Interesting facts about the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. Interesting facts about the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square The most interesting facts about the Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin is the largest surviving and operating fortress in Europe. And like any fortress, the Kremlin keeps its secrets.

Why at this place?

People lived on Borovitsky Hill (where the Kremlin was later built) long before the founding of Moscow. Archaeologists have found on the territory of the Kremlin sites of people who lived here back in the Bronze Age, that is, the 2nd millennium BC. Near the Archangel Cathedral, sites from the Iron Age were also found, which may indicate that this place did not cease to be the center of life for a very long time.

The Vyatichi who settled here in the 10th century obviously did not come out of nowhere. Here, in a conveniently located place at the intersection of two rivers (Moscow and Neglinnaya), there were parking lots and ritual structures.

It is characteristic that in the pagan period Borovitsky Hill was called Witch Mountain; a temple was located here. It was on the site of the temple that the first Kremlin was founded.

Borovitsky Hill was an ideal site for the construction of a border fortification, since both water and land routes converged here: land roads led towards Novgorod and Kyiv.

Underground Kremlin

In addition to the Kremlin, which is visible to everyone, there is another Kremlin - underground. Many researchers have studied the system of caches and secret passages in the Kremlin area. According to the research of the famous Russian archaeologist and researcher of “underground Moscow” Ignatius Stelletsky, underground structures under buildings of the 16th – 17th centuries, located within the Garden Ring, are connected to each other and to the Kremlin by a network of underground labyrinths.

Moreover, the plan of the underground capital was originally created by the Italian architects of the Moscow Kremlin - Aristotle Fiorovanti, Pietro Antonio Solari and Aleviz Novy. Stelletsky wrote in particular: “All three architects, as foreigners, could not leave Moscow and had to lay their bones in it...” The archaeologist discovered a well-coordinated system of 350 underground points, thanks to which, for example, it was possible to get from the Kremlin even to the Sparrow Hills.

Which Kremlin tower is the most important?

According to most people, the main tower of the Moscow Kremlin is Spasskaya, but is this true? It is logical to assume that priority should belong to the tower that was built first.

The first of the modern Kremlin towers was Taynitskaya, founded in 1485. For the first time in Russia, brick was used for fortress construction. This tower got its name from the secret passage leading from the tower to the Moscow River.

For a long time, the Tainitskaya Tower was of great importance for Muscovites - on the feast of Epiphany, a Jordan was cut through the Moskva River opposite it. The royal entrance to Jordan was one of the most solemn ceremonies.
Until 1674, there was a striking clock on the Tainitskaya Tower; it was from here that the bells were rung in case of fire; until 1917, a cannon was fired from the Tainitskaya Tower every day at noon.
Why exactly did the Taynitskaya Tower become the first? This is due to the fact that the tower became central to the southern wall of the Kremlin, that is, it faced Jerusalem (because of this, the Jordan was cut through in front of it).

Leonardo and the Kremlin: what is the connection?

It is well known that the Kremlin was built by Italians. Their names are well known. One of the main architects was Pietro Antonio Solari. He came from a family of architects who worked in Milan with Leonardo da Vinci. Antonio himself worked with the great da Vinci. Some historians, comparing historical evidence, do not even exclude the possibility that Leonardo personally participated in the construction of the Kremlin.

The first to put forward this hypothesis back in the late 80s of the twentieth century was the historian Oleg Ulyanov, who spent his entire life studying the history of the Kremlin. There is no direct evidence of this theory, but more and more indirect evidence is being found, starting from almost exact matches in the Florentine’s drawings with rare elements of the Kremlin walls, to “blank spots” in the biography of da Vinci in the period from 1499 to 1502. Dmitry Likhachev showed great interest in the version of “Leonardo’s hand” at one time.

Hanging Gardens

Few people know, but for a long time real hanging gardens were located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. Already in the 17th century there were two large and several small (indoor) riding gardens on the roofs and terraces of palaces. According to Tatyana Rodinova, an employee of the Moscow Kremlin Museum, hanging gardens were located on the roof of the now defunct Embankment Chambers on an area of 2.2 thousand square meters.

Not only were fruits and nuts grown here, but there was also a pond with a mirror area of 200 square meters. In this place, young Peter the Great received his first navigation skills. Since that time, even the names of those who were responsible for the “garden structure” have been preserved: Stepan Mushakov, Ivan Telyatevsky and Nazar Ivanov.

Water for the hanging gardens came from the Vodovzvodnaya Tower, where a mechanism was installed to raise water from the Moscow River. From a well installed in the tower, water was supplied through lead pipes to the Kremlin itself.

Red or white?

The Kremlin was originally red, but in the 18th century it was whitewashed according to the fashion of that time. Napoleon also saw him as white. The French playwright Jacques-François Anselot was in Moscow in 1826. In his memoirs, he described the Kremlin this way: “The white paint, hiding the cracks, gives the Kremlin an appearance of youth that does not correspond to its shape and crosses out its past.” The Kremlin was whitewashed for the holidays, the rest of the time it was, as they liked to say, covered with a “noble patina.”

An interesting metamorphosis happened to the Kremlin during the Great Patriotic War. In the summer of 1941, the Kremlin commandant, Major General Nikolai Spiridonov, proposed repainting all the walls and towers of the Kremlin - for camouflage. No sooner said than done. Academician Boris Iofan took on the project: artificial streets were built on Red Square, house walls and black “window holes” were painted on the Kremlin walls. The mausoleum turned into a natural house with a gable roof.

The Kremlin turned red again after the war, in 1947. The decision was made personally by Stalin. In principle, it was logical: red flag, red walls, Red Square...

The symbol of the Russian capital, the Moscow Kremlin is an incredibly interesting and beautiful ancient fortress. Once erected for protection from enemies, these days it has become the most recognizable symbol not only of Moscow, but of all of Russia. Some cities also have preserved beautiful kremlins, but only the one located in the capital is always written with a capital letter, because it is unique.

It is this that is the oldest building in Moscow.
The thickness of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin in some places reaches 6.5 meters, and the height is 19 meters. At one time he was completely unapproachable.
The Kremlin that we see now was built in the 15th century on the basis of an old, white stone one, by order of Ivan III the Great (see).
The walls of the Moscow Kremlin are crowned by 20 towers, of which only three are round. The rest are rectangular.
Red stars were installed on the Kremlin towers only in the 30s of the 20th century.
Long before the Kremlin, a wooden Kremlin, built by Yuri Dolgoruky, first stood in its place. Then it was replaced with a white stone one by order of Dmitry Donskoy. This is where Moscow’s nickname comes from - “white stone” (see).
There are about 20 preserved Kremlins in Russian cities, all of which are interesting and remarkable in their own way, but Moscow is the oldest among them.
In the very center of the Moscow Kremlin is the Assumption Cathedral, and all the towers are located the same distance from it.
Under the Kremlin walls there are numerous underground passages and shelters.
At one time the Kremlin was a real island. They dug ditches around it and connected them to the river. True, later the ditches were filled up, as this created a number of inconveniences.
In the 20th century, during the era of the USSR, 28 churches and monasteries located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin were destroyed.
During World War II, the Kremlin was camouflaged with paint, plywood and mesh to protect it from possible airstrikes. However, during the fighting, 165 bombs fell on it, which damaged some buildings and destroyed the Arsenal.
According to experts, the cost of the Moscow Kremlin is about $50 billion, comparable to the cost of the entire island of Manhattan, the most prestigious part of New York (see).
In the 18th century, unique hanging gardens were located on the Kremlin territory, in which exotic overseas fruits and flowers were grown.
The two Kremlin towers never received names, so they were given the names First and Second Nameless, respectively.
The chimes located on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin always show perfectly accurate time because they are directly connected to the control clock of the astronomical institute.
The Moscow Kremlin is the largest fortress in all of Europe. There is nothing comparable in scale in any European city.
During the War of 1812, when Moscow was abandoned to the French, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the Kremlin to be blown up. Some of the shells did not work, but three towers were completely destroyed, and many buildings were damaged (see).
Each of the stars crowning the Kremlin towers weighs more than a ton.
When built, the Moscow Kremlin was red, but during the 17th century it was painted white.
Before red stars were placed on the Kremlin towers, they were decorated with double-headed eagles.
The Kremlin stars are not motionless. When exposed to hurricane winds, they turn sideways to avoid damage.
In the middle of the 20th century, townspeople lived in the Kremlin, but in 1955 a law was passed prohibiting this, and the last residents were evicted from there in 1962.
According to legend, somewhere in the Kremlin dungeons the lost library of Ivan the Terrible is hidden (see).
The length of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin reaches 2.5 kilometers.

Interesting facts about the Moscow Kremlin will tell the secrets and history of this building. The Kremlin is the oldest part of Moscow and the main building of history, culture, and politics. At the moment, the Moscow Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. What is interesting and remarkable about this building?

Previously, the place where the Kremlin is now built was called Borovitsky Hill. Archaeologists have found settlements of people living at that time. The finds date back to the 2nd century BC. All this indicates that the location of the Moscow Kremlin has previously been the center of people’s lives. During paganism, Borovitsky Hill was the Witch Mountain. Gods were worshiped there and various rituals were performed.
This building contains more secrets than many people think. In addition to the main building, which everyone can see, there is also a dungeon. Experienced archaeologists are conducting research into the secret passages of the Kremlin. Interestingly, the underground labyrinths of the Kremlin and the Garden Ring are interconnected. Archaeologists have discovered an entire underground capital. From the Kremlin underground, you can get to the Sparrow Hills.
In the 17th century, hanging gardens were located on the territory of the Kremlin. There were two large gardens and several smaller ones. They grew fruits, nuts, and there was a real pond. Water was supplied to the gardens from a water tower.
Now everyone sees the Kremlin in red. Initially, when it was first built, it was also red. However, in the 17th century it was made white. One playwright described the Kremlin in these words: “The white paint, hiding the cracks, gives the Kremlin an appearance of youth that erases its past.” During the World War, a proposal was made to repaint the Kremlin to disguise it. Walls of houses and window holes were painted on it. Well, they returned it to red after the end of the war.
Today the Moscow Kremlin occupies a leading position among the fortresses of Russia. It is considered the largest, not only in Russia, but also in Europe.
The Kremlin chimes always show the exact time. The answer to this question lies underground. The cable from the chimes is connected to the control clock at the Moscow Institute of Astronomy.
Initially, the Kremlin was decorated with two-headed eagles. But in 1935 they were changed to ruby stars.
One star weighs a ton. They are able to withstand strong winds and hurricanes. When there are windy days in Moscow, the stars rotate, changing their position, turning sideways to the wind.
The Alhill group assessed the Kremlin, its price was 50 billion dollars.
In the days of the tsars, anyone could visit the Kremlin territory. Tickets were also issued to visit the Kremlin palaces.
Now the Kremlin is the center of Moscow, a sensitive facility. Interestingly, until the middle of the last century, Muscovites lived in it. In 1955, a law was passed banning residence in the Kremlin. The last inhabitants of the Kremlin left it in 1962.
The Museum of Applied Arts was opened in 1955, everyone could visit it. Another grandiose building on the territory of the Kremlin is the Palace of Congresses. But they don’t take it seriously; they say that compared to other buildings, it’s like “little glass.”
Like all ancient buildings, the Kremlin is full of secrets. Basically, all the secrets and riddles are related to the dungeon. There is no exact map of the dungeon, it is lost. Until now, archaeologists have not been able to study many corridors. In the dungeon, there was a library of Ivan the Terrible. However, many books and documents were never found. There is an opinion that it simply burned down, or is hidden in one of the unexplored corridors.
When Napoleon Bonaparte attacked Russia, the Kremlin suffered enormous damage. The French invaders were looking for valuables, they plundered churches and burial sites. And when Napoleon retreated, he partially blew up the walls and towers. The Kremlin was restored only in the 18th century. The October Revolution also brought destruction. The Kremlin was bombed.
The Kremlin has 20 completely different towers. Each of them has its own story and name. They are built in the same style, the Nikolskaya Tower stands out from them. It is made in the Gothic style.

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The main symbol of Russia, a building of such status, significance, and outstanding that only such world-famous historical architectural objects as the Egyptian pyramids or the Tower of London can compare with it...

Appolinary Vasnetsov. The rise of the Kremlin at the end of the 17th century

The Moscow Kremlin is the oldest part of the Russian capital, the heart of the city, the official residence of the country's leader, one of the world's largest complexes with unique architecture, a treasury of historical relics and a spiritual center.

The importance that the Kremlin has acquired in our country is evidenced by the fact that the very concept of “Kremlin” is associated with the Moscow complex. Meanwhile, Kolomna, Syzran, Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Astrakhan and other cities not only in Russia, but also in Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus have their own kremlins.

According to the definition given in Vladimir Dahl’s “explanatory dictionary”, “krem” is a large and strong timber timber, and “kremlevnik” is a coniferous forest growing in a moss swamp. And the “Kremlin” is a city surrounded by a fortress wall, with towers and loopholes. Thus, the name of these structures comes from the type of wood that was used in their construction. Unfortunately, not a single wooden Kremlin has survived on the territory of Russia, except for the guard towers in the Trans-Urals, but the stone structures, which until the 14th century were called detinets and performed a protective function, remain, and the Moscow Kremlin is certainly the most famous of them.

The main symbol of Russia is located on Borovitsky Hill, on the higher left bank of the Moscow River, in the place where the Neglinnaya River flows into it. If we consider the complex from above, the Kremlin is an irregular triangle with a total area of 27.7 hectares, surrounded by a massive wall with towers.

The first detailed plan of the Moscow Kremlin, 1601

The architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin includes 4 palaces and 4 cathedrals, the southern wall faces the Moscow River, the eastern wall faces Red Square, and the northwestern wall faces the Alexander Garden. Currently, the Kremlin is an independent administrative unit within Moscow and is included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List.

Plan of the Moscow Kremlin, presented on its official website

Listing all the events that took place during the more than 900-year history of the Moscow Kremlin is not an easy task. Interestingly, the first human settlements on Borovitsky Hill are dated by archaeologists to the 2nd millennium BC. At that time, the construction site of the future Kremlin was completely covered with dense forests, which is where the name of the hill came from - Borovitsky.

Other archaeological finds found on the territory of the Kremlin date back to the period of the 8th-3rd centuries BC; scientists suggest that already then the first wooden fortifications were erected on the site where the Kremlin Cathedral Square is now located. You can see objects related to the life of the ancient inhabitants of the Kremlin Mountain in the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral, where the exhibition “Archaeology of the Moscow Kremlin” is held.

From the 12th century until the first half of the 13th century, a border fortress was located on the site of the Moscow Kremlin, which became the beginning of the history of Moscow. Archaeologists managed to discover an ancient cemetery of the 12th century, which was located on the site of the Assumption Cathedral; presumably, there was a wooden church nearby.

Border fortress on the site of the Moscow Kremlin, watercolor by G.V. Borisevich

The founder of Moscow, the Vladimir-Suzdal prince Yuri Dolgoruky, founded a fortress at the mouth of the Neglinnaya River, slightly higher than the Yauza River. The new fortress united 2 fortified centers located on Borovitsky Hill into a single whole. The fortress, which stood on the site of the future Kremlin, occupied an irregular triangle between the current Trinity, Borovitsky and Tainitsky gates.

Monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow

During this period, Moscow and the Kremlin experienced numerous internecine wars between Russian princes; severe fire and plunder overtook the city during the invasion of Batu Khan, so that the wooden structures of the old Kremlin were seriously damaged.

The first “high-ranking person” to settle in the Moscow Kremlin was Prince Daniil, the youngest son of Prince Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir, then Moscow was ruled by the son of Moscow Prince Daniil, Ivan Kalita, who did a lot to ensure that the city became one of the largest and strongest in the world. Rus'. Ivan Kalita was also involved in the arrangement of his residence, which it was under him that in 1331 received its current name - the Moscow Kremlin and became a separate, main part of the city.

In 1326-1327, the Assumption Cathedral was erected - already at that time it became the main temple of the principality, and in 1329 the construction of the church and bell tower of St. John the Climacus was completed. The following year, the domes of the Cathedral of the Savior on Bor rose in the Kremlin, and in 1333 the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael was built, in which Ivan Kalita himself, his children and grandchildren were then buried. These first not wooden, but white stone churches in Moscow later determined the spatial composition of the center of the Kremlin, and in its main features it remains the same today.

By the way, it was under Ivan Kalita, in the first half of the 14th century, that the treasury of the Moscow princes began to take shape, the storage place of which was, of course, the Kremlin. One of the main items in the treasury was the “golden cap” - scientists identify it with the famous Monomakh cap, which served as the crown of all Moscow rulers.

Moscow Kremlin under Ivan Kalita, painting by A.M. Vasnetsova

In 1365, after another fire, Prince Dmitry (in 1380, after the victory over Mamai, he received the nickname Donskoy), who ruled in Moscow at that time, decided to build towers and fortifications from stone, for which they brought stones to Borovitsky Hill in the winter of 1367 limestone sleigh. In the spring of the same year, construction began on the first white-stone fortress in North-Eastern Rus'.

The cult center of the Kremlin became Cathedral Square, on which the wooden princely chambers, the white-stone Annunciation Cathedral were located, in the eastern part of the Kremlin, Metropolitan Alexei founded the Chudov Monastery, and the residence of the metropolitan himself was located in the Kremlin.

In 1404, on a special tower of the Moscow Kremlin, the Athonite Serb monk Lazar installed a special city clock, which became the first on the territory of Rus'.

In the second half of the 15th century, a grandiose reconstruction of the Moscow Kremlin began, after which it acquired modern features familiar to every Russian. Princes Ivan the Third, who married Sophia Palaeologus, a Byzantine princess, was able to complete the unification of the principalities of Rus' and Moscow acquired a new status - the capital of a large state. Naturally, the residence of the head of such a vast country needed remodeling and expansion.

In 1475-1479, the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti erected a new Assumption Cathedral, which was the main temple of the Moscow principality under Ivan Kalita, and now has received the status of the main cathedral of the Russian state.

Assumption Cathedral on a postcard from the early 20th century

Another Italian architect, Aleviz the New, was involved in the construction of the grand-ducal temple-tomb - the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. On the western side of the square, the palace of the Great Moscow Prince Ivan the Third was erected, which included the Middle Golden Chamber, the Embankment Chamber and the Great Faceted Chamber, that is, a whole complex of ceremonial buildings. Unfortunately, not all of them have survived to this day.

Moscow Kremlin at the end of the 15th century, painting by A.M. Vasnetsova

After Italian craftsmen erected new towers and walls of the Kremlin, many foreign guests began to call the building a castle, the similarity of which is given to the complex by the battlements on the walls. The Moscow Kremlin was compared with the Scaliger Castle in Verona and the famous Sforza Castle in Milan. However, unlike these buildings, the Kremlin became not only the residence of the country’s ruler, but also the center of cultural and religious life of the entire state; the most famous churches of Rus', the residence of the metropolitan and monasteries are located here.

Of course, the history of the Moscow Kremlin is inextricably linked with the history of the princes, kings and emperors who ruled the Moscow principality, then the kingdom, and then the Russian Empire. Thus, Tsar Ivan the Fourth (better known as Grozny), who ascended the throne in 1547, also did a lot to form the Kremlin ensemble. Under him, the Church of the Annunciation was reconstructed, and orders were located on Ivanovskaya Square, including the Ambassadorial Order, which was in charge of receiving foreign guests. Even then, the Armory Chamber existed; the royal stables, the Sleeping Chamber, storage rooms and workshops were also located on the territory of the Kremlin.

In 1652-1656, Patriarch Nikon was involved in the reconstruction of the patriarchal palace in the Kremlin; the treasures of the Patriarchal sacristy were kept in this building, and church councils met in the Cross Chamber and feasts were held for noble guests.

Only in 1712, after Peter the Great decided to move the capital to the newly built St. Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin lost its status as the permanent and only residence of the rulers of the state; in addition, the beginning of the 18th century was marked for Moscow by a new destructive fire. When restoring the damaged parts of the Kremlin, it was decided to build an Arsenal between the Sobakina and Trinity towers.

In 1749-1753, the old chambers of the Sovereign's court from the 15th century were dismantled, and on their foundations the famous architect F.-B. Rastrelli erected a new stone Winter Palace in the Baroque style. The building faced the Moscow River on one side and Cathedral Square on the other.

In 1756-1764, architect D.V. Ukhtomsky erected a new building for the Armory Chamber gallery between the Archangel and Annunciation Cathedrals, but then, during the planning of a large-scale reconstruction of the Kremlin, this building was demolished. V.I. Bazhenov’s plan to build a new palace was never realized, but in preparation for the start of this project, the Kremlin lost many ancient buildings.

In 1776-1787, the architect M. F. Kazakov, by decree of Catherine the Second, built the Senate building, which stood opposite the Arsenal, and only then Senate Square acquired its completed appearance.

In 1810, by decree of Emperor Alexander the First, the Armory Chamber was erected to the architect I.V. Egotov managed to fit the new building into the Kremlin ensemble; as a result of the construction, a new Kremlin square appeared - Troitskaya, formed between the new museum building, the Arsenal and the Trinity Tower.

The Kremlin was seriously damaged during Napoleon's invasion; after the fire of 1812, many of the complex's blown up and burned buildings had to be restored.

In 1838-1851, in the Moscow Kremlin, according to the decree of Emperor Nicholas I, a new palace complex was built in the “national Russian style”. It included the Apartment building, the Grand Kremlin Palace, erected on the site of the Winter Palace, and a more solemn museum building - the Moscow Armory Chamber. Architect Konstantin Ton carried out construction strictly within the boundaries of the ancient Sovereign's courtyard, took into account all the historically established features, and managed to combine new buildings and architectural monuments of the 15th-17th centuries in one composition. At the same time, the reconstruction of old churches was carried out. New buildings formed a new square in the Moscow Kremlin - Imperial or Palace Square.

Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the Moscow Kremlin was considered a monument of history and architecture. Nicholas II intended to turn the Amusement Palace into a museum dedicated to the Patriotic War of 1812, but 1917 crossed out all the emperor’s plans.

As is known, after the coup, the Bolshevik government moved from St. Petersburg to the Kremlin and until 1953, that is, until the death of Stalin, who occupied an office and apartment in the Kremlin, the complex was closed to free visits by ordinary tourists and Muscovites.

In 1935, the Kremlin lost its double-headed eagles, and in 1937, luminous ruby stars were installed in their place on the Spasskaya, Borovitskaya, Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Vodovzvodnaya towers.

On the site of the demolished Voznesensky and Chudov monasteries, a Military School building was erected, which greatly changed the appearance of the architectural complex.

Interestingly, during the Great Patriotic War the Kremlin was virtually undamaged, despite the massive bombings that hit Moscow in 1941 and 1942. The authorities evacuated the treasures of the Armory Chamber, and in the event of the surrender of the capital to German troops, a plan was envisaged for mining the main buildings of the complex.

In 1955, the Moscow Kremlin reopened its doors to ordinary visitors, and the Museum of Applied Art and Life of Russia of the 17th Century, located in the Patriarchal Palace, began its work. The last large-scale construction on the territory of the Kremlin was the construction of the Palace of Congresses in 1961, which modern architects and ordinary Muscovites many call “a piece of glass against the backdrop of the ancient Kremlin” and consider its construction another crime of the Soviet regime.

Like any ancient, historical building, the Moscow Kremlin has its secrets, legends associated with it and often quite dark secrets.

Most of these legends are connected specifically with the Kremlin dungeons. Since their exact map was lost a long time ago (possibly destroyed by the builders themselves), many underground passages, corridors and tunnels of the Moscow Kremlin have not yet been fully studied.

For example, the search for the famous library of Ivan the Terrible has been resumed several times, but the vast repository of books and documents from that time has still not been found. Scientists argue whether the legendary library actually existed, burned down during one of the fires that repeatedly raged on the territory of the complex, or was hidden so well that modern archaeologists are not able to find it on the huge square of the Moscow Kremlin.

Most likely, until the 18th century, all the towers and walls of the Kremlin were literally “pierced” with numerous secret passages and tunnels.

It was during the search for Liberia (as the library of Ivan the Terrible is usually called) that archaeologist Shcherbatov in 1894 stumbled upon a mysterious underground structure located under the first floor of the Alarm Tower. Trying to examine the found tunnel, the archaeologist came to a dead end, but then discovered the same tunnel leading from the Konstantin-Eleninskaya Tower.

Archaeologist Shcherbatov also found a secret passage connecting the Nikolskaya Tower with the Corner Arsenal, but in 1920 all information, photographs taken by the scientist and reports on the passages found were classified by the Bolsheviks and became a state secret. It is quite possible that the new authorities decided to use the Kremlin’s secret passages for their own purposes.

According to scientists, since the Moscow Kremlin was built according to all the rules of fortification of the Middle Ages and was primarily a fortress designed to protect citizens from enemy attacks, the Italian architect Fioravanti also built places for lower battles and “rumors” - secret corners from which one can it was secretly to observe (and eavesdrop) on the enemy. Most likely (it is now quite difficult to collect evidence), until the 18th century all the towers and walls of the Kremlin were literally “pierced” with numerous secret passages and tunnels, but then, as unnecessary, most of them were simply walled up and filled up.

By the way, the very name of the Taynitskaya Tower clearly indicates that there was a hiding place under it; there are references to the construction of secret passages in chronicles that recorded the process of constructing towers in the 15th century.

Tainitskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

There were also rumors about the dungeons of the Beklemishevskaya Tower, which, by the way, enjoys the most notorious reputation - it was here that the torture chamber was located, created on the orders of Ivan the Terrible. In the 19th century, Archpriest Lebedev, who served in the Kremlin for more than 45 years, counted 9 failures that formed on the vaults of various underground structures. It is known about a secret passage leading from Tainitskaya to the Spasskaya Tower, another secret road leads from Troitskaya to the Nikolskaya Tower and further to Kitay-Gorod.

And Ignatius Stelletsky, a famous historian and specialist in “dungeon archeology”, the founder of the digger movement in Moscow, intended to go from the Beklemishevskaya Tower to the Moscow River, and from the Spasskaya Tower through a secret underground passage directly to St. Basil’s Cathedral, and then along the existing one near the temple descent into a large tunnel under Red Square.

The remains of underground passages were found in various parts of the Moscow Kremlin many times, during almost every reconstruction, but most often such dead ends, gaps or vaults were simply walled up or even filled with concrete.

On the eve of his coronation, Emperor Nicholas II himself saw the ghost of Ivan the Terrible, which he reported to his wife Alexandra Feodorovna.

The Moscow Kremlin, of course, has its own ghosts. Thus, in the Commandant's Tower they saw a disheveled, pale woman with a revolver in her hand, who was allegedly recognized as Fanny Kaplan, who was shot by the then Kremlin commandant.

For several centuries now, the ghost of this Russian tyrant has been seen on the lower tiers of the bell tower of Ivan the Terrible. By the way, the ghost of Ivan the Terrible also has a crowned witness - on the eve of his coronation, Emperor Nicholas II himself saw him, which he told his wife Alexandra Feodorovna.

Sometimes the ghost of the Pretender, the False Dmitry executed here, flashes over the battlements of the Moscow Kremlin. The Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower also enjoys a bad reputation - there was also a torture chamber here in the 17th century and a case was recorded of drops of blood appearing on the stonework, which then disappeared on their own.

Another ghostly inhabitant of the Moscow Kremlin is, of course, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who was seen both in his office and in his former apartment. Stalin’s famous comrade-in-arms, head of the NKVD Yezhov, also “visited” his former office... But Joseph Vissarionovich himself was never noted for appearing in the Kremlin after March 5, 1953.

It is not surprising that such an ancient structure, replete with burials, secrets and secret rooms, arouses the interest of not only archaeologists, scientists and historians, but also mystics.

Data

If we talk about the Moscow Kremlin only from the point of view of a large-scale complex of buildings, it is impossible not to mention all of its structures.

So, the architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin includes 20 towers: Tainitskaya, Beklemishevskaya, Blagoveshchenskaya, Vodovzvodnaya, Petrovskaya Tower, Borovitskaya, First Nameless, Second Nameless, Konstantino-Eleninskaya, Nikolskaya, Spasskaya, Corner Arsenalnaya, Nabatnaya, Senateskaya, Middle Arsenalnaya, Armory, Komendantskaya, Troitskaya, Tsarskaya and Kutafya.

Each of the towers has its own history, purpose and special architectural image. The most famous of them is, of course, the Spasskaya Tower with its famous clock, which appeared on the tower erected in 1491 in 1625 according to the design of Christopher Galovey and was subsequently repeatedly changed and improved.

Modern Kremlin chimes were made in 1852 by Russian watchmakers, the Budenop brothers. In 1917, the clock was damaged by a shell, and after repairs in 1918, the Internationale began playing. The last restoration of the chimes was carried out in 1999.

The Kremlin complex also includes five squares: Troitskaya, Dvortsovaya, Senate, Ivanovskaya and Sobornaya.

Located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin and 18 buildings: Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Senya, Church of the Deposition of the Robe, Assumption Cathedral, Annunciation Cathedral, Archangel Cathedral, Chamber of Facets, Ivan the Great Bell Tower Ensemble, Terem Palace, Golden Tsarina Chamber, Verkhospassky Cathedral and Terem churches, Arsenal, The Patriarchal Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the Senate, the Amusement Palace, the Grand Kremlin Palace, the State Kremlin Palace, the Armory Chamber and the Military School named after the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

It is impossible not to mention such significant Kremlin objects that attract millions of tourists as the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell.

The Tsar Bell is truly the largest bell in the world, created back in 1733-1735 by order of Anna Ioanovna, and installed in the Kremlin as a monument to foundry craftsmanship. And the Tsar Cannon, with its caliber of 890 millimeters, is still the largest artillery gun on the planet. The cannon, weighing 40 tons, never had to fire a single shot, but it became an excellent decoration of the museum composition of the Moscow Kremlin.

And the Moscow Kremlin itself is rightfully considered the largest architectural and historical complex in Europe that has been preserved, is operational and is currently in use.

Currently, on the territory of the Kremlin there is the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin", numerous exhibitions, exhibits and relics of which are available to everyone who wants to see with their own eyes all the beauty and charm of the ancient building.

Not long ago, Vladimir Kozhin, manager of the affairs of the President of the Russian Federation, said that even after the expansion of Moscow and the relocation of all departments and ministries to new locations, the presidential administration and the head of state himself will still remain in the Kremlin. Apparently, the country's leadership understands perfectly well that it is difficult to find a better place to receive foreign guests and govern the state. And there is no way to break centuries-old traditions...

Anna Sedykh, rmnt.ru

The Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers and they are all different, no two are alike. Each tower has its own name and its own history. And probably many people don’t know the names of all the towers. Shall we meet?
Most of the towers are made in a single architectural style, given to them in the second half of the 17th century. The Nikolskaya Tower, which at the beginning of the 19th century was rebuilt in the Gothic style, stands out from the general ensemble.

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya)

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

Konstantino-Eleninskaya (Timofeevskaya)

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

Nabatnaya

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

Tsarskaya

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

Spasskaya (Frolovskaya)

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

Senate

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

Nikolskaya

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

Corner Arsenalnaya (Sobakina)

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

Average Arsenalnaya (Faceted)

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

Trinity

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

Kutafya

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

Komendantskaya (Kolymazhnaya)

The Commandant's Tower got its name in the 19th century because the commandant of Moscow was located in the building nearby. The tower was built in 1493-1495 on the northwestern side of the Kremlin wall, which today stretches along the Alexander Garden. It was formerly called Kolymazhnaya after the Kolymazhny yard located near it in the Kremlin. In 1676-1686 it was built on. The tower is made up of a massive quadrangle with machicolations (mounted loopholes) and a parapet and an open tetrahedron standing on it, completed with a pyramidal roof, an observation tower and an octagonal ball. The main volume of the tower contains three tiers of rooms covered with barrel vaults; The completion tiers are also covered with vaults. In the 19th century, the tower received the name “Komendantskaya”, when the commandant of Moscow settled nearby in the Kremlin, in the Poteshny Palace of the 17th century. The height of the tower from the side of the Alexander Garden is 41.25 meters.

Armory (Konyushennaya)

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

Borovitskaya (Predtechenskaya)

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

Vodovzvodnaya (Sviblova)

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

Blagoveshchenskaya

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

Taynitskaya

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

First Nameless Tower

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

Second Nameless

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

Petrovskaya (Ugreshskaya)

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

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