western side of the Kremlin wall between the Middle Arsenal and Commandant towers. Outwardly it resembles the Spasskaya Tower; It is a quadrangle, which is crowned with a multi-tiered tented roof with rich decorative design. It has a diverting arch with passage Trinity Gates. Unlike other passage towers of the Moscow Kremlin, it has retained the gateway Trinity Bridge, connecting it with the Kutafya Tower.

The name was given after the nearby courtyard Trinity Monastery.

Kutafya Tower

Architect: Aleviz Fryazin (Old).

Years of construction: 1516.

Height: 13.5 meters.

Completion: absent.

Located on the western side of the Kremlin wall opposite the Trinity Tower - this is the only tower of the Moscow Kremlin, which is located away from the wall and in fact represents the only surviving barbican of the fortress. In the past, it was surrounded by water and was used to defend the Trinity Bridge over the Neglinnaya River, leading from the Kutafya Tower to the Trinity Gate. Compared to other towers, it resembles an elegant holiday cake. Currently, the Kutafya Tower is equipped with the main checkpoint for visitors to the Moscow Kremlin.

The name probably comes from an obsolete word "kutafya" meaning a plump, clumsy, unkemptly dressed woman.

Commandant (Kolymazhnaya) tower

Architect: Aleviz Fryazin (Old).

Years of construction: 1493-1495.

Height: 41.2 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

Commandant's Tower located on the western side of the Kremlin wall between the Trinity and Armory towers. It is an elongated quadrangle with a base widening towards the bottom and a parapet with machicolations at the top, topped with a hipped roof.

The name is given after the residence of the commandant of Moscow in the Poteshny Palace.

Armory (Konyushennaya) tower

Architect: Aleviz Fryazin (Old) - possible.

Years of construction: 1493-1495.

Height: 32.6 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

Weapon Tower located on the western side of the Kremlin wall between the Commandant and Borovitskaya towers. It is a quadrangle with a base widening towards the bottom and a parapet with machicolations at the top, topped with a tiered hipped roof.

The name is given after the building of the Armory Chamber.

Borovitskaya (Predtechenskaya) tower

Architect: Pietro Antonio Solari.

Years of construction: 1490.

Height: 54 meters.

Completion: glowing ruby ​​weather vane star.

Borovitskaya Tower located on the western side of the Kremlin wall between the Armory and Vodovzvodnaya towers. It consists of 4 quadrangles decreasing towards the top, placed on top of each other and crowned with a stone tent; a diversion arch with Borovitsky passage gates is attached to the side. Despite the rather poor decorative design, the Borovitskaya Tower stands out from the others due to its stepped (pyramidal) shape.

On the outside of the Borovitsky Gate are the coats of arms of the Lithuanian and Moscow principalities carved from white stone; when and why they appeared there is unknown.

The name is given after the ancient forest that covered Borovitsky Hill in past.

Vodovzvodnaya (Sviblova) tower

Architect: Anton Fryazin.

Years of construction: 1488.

Height: 61.2 meters.

Completion: glowing ruby ​​weather vane star.

Located on the southwestern corner of the Kremlin wall near the Kremlin embankment of the Moscow River between the Borovitskaya and Blagoveshchenskaya towers. It is an elongated cylinder with a complex hip-shaped end. The tower's parapet is crowned with dovetail battlements; it is equipped with machicolations for all-round firing. The decorative design of the tower is noteworthy: up to the middle of the height, it is lined with alternating belts of protruding and sinking masonry, above which there is an arcature belt, emphasized by a thin strip of white stone. Interestingly, the star on top of the Vodovzvodnaya Tower is the smallest among the other Kremlin towers (3 meters in diameter).

In the past, the tower housed a water-lifting machine developed according to the project Christopher Galovey- the first water supply system in Moscow from tanks installed on the upper tiers of the tower to supply water from the Moscow River to the Kremlin. Later it was dismantled and transported to St. Petersburg, where they began to use it to fill fountains with water.

The name is given after Galovey's water-lifting machine.

Annunciation Tower

Architect: ?

Years of construction: 1487-1488.

Height: 32.4 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

Annunciation Tower located on the southern side of the Kremlin wall between the Vodovzvodnaya and Tainitskaya towers. It is a quadrangle with a built-on tetrahedral tent and an observation tower. The parapet of the tower is equipped with machicolations. Under Ivan the Terrible it was used as a prison, in 1731-1932 - as the bell tower of the Church of the Annunciation (demolished during the Soviet years).

The name is given after the icon of the Annunciation, which, according to legend, miraculously appeared on the northern wall of the tower during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.

Taynitskaya Tower

Architect: Anton Fryazin.

Years of construction: 1485.

Height: 38.4 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

Taynitskaya Tower located in the central part of the southern side of the Kremlin wall between the Annunciation and First Nameless towers. It is a massive quadrangle with a built-on tetrahedral tent and an observation tower. The parapet of the tower is equipped with machicolations. In the past, the tower contained Tainitsky Gates, a well-spring and a secret passage to the Moscow River.

The first tower of the Moscow Kremlin to be built - it was from it that the construction of modern walls and towers began.

The name is given after the secret exit to the Moscow River.

First Nameless Tower

Architect: ?

Years of construction: 1480s.

Height: 34.1 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

First Nameless Tower located on the southern side of the Kremlin wall between the Tainitskaya and Second Nameless towers. It is a quadrangle with a built-on tetrahedral tent and an observation tower. During its history it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In the past, there was a gunpowder warehouse inside the tower, which is why the tower was called the Powder Tower.

The modern name was given for a reason that is not entirely clear.

Second Nameless Tower

Architect: ?

Years of construction: 1480s.

Height: 30.2 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

Second Nameless Tower is located on the southern side of the Kremlin wall between the First Nameless Tower and the Petrovskaya Tower. It is a quadrangle with a built-on tetrahedral tent and an observation tower topped with an octagonal tent. In the past there was a gate in the tower.

The name was given for a reason that is not entirely clear.

Petrovskaya (Ugreshskaya) tower

Architect: ?

Years of construction: 1485-1487.

Height: 27.1 meters.

Completion: weathervane flag.

Petrovskaya Tower located on the southern side of the Kremlin wall between the Second Nameless and Beklemishevskaya towers. It consists of 3 quadrangles placed on top of each other, topped with an octagonal tent. There are false machicolations in the parapet of the tower. Over the years of its existence, it has been rebuilt several times.

The name is given by the courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery with the Church of Peter the Metropolitan, which was located on the territory of the Kremlin near the tower in the 15th-17th centuries.

Interesting facts about the Kremlin towers

There are 20 towers along the Kremlin walls;

In the past, when the Kremlin was located on an island formed by the Moscow River, Neglinka and Alevizov Ditch, bridges were thrown from the travel towers to the “mainland” - only the Trinity Bridge has survived to this day;

The very first one to be built is the Tainitskaya Tower, erected in 1485;

Of the 20 towers, 5 are topped with ruby ​​stars (Spasskaya, Nikolskaya, Troitskaya, Borovitskaya and Vodovzvodnaya), 1 - with a decorative finial (Tsarskaya), 1 - has no finial (Kutafya Tower), on the 13 remaining towers there are weathervane flags;

The red ruby ​​stars on the tops of the towers rotate in the wind like a weather vane;

Initially, in 1935, gilded semi-precious stars were installed on the tops of the towers, but they quickly faded, and already in 1937 they were replaced with luminous ruby ​​ones;

Before the stars, the towers were crowned with double-headed eagles, except for Vodovzvodnaya - state symbols were not placed on it;

To prevent the stars from overheating from the operation of the lamps, they are equipped with a ventilation system;

Trinity Tower - the highest tower of the Kremlin (80 meters);

Kutafya Tower - the lowest tower of the Kremlin (13.5 meters);

Kutafya Tower is the only surviving bridgehead barbican of the fortress;

The striking of the chimes of the Spasskaya Tower is a symbol of the New Year in Russia;

In past , however, some of the towers - including Spasskaya, Nikolskaya and Troitskaya - could be left red for aesthetic reasons;

The ensemble of walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin is one of the most popular architectural attractions of Moscow.