Sukharevskaya Square. Historical description. What was Stalin looking for in the Sukharev tower?

After the revolution of 1917, the main goal of the new government was to transform the world, affecting all aspects of life. At the level of a specific city, this was manifested both in the “education of the masses” (in changing the thinking of Soviet citizens) and in the physical transformation of the space of their life. At the same time, ideological and practical problems were often resolved simultaneously, without a clear distinction between purely utopian and functional plans.

In Moscow, as the capital of the “new world,” in the 1920s and 1930s there was an active “socialist reconstruction” of urban space. It was assumed that new objects would be actively created along with the transformation or destruction of existing ones. At the same time, the old was changed or demolished for reasons of “convenience” (that is, they were sacrificed to the new, because the new was certainly preferred) or for purely ideological reasons: the class struggle, the fight against dissent was transferred to urban planning policy. The urban infrastructure was changing both due to the need to reorganize space to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing Moscow population, and to eradicate “merchant Moscow.”

Active demolition of architectural monuments began in the late 1920s, and in the first half of the 1930s, when the Stalinist regime finally took shape, major destruction occurred, which is explained by the systematic reorganization of urban space that began in the 1930s. In 1931, Moscow was separated from the Moscow region into an independent administrative and economic unit, an independent party organization was created in it, headed first by L. M. Kaganovich, then by N. S. Khrushchev. At the same time, a decision was made to build a metro in Moscow, and in 1935 the “Master Plan for the Reconstruction of Moscow” was published. At the same time, the decree on the general plan stated: “when determining the plan of Moscow, it is necessary to proceed from the preservation of the foundations of the historically established city, but with a radical redevelopment along the path of decisive streamlining of the network of city streets and squares.” From this attitude it is clear that the Moscow rulers did not have the idea of ​​​​completely destroying the “Moscow past”; however, the priority, of course, was new development, and for the sake of it it was possible to sacrifice the “antique”.

The ideology of the demolition of monuments is very well illustrated by the following words of the secretary of the Moscow City Party Committee K.V. Ryndin: “Old, motionless Moscow, merchant Moscow, with samovars, gave way to a new powerful industrial center with large movements of the masses.” In fact, the amenities for workers arriving in the city from villages left much to be desired, for example, in one of the documents we read: “to transfer to a trust for the organization of church dormitories according to the list available in the Moscow City Council, which should provide housing for 1,200 workers.” However, judging by information reports and political reports, Muscovites themselves were quite satisfied with both their life and the general reconstruction of the capital.

It is worth noting that some particularly scandalous demolitions were met with protest even from leading Moscow architects, but their opinions were not listened to, and on the contrary, their behavior was considered an attack against the regime:

“Comrade Orleansky found himself in the tail of the worst part of the apparatus, the ideologically hostile, reactionary specialists. He did not fight to liberate the specialists closest to us from their influence and, as a result, slipped into supporting the class enemy’s attack against the socialist reconstruction of Moscow (supporting the protest against the decision of the party and Soviet authorities to demolish the Iveron Gate)” (from the minutes of the meeting of the Moscow City Committee of the All-Union Communist Party ( b)).

The most famous of the demolished buildings is Sukharev Tower. This is the most famous of the secular buildings demolished in Moscow in the 1920s and 1930s, the destruction of which caused the greatest protest. It was built in 1692-1695 on the initiative of Peter I in the Moscow Baroque style. The tower was located on the Garden Ring, at its intersection with Sretenka, and served as the Sretensky Gate of the Zemlyanoy City. The tower, built by the architect M.I. Choglokov, was located near the Streletskaya Sloboda regiment L.P. Sukharev (hence her name). At the bottom of the Sukharev Tower there were gates and guardhouses, above which there were chambers surrounded by an open gallery. In 1698-1701, another floor and a four-tier tower were built above the chambers, in the third tier of which a clock was installed. The chambers of the Sukharev Tower housed the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences created by Peter I, which was later transferred to St. Petersburg. Until 1806, the Moscow office of the Admiralty Collegium was located in the Sukharev Tower. At the beginning of the 18th century. V upper tier The Sukharev Tower was equipped with an astronomical observatory, in which Ya. V. Bruce conducted observations. At the end of the 18th century. A market arose around the Sukharev Tower, which existed until the tower was demolished. During the construction of the Mytishchi water pipeline, a cast-iron reservoir for 7 thousand buckets was built in the second tier of the Sukharev Tower, from where water flowed to the city center. In 1925, the Moscow Communal Museum, the predecessor of the modern Museum of the History of Moscow, was moved to this building.

Sukharev Tower. On the left is the Trinity Church in Listy

Views of the Sukharev Tower:

Shortly before demolition

Sukharev Tower. Fragment

Sukharev Tower. Fragment

By the early 1930s, as the population grew, the network of tram tracks in the area around the Sukharev Tower became incredibly complicated. A single-track line passed through its gates. While two or three old-fashioned trams were passing in one direction, the cars traveling in the opposite direction had to wait. At the same time, it was planned to expand the roadway along the entire length of the Garden Ring, which also required the reconstruction of the Sukharevka space. So, in 1932, the Moscow City Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) (Moscow City Party Committee) started talking about “demolishing the Sukharev Tower, which would impede traffic along Sadovaya Street and the normal communication between Sretenka and the first Meshchanskaya Street (current Prospekt Mira).” It is possible, of course, that the tower was perceived not only as an annoying obstacle to the technical improvement of Moscow, but also as a symbol of the old traditional Moscow, which aggravated the desire of the Moscow leadership to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
On August 17, 1933, information about the planned demolition of the Sukharev Tower appeared in the press. Leading Moscow architects were outraged by the plans of the Moscow City Committee and sent a number of letters to Stalin himself, in which they explained that the destruction of this monument was absolutely unacceptable, and proposed their own projects for redevelopment of the square, which did not require the demolition of the tower.

“Demolition of the tower is essentially impractical, because if its goal is to regulate street traffic, then this result can equally well be achieved in other ways, without following the lines of least resistance.”
(I.E. Grabar, I.A. Fomin, I.V. Zholtovsky and others - to I.V. Stalin // News of the CPSU Central Committee. 1989. No. 9).

Sukharev Tower in the process of dismantling.

The Sukharevskaya Tower is a unique monument of Russian architecture, which today no longer exists, but it lives in the memory of the people, in paintings and in books.

Story

The history of the Sukharevskaya Tower in Moscow began in the seventeenth century. It was built in 1692-1695. The initiator of the construction was Peter I, and the project was developed by M.I. Choglokov. The location of the tower was chosen at the intersection of Sretenka Street and the Garden Ring. First, the lower floor was erected - it was formed by two boardwalks with a vestibule. A tent pedestal was built above the vaulted ceiling, and a fighting clock could be seen on it. At the corners it was decorated with four pointed turrets, the shape of which resembled the superstructures of the Trinity and Spasskaya towers of the Kremlin. The third floor almost completely smoothed out the base of the already existing low tower, so they decided to build a fourth tier.

In 1698-1701, the tower was reconstructed and acquired the appearance in which it lived until the beginning of the twentieth century. The main element of the structure was the tent, thanks to which the tower resembled a Western European town hall.

Architecture

The architectural style of the Sukharev Tower combined Lombard and Gothic elements. She was an example of Naryshkin's architectural style. The structure was distinguished by its incredible strength, which was achieved due to its deep foundation. The total height of the tower reached sixty meters. The people dubbed her the bride of the bell tower of Ivan the Great.

The appearance of the Sukharevskaya tower resembled a ship with a mast. Its eastern part symbolized the bow of the ship, and the western part symbolized the stern. There was a clock installed on the tower, and the top was decorated with a double-headed eagle. His image was original - there were arrows around his strong paws, it was believed that they symbolized lightning. In Russia, the Sukharev Tower became the first civil structure of this scale. Previously, only church bell towers were built so high.

The symmetry of the structure is characteristic of all tiers, except the lower one: here the asymmetrical arrangement of the staircase-entrance was balanced by different arches - to the west of the central passage, two large ones and to the east of it, three small ones. The Sukharev Tower became an important link in the transition to modern architecture and the result of the development of ancient Russian architecture.

Tower functions

In 1701-1715, the astronomical observatory of Ya.V. was located in the building of the Sukharev Tower in Moscow. Bruce and the School of Navigational and Mathematical Sciences. Subsequently, the building was transferred to the Moscow office of the Admiralty Board, which began to use it as a warehouse. During the reign of Peter I, contracted foreign actors performed comedies here.

In 1829-1890, the tower housed the reservoirs of the Mytishchi water supply system. In 1926, the Moscow Communal Museum began operating in the building. Eight years later, in connection with the reconstruction of the square of the same name, the Sukharevskaya tower was demolished, as it interfered with tram and car traffic.

Legends

In the nineteenth century, every guest of the capital considered it his duty to pray in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, to visit the bell tower of Ivan the Great and the Sukharevskaya Tower. The building is shrouded in many legends. Almost all the secrets of the Sukharev Tower are in one way or another connected with Ya.V. Bruce - a faithful ally of Peter I and the author of the Bruce calendar, which for two hundred years was the main Russian agricultural reference book. Legends say that meetings of the secret society “Neptune” (the society of Russian Masons) were held in the rapier hall, and Bruce himself was called a warlock or sorcerer from the Sukharev Tower.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the dungeons of the Sukharevskaya Tower were thoroughly explored - as a result, several underground passages, directed towards the Bruce estate.

• The name of the tower immortalizes the name of Lavrenty Sukharev, colonel of the Streltsy regiment, who remained loyal to Peter during the Streltsy uprising of 1689.
• During the dismantling of the structure, it was possible to save the casing of the double window - now it is in the Donskoy Monastery. The Tower Clock also survived - it was installed in the Kolomenskoye estate.
• The Sukharevskaya Tower is mentioned in the paintings of famous artists and in literature. Vivid examples are the canvas by A. Savrasov “Sukharev’s Tower”, the novel by Ilf and Petrov “The Golden Calf”.
• In 1982, Moscow authorities made an attempt to initiate the restoration of the tower, but it was unsuccessful.

There was no more mysterious structure in old Moscow than the Sukharev Tower. Meanwhile, this beautiful building owes its appearance to secular and quite ordinary events - the struggle for the Russian throne.

IN summary The Sukharev Tower looks like this: On August 8, 1689, the young Tsar Peter, warned about the impending mutiny of the archers, hastily left Preobrazhenskoye and went to seek protection within the walls of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. He was followed by the faithful regiments of his amusing army - Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky. Soon they were joined by the Streltsy Regiment of Lavrenty Sukharev, who served at the Sretensky Gate of Moscow.

The outcome of this confrontation is well known: Peter I finally established himself as the sole ruler of Russia, his sister, Princess Sophia, was imprisoned in a monastery. Moscow was decorated with another outstanding architectural structure.

Rare color photo Sukharev Tower before its demolition

In 1692-1695, on the site of the wooden Sretensky Gate, according to the design of M.I. Choglokov, a watchtower was built, which was named Sukhareva. It is believed that in this way the sovereign expressed gratitude to the faithful colonel.

The Sukharev Tower soon lost its defensive significance, and in 1700 the Navigation School was located in it. It was at this time that Count Yakov Vilimovich Bruce first appeared here, whose name has since been inextricably linked with the history of the tower.

Jacob Bruce (born James Daniel Bruce) - one of the closest associates of Peter I, was a representative of an old Scottish family, but was born in Russia. His father, artillery colonel Vilim Bruce, left his homeland even before the birth of his son and entered the service of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.

Bruce Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and also became a military man. In his track record- participation in Battle of Poltava and other battles of the Northern War.

As a result, Jacob Bruce rose to the rank of field marshal general, became a senator, and in 1721 received the title of count. Military service did not prevent Bruce from becoming one of the most educated people of his time.

Circle it scientific interests was unusually wide. He was interested in chemistry and astronomy, mathematics and botany, was fluent in several European languages, and was fond of astrology. In 1709, the famous “Bruce calendar” was published, which was astrological forecast, designed for a hundred years in advance.

After the death of Peter I, the count left public service and finally settled in Moscow. Since then, scientific research has become the main work of his life. Bruce’s unusual activities for that time, strange interests for those around him, and the blue “devilish” light that was periodically seen in the windows of the laboratory he equipped on the upper floors of the Sukharev Tower soon created his reputation as a sorcerer and warlock.

The legends formed about Bruce by popular rumor captured the imagination of his contemporaries. The most common of them told the story of how Bruce constructed for himself a mechanical doll-servant in the Sukharev Tower, giving it the appearance of a girl of extraordinary beauty. She knew how to do all the housework: she cleaned rooms, cooked food, served coffee. The only thing Bruce couldn't achieve was teaching her to talk.

The continuation of this legend is no less remarkable. Many young aristocrats tried to achieve the love of a beautiful girl. They did not believe Bruce, who unsuccessfully tried to convince them that this was not a person, but a doll.

Desperate to explain anything, the count pulled out some kind of hairpin from the maid’s hair, and the girl crumbled in front of everyone, turning into an armful of fresh flowers. The suitors immediately disappeared, and Bruce sighed and began to piece together his wonderful maid again.

Many more unusual actions were attributed to Bruce and mysterious stories in the Sukharev Tower. They said that at night all sorts of people gathered in his tower devilry: devils and ghosts. On the night of the full moon appeared on the roof of the Sukharev Tower real dragon, and Bruce flew around the sleeping city on it. According to another version, Bruce carried out his night flights on a huge steel bird.

Jacob Bruce died in April 1735. By that time, the Navigation School had already been transferred to St. Petersburg, and the Admiralty offices and judicial chambers were located in the Sukharev Tower. However, the name of the mysterious count was still inextricably linked with this place.

There were even rumors in Moscow that Bruce had invented an elixir for revival and gave the king (queen) a bottle of this liquid - just in case. So he died, and there was no one else to give wise advice to the autocrat. And then the king (queen) opens Bruce's tomb. The warlock's corpse had not decomposed at all; Having watered it with the treasured elixir, the sovereign (empress) receives the necessary advice from the revived count.

Even in the 19th century, there was a popular story where Jacob Bruce still takes refuge in a secret place in Moscow and continues to play solitaire of fate, determining who should live, who should marry and where to go.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the famous Sukharevsky market appeared next to the tower. This happened immediately after the War of 1812, when residents who had abandoned their homes returned to Moscow. The townspeople, as best they could, tried to find property that had been looted during their absence.

To avoid unrest among the population, Governor-General Count Fyodor Rostopchin issued a decree according to which “any thing, no matter where it comes from, is the inalienable property of the one who this moment owns it, and that any owner can sell them, but only once a week, on Sunday, in one place, namely on the square opposite the Sukharev Tower.” Already on the first Sunday after the decree, the square was filled with mountains of looted property.

Over time, Sukharevka turned into a large flea market - a hot spot, so beloved by the famous Moscow life writer Vladimir Gilyarovsky and other thrill-seekers. It is noteworthy that there was a strange custom among the local criminal community.

On the eleventh of April - this day was considered Bruce's birthday - there was an unwritten rule:“Don’t push stolen junk, don’t pick through other people’s pockets, don’t yell at merchants and don’t rob customers, otherwise Bruce will punish him - he will immobilize his hands and tongue.” And they said in a whisper in the “raspberries” that they really saw a few disobedient people - they became disabled and could only beg...

The Sukharev Tower has not survived to this day. It was demolished in April 1934, ostensibly to remove obstructions to traffic. It is unknown what the authorities were actually guided by, but many architects, including the famous Alexei Shchusev, were against it and even personally asked Stalin not to touch the legendary building.

The story of the demolition of the Sukharev Tower has acquired a new legend. When they began to demolish the Sukharev Tower, an old man with a black beard came out and began to observe the work. They hit the tower, but it doesn’t give in. They realized that it was all about the old man. A car arrived, the old man was picked up and taken away. Only after this were they able to topple the tower. Who was this old man? They said a sorcerer...

Most likely, the real basis of the legend is this: For some time before the demolition, architects and students were on duty near the tower, hoping to stop the destruction. But, as legend has it, Stalin personally supervised the dismantling of the building, during which workers were ordered to look for hiding places and treasures.

And indeed, within the walls of the Sukharev Tower it was possible to discover many ancient books hidden there. But the most important thing - the Black Book of the sorcerer Bruce - was never found.

However, there is still hope to reveal the secrets of the Sukharev Tower. In the 1990s, diggers and “black archaeologists” discovered numerous underground passages under Sukharevskaya Square, which could be accessed from the basements of old houses located on Sretenka and in nearby alleys. And then the city authorities also became interested in the local underground.

Thus, at his press conference in September 2008, the chief archaeologist of the Russian capital, Alexander Veksler, said: “The base of the tower has been preserved. Research is currently underway there." It was even proposed to create an underground museum under Sukharevskaya Square, entirely dedicated to the famous tower. The only question is, will the land allow this?

Since the 17th century, the Sukharev Tower was considered the most famous landmark in Moscow. There are many rumors and legends associated with it. In June 1934 it was demolished. According to native Muscovites, the city was orphaned without her. According to V.A. Gilyarovsky, the beautiful pink tower was “...turned into a pile of living ruins.”

Construction of Moscow

The Sukharev Tower in Moscow is inextricably linked with the history of the city. Therefore, in order to more clearly imagine what will be discussed, it is necessary to imagine where it was.

Moscow was built gradually. As it expanded, the fortress walls that divided the city into ring parts enclosed new territory. Initially there was the Kremlin - this was the center, after it came the later settlement of Kitay-Gorod, which, as construction proceeded, was fenced with a fortress wall. After it is the White City. Gradually, the internal walls were dismantled as unnecessary.

Zemlyanoy city

Behind the White City, the Zemlyanoy City was built. Here, near the walls of Moscow, there were villages and monastery lands. At the time of construction of the tower, there was a wall enclosing the White City. It was the city limits, beyond which began the suburbs or, as they would say now, the suburbs. It was called Arbat, which, as scientists suggest, comes from the Arabic word “rabat”, which means “suburb”.

Walls with a rampart and a moat separated Zemlyanoy City from Bely, and gates were made for access to Moscow. The Sukharev Tower was built on the site of the Sretensky Gate. The Zemlyanoy City itself was surrounded by a rampart, which was fortified with forts (pointed logs) and towers, the number of which was 57.

Prerequisites for the appearance of the tower

The Sukharev Tower was a monument in honor of the successful escape of the young Tsar Peter I from his sister, Princess Sophia, who was seeking to seize the Moscow throne with the help of the Streltsy. Moscow was captured by the rebels, and the young tsar and his mother decided to take refuge in the Sergius Lavra. To get there you had to go beyond White City through the gate.

The Sretensky Gate was guarded by a regiment of archers under the command of Lavrenty Sukharev, who released the retinue of Peter I through the gate, and he safely reached the Sergius Lavra. In gratitude for his salvation, the future emperor ordered the construction of a stone gate with a tower instead of a wooden one, which was named in honor of Lavrentiy Sukharev. This is the beginning of the history of the Sukharev Tower.

But there are no reliable sources confirming this story. There are many names in Moscow associated with the Streltsy; most likely, Colonel Sukharev’s Streltsy settlement was located here, so the street and the tower on it were named after his last name. Therefore, the version of the grateful emperor is considered to be an urban legend.

Construction of the gate building

Construction began in 1692 and was completed in 1695. The project was developed by the outstanding architect of that time M.I. Choglokov. In 1698, reconstruction began, as a result of which the building with the tower took on its final form, in which it remained without significant changes until the beginning of the 20th century.

The building was large, massive and, according to her contemporaries, heavy. However, the Byzantine vaults and many unique architectural details gave it extraordinary lightness and originality. The decoration of the building was high tower with a hipped roof and a double-headed eagle on the spire. The tower was decorated with a clock. It resembled a European town hall, standing on a hill, and gave the appearance of a huge building.

IN last years the tower was painted in pink color. With white stone trim, carved details and balusters, she gave the impression of an elegant and majestic beauty. It was the Sukharev Tower that M.Yu. dedicated his lines to. Lermontov, Y. Olesha, V.A. Gilyarovsky.

Photos of the Sukharev Tower in Moscow have survived to this day. From these black and white photographs you can imagine the beauty and grandeur of this mysterious structure.

What was located in the Sukharev Tower?

Since the construction of this structure, it has housed many different institutions. Many rumors and legends are associated with her name. The Sukharev Tower in Moscow was initially chosen by F. Lefort and Y. Bruce, whom Muscovites nicknamed the sorcerer. Meetings of the secret Neptune Society, of which they were chairmen, were held here. It was no coincidence that a building was built next to the tower, which is associated with the Freemasons; now the Sklifosovsky Institute is located here. Its façade is decorated with Masonic signs.

In the first years of the 18th century, the Navigation School was located here, which was later transferred to St. Petersburg. J. Bruce had a hand in equipping the school, equipping here classrooms, an observatory, a laboratory for conducting physical and chemical experiments, living quarters for students, as well as a fencing hall where the Neptunian Society allegedly met.

Later, the office of the Moscow branch of the Admiralty Collegium was located in the tower building. In subsequent years, the tower building was used for various purposes. There were barracks and warehouses here.

Water tower

Taking advantage of the fact that the masonry of the walls of the Sukharev Tower was very powerful and durable, a water tower for the Mytishchi water supply system was built here. There were two reservoirs here. One had a capacity of 6, the other 7 thousand buckets. What remains of the water supply itself is an aqueduct.

Moscow Communal Museum

After renovation in 1926, the Moscow Communal Museum was opened here. Its founder P.V. Sytin, who put a lot of effort into opening the museum, planned to create a corner of old Moscow around the Sukharev Tower. According to his plan, ancient lanterns were to be located here, and various bridge masonry was built.

It was planned to open on the tower itself observation deck, since the height of the tower was 60 meters, and it was located on the highest hill of the city. But all these dreams were not destined to come true.

History of the tower's demolition

The fact that this is not a simple tower is evidenced by the events that unfolded around it. Take, for example, the story of its demolition. A whole “battle” broke out around this building. The entire progressive public of Moscow opposed the demolition.

Famed architects, historians, writers and others petitioned to reverse the demolition of the tower, which allegedly impeded the expansion of traffic. Their opponent was Koganovich, who later led this process. Petitions were written to Stalin himself, but he, having read all the letters, made a decision to demolish the tower.

But the amazing thing is that the place where the beautiful tower once stood is free to this day. There is a park on it. What is hidden behind the unconditional demolition - class principles or is there really a secret of the Sukharev Tower? After all, it is not without reason that for several hundred years conversations related to Peter I’s close associate, Jacob Bruce, who was nicknamed the sorcerer, have not ceased.

Also causing a lot of talk was the fact that the building was literally dismantled brick by brick. It seemed like they were looking for something important.

Neptune Society

The name of Jacob Bruce is closely connected with the Sukharev Tower. It was here that the Neptune Society met, initially under the leadership of F. Lefort, after his death - J. Bruce. It studied astrology and magic. It included 9 people, including: F. Lefort, J. Bruce, Peter I, A. Menshikov, P. Gordon - Russian general, rear admiral.

As researchers suggest, it was a secret Masonic society. Although there is no documentary evidence about the Freemasonry of Peter I, there are enough documents about connections with the masons' lodge of J. Bruce. The assumption about the involvement of the Russian Tsar in Freemasonry is based on the symbolism of St. Petersburg, which is questioned by serious historians.

Jacob Bruce

An associate of Peter I, a descendant of Scottish kings, a field marshal general, a scientist, a student of Newton and Leibniz, was born in Moscow and was in the service of the Russian Tsar. In 1698, he trained in England for more than a year. His hobbies were exact sciences, in particular, astronomy.

He was simply an extraordinary person. He was the author of the first book published in Russia. scientific work in astronomy and gravitation “Theory of planetary motion.” Big influence Bruce was influenced by his communication with I. Newton, who belonged to the English Freemasons. According to documents, the great scientist brought the Russian Scotsman closer to the first Freemasons of England.

As an educated man, he hated court fuss and sycophants, which made him many enemies. He was selflessly devoted to Peter I and loved him. He remained faithful to his emperor and refused Catherine I’s offer of service, since he could not withstand the mouse fuss around the throne.

A.I. himself sought his patronage. Osterman, but was left with nothing. The retired field marshal spent the end of his days in Moscow, working in the office of the Sukharev Tower. Therefore, one should not be surprised at the incredible rumors around his person that have outlived him and his ill-wishers.

The Legend of the White Book

All the legends about the Sukharev Tower in Moscow are associated with the name of Bruce. There are very few facts on which historians can rely. Basically they confirm his connections with secret societies Europe. His passion for books is well known. He had more than 200 books on astronomy alone, which he revered. Part of the huge library was in his office, located in the Sukharev Tower.

The first legend says that Bruce was the owner ancient manuscripts, these included the so-called “ White paper", which belonged to King Solomon himself. From this book it was possible to predict the future and fate of any person. But she had one “whim”: she was given into the hands of only initiates. According to legend, Peter I, being in Bruce’s office, could not even pick it up.

Legend of the Black Book

According to legend, the most valuable copy of the Bryusov library in the Sukharev Tower was the “Black Book”. She is the one who has been wanted for hundreds of years. Legend has it that Empress Catherine II ordered all the walls of the magician’s office in the tower to be examined. The dismantling of the building itself during the Stalinist years is also associated with the search for the Black Book.

What is the mystery of this mysterious tome? Legend says that its owner will rule the world. Jacob Bruce treated this book with trepidation. Knowing the time of his departure from this life, he took care that it would not fall into the hands of random people, and hid it securely. It was believed that it was walled up in the walls of the tower, which surprised everyone with its incredible massiveness.

After the tower was dismantled, all searches moved to the remaining dungeons. Some seekers of the mysterious book disappeared without a trace. While searching, some encountered mysterious ghosts or black crows.

Secrets of the Sukharev Tower

After Yakov Bruce passed away, the fear of him did not leave Muscovites. The light of candles that lit at night in his office, located in the tower, frightened Muscovites for a long time. It was believed that he died during his witchcraft experiments, and his ashes did not find peace after death.

Thus, during the reconstruction of old Moscow in the early 30s of the last century, on Radio Street, during the demolition of an old church, a crypt, presumably of J. Bruce, was discovered. The remains were transferred to the laboratory of anthropologist Gerasimov, from where they strangely disappeared.

Does the tower need to be restored?

We have to regret the irretrievably lost Sukharev Tower. Photos, drawings and plans of it have survived to this day.

There are proposals to restore it. The powerful foundations were preserved, and the place remained unoccupied. But it will be something similar to the scenery, there will be a feeling of unreality.

Is it worth redoing the past and making your own adjustments to it? The tower was demolished, and the city existed for almost a hundred years. The demolition of the tower gave rise to new legends that some believe. The new tower will still remain as such. You can't get the old one back. Therefore, let everything remain as it is.

“Some buildings of the Secret City still cause us surprise,” the veil answered slowly, “Deguninsky Oracle, for example.” Perhaps the Sukharev Tower was founded by asuras and...

Facing inexplicable facts, most of the inhabitants Secret City walked along a long-trodden path - dumped everything strange on the heads of its builders.

“The Asuras had nothing to do with the construction of the tower,” the commissioner shook his head and raised his eyes, admiring the majestic beauty. - She is the creation of people, from the foundation to the spire. It was created by chelas for chelas, and therefore only chelas can break it.

This building has not been on the streets of Moscow for more than 70 years. They demolished it and left no trace. However, there is a trace: three years ago the foundation was dug up. But the legends are still alive, and moreover, they are acquiring more and more new details.

We are talking about the Sukharevskaya Tower.

This structure arose in 1692, when the Sretensky Gate was rebuilt - the tower was erected as a battle tower, which housed a rifle regiment led by Colonel Lavrenty Sukharev, by the way, hence the nickname of the tower - Sukharevskaya (Sukhareva, Sukharevka). But there is the most romantic legend, the origin of the name, allegedly Lavrentiy Sukharev, a colonel of the Streltsy army, retained his loyalty to Peter I during the Streltsy revolt in 1689, and the emperor thanked his faithful servant in this way. And from here comes another legend of the Sukharev Tower: the architect was Peter I himself, who specially gave it the shape of a ship and allegedly copied it from the town hall in a German town. But from which town hall, in which town? For many centuries, neither the city nor the building was found, but Sukharevka was, and according to another version, the architect of the building was Franz Lefort.

The tower did not serve the Streltsy for long. In April 1700, the building became the property of the Navigat School; minor changes were made in its appearance: a new tier with classrooms, a rapier hall and an astronomical observatory was built. And from this very time, to this day, the most mystical period of the Sukharev Tower has lasted.

It all started back in the time of Ivan the Terrible. He had a library, and in this very library books were kept that gave power over the world and people to those who were able to master and understand, and those who dared to open the books, but could not subjugate them, went crazy, and madness overtook them . Tsar Ivan the Terrible himself became a victim of these books. He would destroy them and give humanity a chance to live without interference in their destiny. But the books belonged to the king, and he could not destroy them, especially the most powerful and terrible one - the Black Book. Before his death, Ivan the Terrible hid these books so that no one can find them to this day.

By what secret means the library of Ivan IV fell into the hands of Yakov Vilimovich Bruce, the closest associate of Peter I, is unknown, but since then the library of Ivan the Terrible began to be called the Bruce Library.

Jacob Bruce mastered the secret knowledge of the Black Book and, having gained true power over the world, kept it in the Sukharev Tower with other witchcraft books and objects, such as: “Russian sorcery”, “Book of Sibyls”, “Black Magic”, magic mirror(the dead man appearing in it answers questions about the future), Solomon's seal and others.

In 1715, the Navigation School was transferred to St. Petersburg, and the Sukharev Tower housed the Admiralty offices, judges' chambers and chambers, and Bruce's library was placed at the disposal of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, but it contained books only on astronomy, a little on medicine, mathematics, physics and chemistry. There were rumors that Bruce walled up the library of Ivan the Terrible in the walls of the tower so that no one else could possess the knowledge hidden in the books. And no one could get to them, because... Yakov Vilimonovich himself guarded the tower and what was hidden in it. The tower lived as usual, people passing by it were baptized and remembered with bad words and said that all sorts of “devilish things” were going on in it. In 1812, the day before Napoleonic troops entered Moscow, one event occurred that was considered a sign - a hawk with fetters on its legs became entangled in the wings of a double-headed copper eagle crowning the tower, struggled for a long time, then died in front of the assembled people. Naturally, the victory over Napoleon was later firmly connected by Muscovites with this incident - they said that the Tower itself helped defeat the French.

In 1829 and 1854, water tanks were built in the eastern and western halls on the second floor. The Sukharev Tower became a water tower, and a water fountain was installed near it, which can be seen in many engravings of that time. But when the Krestovsky water towers and reservoirs were launched in 1890, Sukharevki was dismantled.

In December 1925, members of the “Old Moscow” commission - an archaeologist who devoted his entire life to the search for the library of Ivan the Terrible I. Ya. Stelletsky, architect N. D. Vinogradov and local historian O. I. Penchko examined the dungeons of the Sukharev Tower and came across five walled up underground passages , which, in their opinion, led to Bruce’s house on 1st Meshchanskaya. But the research was not continued, because in 1926, the tower was given over to the Moscow Communal Museum - the predecessor of the current Museum of the History of Moscow. Finally, it was possible to see the legendary tower from the inside, in which Yakov Vilimovich Bruce was seen alive even at the end of the 19th century. And in April 1934, the tower was dismantled brick by brick. Allegedly, it interfered with travel, but according to another version, Stalin was looking for the library of Ivan the Terrible and Bruce, and he himself was present at the analysis and monitored the removal of some books, but the Black Book, for the sake of which the tower was demolished on the night of April 13-14, was never found. And scientists saved several fragments of the tower and took them to Kolomenskoye.

In the 90s of the 20th century, black archaeologists and treasure hunters climbed numerous tunnels under Sukharevskaya Square, the entrances to which were located in the old houses of Sretenka and Sretensky lanes. It was then that they remembered the tunnel dug by Ivan the Terrible from the Kremlin to the Sretensky Gate, and wondered if that was where he hid his library, and that’s why they rebuilt the gate and built on the tower? By the way, it was Bruce who gave the idea of ​​its construction to Peter I. What if he knew where the library was kept and hid it back there? But the books were never found, neither Ivan the Terrible nor the Bryusovs. Only sometimes do you come across lost treasures: chests with expensive clothes and furs. Moreover, they dug up the foundation of the tower...