The largest tower of the Kremlin. Kremlin towers. Names, defensive, passage towers of the Moscow Kremlin. Photos Spasskaya, Troitskaya, height of the Kremlin towers, how many towers there are, list, brief history of the construction of the Moscow Kremlin towers

The Annunciation Tower is named after miraculous icon, which was stored in it. Later a church was built for the icon, but the name remained.

The Vodovzvodnaya Tower is a corner tower and is so named because there was once a machine here that pumped water from the river and delivered it through lead pipes to royal palace Kremlin.

In the 17th century, the car was dismantled and transported to St. Petersburg to install fountains. The height of the tower is 61.45 m.

Armory and Commandant towers

Once upon a time, the Armory Tower stood on the banks of the Neglinka, but then the river was “chained” into a pipe underground. The building owes its name to the Armory Chamber built nearby, where weapons and jewelry workshops were once located. Now it houses a museum, which displays unique military and jewelry exhibits from antiquity. The height of the structure is 32.65 m.

The commandant's tower was erected in 1495, but received its modern name only in the 19th century, when the commandant of the fortress moved to the nearby

Trinity, Kutafya and Petrovskaya towers

The Kremlin has so many towers, almost all of them were rebuilt by Italian craftsmen in the 15th century. So Trinity was built by Aloisio da Carezano in 1495-1499. This is the tallest building in the Kremlin. Its height is 80 m, including the spire and the star crowning it. The building received its name from the nearby Trinity Church.

Interesting to know: at one time this building was different names, for example Rizopolozhenskaya, Karetnaya or Znamenskaya, until it received its current name in 1658. There was once a prison at its two-story base. Until 1935, its spire was crowned with a royal eagle, which was replaced with a ruby ​​star for the next anniversary of the revolution.

The Spasskaya Tower was built on the site of the former main gate of the Kremlin. An icon of the Savior was installed above the passage, and the entrance itself was considered holy by the people; one had to enter it on foot with his head uncovered. Nowadays, the famous chimes are installed on it.

Other Kremlin towers

The First and Second Nameless Towers were of exceptional strategic importance, for example, one of them had a powder magazine.

Indeed it was equipped with a bell and observation deck, where the archers were on duty. In the 18th century, the ringing of a bell began a riot in the city, and when it was suppressed, they deprived the “culprit” of his language. The bell hung silently until it was sent to the museum.

The Tsar's Tower can hardly be called a tower, since it is simply a tent-roofed superstructure, where Ivan the Terrible liked to come to look at the city.

The Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower was also named after the church of the same name. It was built in 1490 and is famous for the fact that it was through it that Russian soldiers went to war, for example Dmitry Donskoy with his army.

That's how many towers decorate the Moscow Kremlin today.

• Today's buildings were built mainly in 1485-1495 years is not the place of dilapidated white stone walls erected in 1366.
• Fortress with twenty towers connected by walls, has a triangular shape.
• Three corner towers have round shape for conducting circular fire, the rest are square, very different from one another.
• The length of the Kremlin wall is 2335 m, height is 8-19 m, and its thickness is 3.5-6.5 m.
• The towers have details characteristic of Italian architecture of that time, which is not surprising, since they were built by Italian architects.
• IN tower names reflects their history and the history of the place.

The towers of the Moscow Kremlin with peaked tents and walls with battlements in the form of “swallow tails” are irreplaceable elements of the capital’s panorama. On the site where the Kremlin stands, a settlement has been located since ancient times. This location is very advantageous: on the high Borovitsky Hill, at the confluence of two rivers - the Moskva River and the Neglinnaya. The first fortifications that appeared here were wooden. And in 1366-1368, Prince Dmitry Donskoy built the first white stone Moscow Kremlin. The walls and towers that appear before us now are fundamentally fortifications, built in 1485 - 1495. by Italian architects on the site of the former, dilapidated white stone walls.

Kremlin construction techniques and fortress plan

Twenty Kremlin towers, connected by walls, form an irregular triangle with an area of ​​27.5 hectares. The fortifications were built taking into account the most modern military technologies of the 15th century. The towers protrude beyond the line of the walls so that soldiers can not only fire, but also control the situation in close proximity to the walls. Round towers were erected at the corners (Vodovzvodnaya, Moskvoretskaya and Arsenalnaya) - this shape was chosen both because of their greater strength and for conducting all-round fire. They also had the opportunity to arrange hidden wells with water. Most towers are square at the base, but differ quite greatly from each other, depending on their purpose. The travel towers (Spasskaya, Borovitskaya, Troitskaya and others), erected on the axes of the roads leading to the Kremlin, were the most powerful and well fortified. The towers were also endowed with a symbolic meaning of protection, protecting the Kremlin from the penetration of evil and evil spirits. Therefore, icons can still be seen above the gates of some towers.

Most of the towers had diversion arrows attached - fortifications that were carried outside the fortress walls or beyond the ditch for additional defense. This type of fortification fully met the requirements of the late 15th century. Of the archery towers, one has survived - Kutafya, which covers Trinity and in our time serves as the main entrance for tourists to the Kremlin. When constructing fortifications, various measures were taken against enemy attacks. This, for example, is the construction of secret underground passages leading outside the walls to protect the city from undermining. A through tunnel was built inside the walls to quickly move defenders.

The length of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin is 2235 meters, the thickness of the walls ranges from 3.5 to 6.5 meters, and the height - from 8 to 19 meters. The highest walls are located on the side of Red Square, where there was no natural oh water hazard. The walls were not built all at once, their construction began from the south-eastern part (from the side of the Moscow River), continued to the east and west and was completed in 1516. The oldest tower of the Kremlin, Tainitskaya, was also erected on the south side.

The construction technique itself is also interesting. The walls were built on the foundations of the previous ones, white stone, the material was large red brick, which was used to lay out the front walls, and the gaps were filled with the remains of the collapsed walls of the time of Dmitry Donskoy. So, since 1485, the walls of the Moscow Kremlin acquired a recognizable color. The towers were erected by visiting Italian architects (Friazis, as they were called then): Pietro Antonio Solari, Marco Ruffo, Aleviz di Carcano. This explains their unusual, strange appearance for that time. The fact is that the design of loopholes in the form of the famous “swallowtails” was a typical detail of Northern Italian architecture, characteristic of buildings in cities where the ruling “party” were the Ghibellines - supporters of rapprochement with the emperor (unlike the Guelphs, supporters of the Pope, who decorated the walls of their cities are battlements with a straight ending). These battlements were not only decoration: they protected the upper battle platforms.

After another fire, the corner and passage towers were decorated in the 17th century with stone tents with weather vanes. They served as watchtowers, and signal bells were also located there. In the second half of the 18th century. famous Russian architect V.I. Bazhenov completed the design of the Kremlin Palace - a large-scale building in a classicist style, reminiscent of the architecture of French palaces. The project proposed to line the hill leading to the cathedrals with turf - this place would become one of the first “walks” in Europe. To build such a huge structure, it was necessary to demolish a third of the Kremlin walls. At one site, which is located near the Moscow River, work began on dismantling the fortifications, but soon due to the growing colossal costs, this project was curtailed. In the 19th century During Napoleon's invasion of Moscow, serious damage was caused not only to the palaces and temples of the Kremlin, but also to the Kremlin walls. The architect who was involved in the restoration of the damaged Kremlin towers was O.I. Beauvais (ironically, also Italian).

Spasskaya Tower and Kremlin chimes

The most famous of all the Kremlin towers, Spasskaya, built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari, deserves special mention. Tsars entered the Kremlin through it and religious processions took place. Since the 15th century Only dedicatory white stone slabs have reached us, which tell in Cyrillic (from the Kremlin side) and in Latin (from Red Square) about the order and construction of this tower. Her general form and the decoration then was much more modest: it was almost half the size, and it was originally called Frolovskaya, after the Church of Flora and Lavra on. The Spasskaya Tower began to be called after the icon of the Savior, known throughout Russia, which was placed above the entrance to mid-17th century V. It was considered lost, but in 2010 it turned out that Soviet time it was simply covered with plaster. In the 17th century The tower was one of the first to be built with a multi-tiered elegant top. And the history of the clock on the Spasskaya Tower deserves a separate story.

The first clocks on the Kremlin, still white-stone towers, were installed in 1404 by Lazar Serbin. In the 17th century, the Spasskaya Tower acquired a very unusual clock thanks to a native of Scotland, Christopher Galovey. They were a sun-shaped hand with a rotating dial, on which 17 o'clock was marked. The famous Kremlin chimes, which can still be seen today, date back to the mid-19th century. They were made by watchmakers, brothers named Butenop - the founders of the company of the same name. IN different time the chimes sounded different melodies. Since 1770 it has been the song “Oh, my dear Augustine”, since the middle of the 19th century. ‒ “How glorious is our Lord in Zion”, after the revolution the clock began to play “The Internationale”, and since 2000 you can hear the famous excerpt from Glinka’s opera “A Life for the Tsar”. Currently, the clock mechanism occupies three whole floors, and until 1937 this clock was wound manually with a cast iron key.

Famous Kremlin towers and the history of their names

Let's take a closer look at the history of some of the towers. As already mentioned, the most important for defense and for the composition in general are the corner towers. The Vodovzvodnaya Tower was built by Anton Fryazin in 1488. In the 17th century the tower was equipped with a water-lifting machine, which is why it got its name. Its other name - Sviblova Tower - comes from the boyar family of the Sviblovs, who had a courtyard on the territory of the Kremlin. In 1812 it was blown up by the French, after which it was restored by O.I. Beauvais. Thanks to him, its appearance is emphatically classic: rustication (horizontal lines) in the lower part, columns, decorative design of dormer windows. Decoration comes first, not functionality; the hand of the architect of the early 19th century is felt.

The Beklemishevskaya Tower, built by Marco Ruffo in 1487, was named so because of the boyar I. Beklemishev who lived during the reign of Tsar Vasily III, who fell out of favor and was executed. From the name, one of the functions of this tower becomes obvious - a place of imprisonment for rebels. Its other name is Moskvoretskaya, since it is located on the banks of the Moscow River and occupies a strategically important position. It was from this side that the city was most often subjected to Tatar raids. A secret well was built in this tower. In 1707, the loopholes in the tower were expanded for a new type of weapon, since Swedish intervention was feared at that time. This fact indicates that the tower did not lose its defensive significance until the 18th century.

The corner round tower, located on the north side of the Kremlin buildings, was erected by Pietro Antonio Solari c. 1492. Its other names come from the Sobakin boyars who lived nearby (Sobakina) and from its location next to the Arsenal (Arsenalnaya). Thanks to the edges that form its volume and the base that expands downward, it gives the impression of particular stability and strength. She also had a strategic secret: there is a well inside, and also underground passage to the Neglinnaya River.

The Borovitskaya Tower got its name from what was located in ancient times on Borovitsky Hill pine forest. The tower was built according to the design of Pietro Antonio Solari in 1490. design feature is the location of the archer on the side. It is also angular, but in plan it is not round, but resembles a pyramid, which is formed from quadrangles stacked on top of each other (volumes quadrangular at the base) and crowned with an octagon (volume octagonal at the base). Although this tower was located outside the main roads and was used for household needs, it has retained its significance to this day: it is the only permanently operating passage gate to the Kremlin territory.

The Trinity and Kutafya towers were built by Aleviz Fryazin. Kutafya dates back to 1516, Troitskaya - 1495. These towers are connected by a bridge, both were travel, and in the Kutafya tower there was only one gate, which was closed with heavy forged bars. Today this is the main entrance to the Kremlin architectural and museum complex. The Trinity Tower is the largest, its height reaches 76.35 meters. Its structure is complex: it consists of six floors, two of which are underground, and in the 17th and 18th centuries. it was a place of detention for rebels. It received its name in 1658 from the Trinity Metochion, located nearby.

The Taynitskaya Tower is so called because not only a secret well was built inside it, but also a secret passage to the Moscow River. This tower was built first, in 1485 - it was from this side that the Tatars usually attacked.

The most high tower The Moscow Kremlin is the central vezha of the northwestern section of the wall facing the Alexander Garden. It is called Trinity, it is a travel card and the second most important. The tower is topped with a ruby ​​star, and once upon a time there were chimes hanging on it, like on the Spasskaya Vezha (Old Russian name).

Ancient white stone Kremlin

Even Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy in 1366-1368 began to replace the wooden walls of the Kremlin. The material from which new fortifications and towers were built was most often light limestone or “white stone,” which was so rich in the central regions of Rus'.

This is where the ancient designation of Moscow comes from - “white stone”. However this construction material turned out to be fragile, and the defensive structures were deteriorating. Restoration work was carried out regularly, as there is plenty of evidence in the chronicles. So, in 1462, the Moscow merchant Vasily Dmitrievich Ermolin, who at that time was in charge of all construction work nationwide, carried out a major overhaul of the section of the wall from the Borovitsky Gate to the Sviblova Strelnitsa. To answer the question “which of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin is the tallest,” you need to find out about everything in more detail, including the general reconstruction of the walls and towers, which, despite major repairs, continued to “float.” For this reason, Ivan III the Great, who, by the way, increased the size of the Moscow principality by 6 times, issued a decree in the last third of the 15th century, as a result of which the Moscow Kremlin, its walls and towers underwent a radical reconstruction.

New red brick Kremlin

To achieve your goal Grand Duke Moskovsky invites famous masters of architecture from Italy, under whose leadership, in 1485, the dismantling of the white stone spindles (the area between the two towers) of the walls and the towers themselves begins. Over the course of ten years, new ones were erected on the site of the dismantled defensive structures, this time from baked bricks. During this reconstruction, the area of ​​the Kremlin was increased by annexing a site in the north-west of the fortress. And now it has amounted to 27.5 hectares and has taken the shape of an irregular triangle. This is the current outline of the fortress. The work was supervised by Italians. Therefore, it is not surprising that the upper ends of the walls, decorated with battlements, all the vezhi (Old Russian name), including the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin, very much resembled Italian castles - the Scaliger castle in the city of Verona and the Milanese

Towers of the Moscow Fortress

In total, the Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers. The three corner towers - Vodovzvodnaya, Beglemishevskaya and Corner Arsenalnaya - are round in cross-section, while the rest, including the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin, are square. The one that stands out from the general ensemble, mostly in the same style, is the one overlooking Red Square, which was blown up by the French in 1812. During the restoration work carried out according to the project of O. I. Bove, it was given a Gothic look and painted in White color. All vezhas differ from each other in shape and height. So which of them is the tallest? What is it and where is it located? What's her story?

Fryazhsky architects

Aleviz Fryazin (Milanese), who arrived in Moscow in 1494, took part in the general reconstruction of the Kremlin. In 1495, he participated in the construction of the wall and towers along the Stone Chambers, which were also erected under his leadership (1499-1508). In 1508, he built dams on this river, which flowed along the northwestern part of the Kremlin wall. Thanks to them, the water level in the river rose enough to fill the ditch created along the wall overlooking Red Square. It was dug from 1508 to 1516 under the leadership of Milanz. And he also built the northern tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin.

It should be noted that Fryazin is not a surname, it is a nickname that the Russians gave to all Western specialists who came from Southern Europe. It came from a distorted word “franc”. Because of this, there was often confusion. Aleviz Fryazin the Old, Aleviz Fryazin the Milanese and Aloisio da Caresano (or Carcano) are the same person who built the Trinity Tower, and Bon Fryazin erected the Ivan the Great bell tower. At the same time, Ivan III invites another Aleviz Fryazin to Moscow, but this time the Venetian, or New. They even had common name- Fryazhsky architects. In addition to the above-mentioned “Fryazins” or “Fryags” invited by Ivan III the Great, there were Marco Ruffo and Pietro Antonio Solari, respectively, Mark and Peter Fryazins.

Kremlin fortifications

So, the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin was erected from 1495 to 1499 by Aleviz Fryazin Milanets. And the very first fortification structure of the Kremlin - the Tainitskaya Tower (central in the southern part of the Kremlin wall) - was begun on July 14, 1485. After this, the towers were put into operation almost every year.

The latest - the Tsar's Tower - was erected in 1680. The walls of the Kremlin, including those along the Neglinnaya River, deserve special words. In the center of this segment is the northern tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. The total length of the walls is 2235 meters, the height varies from 5 to 19 m. In the walls with a thickness of 3.5 to 6.5 m there was a passage, initially through, but then in some areas filled with garbage.

Unique walls

The towers were located at a certain distance from each other, which could be overcome along a passage laid out on the top of the wall. Its width reached 2 and 4 meters in some places. Outside, it was protected by two-horned teeth, the height of which is 2-2.5 m, and the thickness is 0.65-0.7 m. Total There are 1045 protective teeth located around the perimeter. The archers located on the wall were covered from the courtyard side by a parapet wall. Initially, the passage was covered by a gable canopy, under which one could hide in bad weather, and it also protected the wall itself from the destructive effects of rain and snow. This roof burned down in the 18th century and was never restored.

History of the name

Since the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin is called Trinity, it is necessary to find out why it was given such a name, especially since it was originally called Epiphany, then Rizpolozhenskaya, later Znamenskaya and Kuretnaya, and it received its current name only in 1658 by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in connections with the Trinity Metochion located on the territory of the Kremlin. Previous names were associated with the Kremlin churches and the nearby royal carriage house.

The most original

The tallest tower of the Kremlin (photo attached) has the following parameters: from the side of the Alexander Garden, built where the Neglinnaya River used to be, taken into a pipe, the height of the tower is 80 meters with the star, without it - 76.35, with inside- 69.3 and 65.65 m, respectively. This tower is a travel tower. From the moment of its foundation until the end of the 17th century, its gates were considered second in importance after Spassky.

They served for travel to the courts of queens, princesses and the patriarch. In 1516, a bridge was thrown from the Trinity Tower across the Neglinnaya River, which ended with a diversion archery or barbican, called in this case. This fortification served primarily for additional protection gate This is the only surviving bridge tower of the Kremlin. The Trinity Bridge leading from it, according to some experts in the history of Moscow, was erected on the site of the capital’s first stone structure of this kind, built back in the 14th century.

Second in importance

What is the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin and why not the main one, Spasskaya? Obviously, at some point Soviet history The significance of the Trinity Gate was added by the fact that it was through them that V. I. Lenin arrived in the Kremlin on March 12, 1918. Napoleon entered here through the Trinity Gate, and through it he fled from the Kremlin. The kings returning in victory also entered through the Trinity Bridge, then they were solemnly escorted to the Spassky Gate. Initially, the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin (photo attached) played a significant role in the history of all of Moscow. It is the highest, but not the main one because it does not overlook Red Square.

Similarities and differences

With the completion of the construction of this tower, work was completed on the creation of defensive structures of the entire northwestern section of the wall - from this side the Kremlin became impregnable. The huge tower at the top ended with battlements, the wooden tent had a hipped roof. According to documents from 1585, this tower had chimes, which made it similar to Spasskaya. In addition, double-headed eagles were installed on both, and on Troitskaya the coat of arms of Russia was more ancient, assembled from several parts secured with bolts. And when in 1685 a multi-tiered top and a high stone tent, white turrets, and other white stone decorations were added, the resemblance to the main Spasskaya Tower became very great. And a year later, new chimes were hung (when they burned down in the Moscow fire of 1812, they were never restored).

Elements of church architecture

To the question of which of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin is the tallest, one can answer: the one that is crowned with a quadrangle and an octagon with an end-to-end guard part. What does it mean? The term "octagon on quadrangle" is a type of architectural composition, mainly for church buildings. An octagonal or octagonal configuration floor stands on a tetrahedral, wider base. Such a composition seemed to be directed towards the heavens, which gave the building dynamism; it was, in turn, a striking feature of the Moscow Baroque. In the churches of noble estates, a bell was placed in an octagon; naturally, it was not glazed and could be seen through. the upper tiers of which were built according to this type, looked very beautiful from the side of the current Alexander Garden. This was facilitated by the fact that various turrets and pinnacles were placed in the corners and on the archery. Some of them were removed when the loopholes were expanded in 1707 due to the looming threat of a Swedish invasion. Part - when moving into the Trinity Tower of the archive of the Ministry of the Imperial Court. It was even rebuilt for expansion.

Huge, eight-story

The tallest Kremlin tower in Moscow has six above-ground and two underground floors. Deep basements originally served defensive and military purposes. Then, in the 16th-17th centuries, these basements were turned into a prison. These deep underground floors themselves were discovered in 1851. Throughout its existence, Trinity Tower was used in various ways. There was an archive of the Imperial Court here until 1895, and now it houses the Presidential Orchestra.

Kremlin stars

In addition, the tallest Kremlin tower in Moscow is one of five topped with stars. Borovitskaya and Spasskaya, Nikolskaya and Vodovzvodnaya are four more towers on which the coats of arms of Imperial Russia were replaced by stars. In accordance with the coats of arms, you can also ask a question that is very appropriate in a quiz: “Which of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin is the tallest?” The answer will be this: the one on which the oldest double-headed eagle stood until 1935 (the time of erection was 1830). The “youngest” (1912) was located on Spasskaya. He was the first to be replaced with a star. The first stars were gilded semi-precious and very heavy - weighing up to a ton. Therefore, the roofs of the Spasskaya, Troitskaya and Borovetskaya towers were previously strengthened. However, the semi-precious stars dimmed very quickly, and in 1937 they decided to replace them with luminous stars made of ruby ​​glass.

The uniqueness of the Kremlin towers

How else can you answer the question of what is the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin? If you look at the plan diagram, you can see that it is the 15th tower from Spasskaya Vezha (numbering goes counterclockwise) that is the highest - Troitskaya, the bridge extends from it alone.

Each of the 20 towers of the Moscow Kremlin is unique, has its own history, and one article is not enough to describe them at least superficially.

Spasskaya Tower

The Moscow Kremlin is unique architecturally, culturally historical monument Russian architecture, the largest Kremlin in Europe, the best medieval city ensemble. On its territory there are palaces of Russian princes and tsars, cathedrals Orthodox Church, ancient squares and other important buildings. The Kremlin walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin, as well as other objects, are an architectural monument and UNESCO sites.

The Kremlin has corner, drive-through and blind towers. The most important tower is Spasskaya.

The purpose of the Kremlin towers

In ancient times, the towers of the Moscow Kremlin primarily served as defense hubs. Some towers have travel gates to the Kremlin. In total, there are 19 towers along the Kremlin wall, and the 20th Kutafya tower is the only one not built into the Kremlin wall. Many towers have two names, an ancient and a modern name.

Three round corner towers and six passageways were built into the Kremlin wall, which were intended for defense. These towers were powerful defensive structures. Their system included diversion arrows and bridgehead towers. Of the bridgehead towers, only Kutafya has survived. The defensive system of towers also included bastions and drawbridges. Lowering gratings were installed in the gate openings of the towers. Between the travel towers there are 9 blind towers, that is, without gates.

The bases of these towers are rectangular in shape. They had 3 - 5 combat tiers with loopholes for mounted combat and for combat at the foot of the towers. Hiding places were made near the Kremlin towers - wells and underground passages - rumors so that enemies could not make secret digs. The loopholes of some towers were cleared for installation heavy guns.

From the history of the Moscow Kremlin towers

The towers of the Moscow Kremlin were built mainly in the 15th century by Italian architects Solari and Fryazin. The towers were strengthened over time, tents were built on them, restored, and remodeled. In the 17th century, all towers, except Nikolskaya, were crowned with tents. Drawbridges were replaced by stone arched ones. On east wall a decorative Tsar's Tower was erected. In the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries, clocks were installed on some towers, but they have survived to this day only on the Spasskaya Tower - these are the Kremlin chimes. At the beginning of the 18th century, due to the threat of an attack by the Swedes, the Kremlin walls were fortified with bastions. Their traces are preserved at the Arsenalnaya, Middle, and Armory towers. The loopholes of the towers were adapted to install heavy cannons. At the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th century. Additional fortifications of the towers were dismantled, and the ditch was filled up. In addition, at the end of the 18th century, in connection with the reconstruction of the Kremlin Palace according to the design of V.I. Bazhenov, 4 towers and part of the wall along the bank of the Moscow River were dismantled.

In 1812, the French blew up and damaged a number of towers: Vodovzvodnaya, Corner Arsenalnaya, Petrovskaya, Nikolskaya, 1st Bezymyannaya, Borovitskaya. In 1816 - 1819, some towers were restored under the leadership of O.I. Bove. The Nikolskaya Tower was restored by order of Lenin after its destruction during the October Revolution. To date, the towers have been restored.

Corner towers of the Kremlin

So three round corner towers: Beklemishevskaya, Vodovzvodnaya, Arsenalnaya were intended for the defense of the Kremlin.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower

Vodovzvodnaya corner southwestern tower on the river bank. The second name from 1633 (Sviblova) in honor of the boyar family Sviblova, who was responsible for the construction of this tower. The tower was built in 1488 by the architect Anton Fryazin. It has a height of 61.5 meters. This tower had an installation for supplying water from the river to the Kremlin gardens. In 1805, the tower was dismantled and rebuilt due to disrepair. In 1812 it was blown up by the French and restored again. In 1937, a ruby ​​star was installed on this tower. The tower was restored in 1970.

Beklemishevskaya Tower

Beklemishevskaya Tower (Moskvoretskaya) – south-eastern corner. It was built in 1487 - 1488 by the Italian architect Marco Rufo (Mark Fryazin). The name of the tower was given after the courtyard of boyar Beklemishev adjacent to the Kremlin and due to its proximity to the river. This tower protected the ford and crossing of the Moscow River. Height 46.2 meters. The tower had 4 combat tiers for all-round firing. On the upper platform there was a platform for mounted combat. There was a hiding place in the basement - a rumor. In 1707, due to the threat of a Swedish attack, the loopholes were cleared out to install heavy cannons. At the end of the 17th century, the tower was decorated with a tent.

Corner Arsenal Tower

Corner Arsenalnaya (Sobakina) northeast tower. It was built in 1492 by P. A. Solari. Until the beginning of the 18th century it was called the Dog Tower. By the name of the boyar Sobakin’s estate adjacent to the Kremlin. After the construction of the Arsenal, it began to be called Arsenalnaya. The tower has 18 sides. Its height is 60.2 m. In the basement of the tower there is a hiding place - a well. During the French retreat in 1812, the tower was damaged by an explosion, but was later restored. In the 50s and 80s of the 20th century, the tower was restored.

Passage towers of the Kremlin

In addition to the round corner towers, six travel cards were created in the Kremlin: Spassakaya, Nikolskaya, Troitskaya, Borovitskaya, Tainitskaya, Konstantino-Eleninskaya. These towers were also powerful defensive structures.

Trinity Tower

Travel card Trinity Tower located in the center of the northwestern side of the Kremlin, overlooking the Alexander Garden. This tower was built in 1495 - 1499 by the Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin. In the past, the tower was called Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya, Karetnaya, after the names of the Kremlin churches and the Karetny Dvor located close to it. Modern name originated from the Trinity Metochion of the Kremlin. The tower was square in shape, had 5 combat tiers, and the gate was covered by a retractable archer. The tower had hinged battle loopholes. There was a prison in the two-story basements in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Trinity Bridge goes to the gate of the tower. It was covered by the Kutafya Tower. In the 17th century, a tent was built on the tower, like the Spasskaya Tower. From 1585 to 1812 there was a clock on this tower. In 1707, platforms were made on the tower for the installation of heavy cannons. In 1935, ruby ​​stars were installed on this tower. This tower is the tallest - 80 meters with a star, without it 76.35 meters. Excursionists and visitors to the State Kremlin Palace pass through the Trinity Gate. In the 50s and 80s, restoration work was carried out.

Spasskaya Tower

was in the place where the Kremlin gates were in ancient times. It was built to protect the Kremlin from the northeast. This is the main tower of the Kremlin, it overlooks Red Square. The tower was built in 1491 by the Italian architect P.A. Solari. At first the tower was called Frolovskaya after the name of the Church of Frol and Lavra. The modern name is given by the name of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, placed in 1658 above the gate. The icon has not survived. This tower was square, had 5 combat tiers, a retractable archery and two stone bastions. The upper platforms and archers had loopholes for mounted combat. The Spasskaya Tower was one of the first to be crowned with a tent in 1624 - 25; its upper platform was decorated with a belt of arches, white stone carvings, pyramids and animal figures. In 1625, a clock was installed on this tower. In 1935, a ruby ​​star was installed. The height of the tower with the star is 71 meters. The Spasskaya Tower has 10 floors. The Spassky Gate is the main gate of the Kremlin. On the days of military parades, the country's Minister of War, who hosts the parade, leaves them.

Nikolskaya Tower

Nikolskaya Tower of the Kremlin travel card It is located on the eastern side of the Kremlin and overlooks Red Square next to the State Historical Museum. The tower gate also faces. The tower was built in 1491 by the Italian architect P.A. Solari with the aim of strengthening the Kremlin on the north-eastern side. The name is given from the former Nikolaevsky (Nikolsky) Greek monastery. This tower was square in plan, had 3 combat tiers, the upper platform and the outlet archer were adapted for mounted combat. There were bastions on the sides of the archery. They were eliminated at the beginning of the 19th century. At the end of the 19th century, this tower was topped with a tent. In 1806, the Nikolskaya Tower was rebuilt by the architect Bove in the Gothic style. In ancient times there was a clock on the tower. In 1812, the tower was blown up, but later it was restored according to the design of I.O. Bove. The tower was severely damaged in 1917 by artillery fire, but by decree of V.I. Lenin it was restored. In 1935, a red star was installed on this tower. The height of the tower with the star is 70.4 meters. The Nikolskaya Tower was restored in the 50s and 80s of the 20th century.

Borovitskaya Tower

Borovitskaya (Predtechenskaya) The passage western corner tower of the Kremlin overlooks the Alexander Garden of the Kremlin. The name “Borovitsaya” was given after the forest that was once located next to Borovitsky Hill. Predtechenskaya is named after the Church of John the Baptist. The tower was built in 1490 by P. A. Solari. This tower was square in plan and had 5 combat tiers. On the upper platform there were loopholes for mounted combat. The entrance gate was covered by a diversion archer. Unlike other towers, the Borovitskaya Tower has a tiered pyramidal base. The stone arch bridge across the Neglinnaya River, built in the 16th century, was demolished in 1821 when the Alexander Garden was laid out. At the end of the 17th century, the tower was crowned with a tent. In 1935, a star was installed on the tower. During the restoration of the tower in the 70s of the 20th century, white stone decorations, a shield with the coat of arms of Moscow above the gate and basement chambers were restored. It has a height of 61.25 meters. It was named after the forest located not far from the tower. The name Predtechenskaya is given after the name of the Church of John the Baptist.

Taynitskaya Tower

Tainitskaya Tower of the Kremlin - a former passage tower in the middle of the southern wall, built in 1485 by A. Fryazin. This tower was built on the site of the Cheshkov Gate of the white stone Kremlin of Dmitry Donskoy. There is information that it was called Vodyana. The tower had two tiers; on its upper platform there were loopholes for mounted combat. From the river side, the gate was covered by a second tower, which was connected to the Tainitskaya tower by an arched bridge. There was a hiding place in the tower - a well and an underground passage to the river. The name of the tower is connected with this. At the end of the 17th century, the tower was topped with a tent. In 1770, during the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the tower was dismantled and later restored. In 1862, a diversion archer was added. The salute battery guns were installed on the upper platform. In 1930, the archery was dismantled, the gates were blocked, and the cache was filled up. The height of the tower is 38.4 meters.

Konstantino – Eleninskaya (Timofeevskaya) tower of the Kremlin

Constantino - Elenin Tower

This tower is located on the eastern side of the Kremlin in the area of ​​​​Vasilievsky Spusk from Red Square to the Moscow River. The name comes from the Church of Constantine and Helena. The tower was built in 1490. It was used for the passage of the population and troops to the Kremlin. Before this tower was built, there was another tower on this site. From which D.I. Donskoy and his army went to the Kulikovo field. The Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower was built to strengthen the Kremlin. The tower is square. On the upper platform there were platforms for mounted combat. The tower had hinged gates, a drawbridge over a moat, protected by two arches. At the end of the 17th century, the tower was crowned with a tent. At the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th century, the archers were dismantled and the gates were blocked. In the 50s and 70s of the 20th century, the tower was restored. The height of the tower is 36.8 meters.

Other Kremlin towers

Kutafya Tower

Kutafya Tower built in the 16th century to protect the bridge to the Trinity Tower across the Neglinnaya River. It is the only one not built into the Kremlin wall. The tower had two combat tiers. On its upper platform there were loopholes for firing at the enemy at the foot. In 1685, an openwork decorative top was built over the tower. Initially, the tower was surrounded by a moat with drawbridges thrown across it. The bridges led to the side gates, which were restored in 1974-76. A through passage has been made to the Manege Square. The height of the tower is 13.5 meters.

Tsar's Tower

Tsar's Tower located to the right of the Alarm Tower. This tower is not high, only 16.5 meters, and appearance very different from other towers. The four columns of the Tsar's Tower stand directly on the wall. The roof is located on the columns. This tower has no loopholes or strong walls. This tower was not built for the defense of the Kremlin. According to legend, Tsar Ivan the Terrible loved to watch Red Square and the city from this tower.

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.

In total, there are 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 archway 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) - perhaps.

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 south side 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 walls of the Kremlin;

In the past, when the Kremlin was located on an island formed by the Moscow River, Neglinka and Alevizov Ditch, from the passage towers to " mainland“Bridges were thrown - 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.