The name of the Kremlin towers in old times. Kremlin towers. Mysteries and secrets. Middle Arsenal Tower

The Kremlin is the main attraction of the capital. How many towers does the Moscow Kremlin have? Italian architects Mark, Anton and Aleviz Fryazin, Pietro Antonio Solari took part in their construction.

They witnessed the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the disasters of the Time of Troubles, the beginning of the transformations of Peter the Great, the invasion of Napoleon and other key moments in Russian history.

At one time, thanks to the innovations used in construction, the Moscow Kremlin was the most powerful fortress in Eastern Europe, capable of withstanding any enemy. To date, its walls and towers have been classified as objects cultural heritage UNESCO.

The construction of the Moscow Kremlin took place at a turning point for Russia - the creation of a single centralized state. The country was surrounded on all sides by enemies - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Livonian Order, the Crimean and Kazan Khanate. Tatar raids constantly reached the walls of Moscow. There was a threat from the West.

Under these conditions, it was vital to build new fortress, which would protect the capital of the state. For this purpose, many of the best craftsmen were called from Italy, which at that time was an innovator in defense architecture. Under their leadership, from 1485 to 1516, the walls and towers of the renovated Kremlin were erected.

They are built of red brick, which was supposed to emphasize the beauty and power of the capital of a strong state.

The towers are extended beyond the Kremlin walls to enable flanking fire on the enemy, and have loopholes adapted for firing firearms. They are designed in such a way that it would be difficult to hit a shooter inside even now, and at the time of construction - almost impossible. From the outside it is a narrow gap, but from the inside there is a spacious chamber.

In addition, in the upper part of the towers there are loopholes, their purpose is to fire at the enemy who comes close to the walls of the fortress. On top of the warts there is a platform for placing light guns, and above there is an additional structure for firing from arquebuses. This system of constructing towers was dictated by the requirements of fortification science of that time.

Instead of fortresses with rounded walls, built spontaneously, there came fortresses of a regular type. The walls and towers were lower than the medieval ones, but thicker, thanks to which they could withstand artillery fire. The Moscow Kremlin became one of the first structures of this type, after which many similar fortresses were built.

It has 20 towers. They are located along the perimeter of the fortress walls. The basic principle of location is where there is more danger, there large quantity structures.

At the same time, there is a desire for uniformity of their distribution. It was caused by the changing tactics of wars - the newly appeared artillery made its own adjustments to defensive architecture.

There are seven towers in the southern part of the Kremlin, eight in the northwestern part, and six in the northeastern part.

Each of them has its own name. Only two are unnamed, they are located along the southern wall of the fortress. The names of other towers are associated with the role they played in ancient times, with those located nearby geographical objects, names of people.

For example, Beklemishevskaya got its name because of the nearby courtyard of boyar Beklemishev, Spasskaya, because of the images of the Savior Not Made by Hands located on its walls.

The alarm had a large 150-pound bell, cast by Ivan Motorin. In the event of a fire, he gave Muscovites a sign of alarm.

The towers have an average height of 30-40 meters. The highest is Trinity.

According to their shape, the structures are divided into two types - round (there are only three of them - Angular Arsenalnaya, Vodovzvodnaya, Beklemishevskaya) and square.

Round towers can have a circle or a polyhedron at their base. They are located in the corner parts of the Kremlin. Square bases have a rhombus shape with a side of over 10 meters.

According to their purpose, they are divided into blind and travel.

Blind towers

The first served for purely defensive purposes. They were strongholds in the defense of the fortress. If the enemy penetrated the wall, the defenders could hide here and fire at him from here. History knows many examples when individual fortified points held out even after they were surrounded.

Blind towers include:

Nabatnaya (1495);
Senate (1491);
Annunciation (1488);
Armory (Konyushennaya) (1495);
Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) (1488);
Komendantskaya (Kolymazhnaya) (1495);
First Nameless (1485);
Second Nameless (1485);
Middle Arsenalnaya (Granenaya) (1495);
Petrovskaya (Ugreshskaya) (1485).

Passage (gate) towers

In addition to defensive ones, they played the role of a gate to the fortress. As a rule, during sieges such structures were always at the forefront of the enemy’s attack, so their defense was given great importance. They are more powerful than the deaf ones; many of them housed icons and gate churches, which provided additional support to the defenders.

TO travel towers can be attributed:

Nikolskaya (1491);
Borovitskaya (Predtechenskaya) (1490);
Kutafya (1516);
Trinity (1495);
Corner Arsenalnaya (Sobakina) (1492);
Konstantino-Eleninskaya (Timofeevskaya) (1490);
Spasskaya (Frolovskaya) (1491).

One of the gate towers, Kutafya, is not directly adjacent to the main walls of the Kremlin and is even located away from it. Its height is only 13.5 meters. However, the tower is directly related to the fortress. With its presence, it covered the Trinity Tower standing behind it, the gates of which led to the Kremlin territory. The name comes from the word “kut” (to cover, cover). For its time it was an innovative experience. Europe was just beginning to build fortresses, where defense was carried out in several stages. Russia then occupied a leading position.

In addition, the Kremlin has two towers built to ensure that there is always water in the fortress. Tainitskaya and Vodovzvodnaya towers are located in the southern part of the Kremlin, which overlooks the Moscow River.

They contained special wells and underground passages to the shore. The significance of the towers was especially important, since if they were captured the garrison was doomed to death. For the first time in our country, the Vodovzvodnaya Tower had a water pressure device.

The Tsar's Tower stands apart. It is located on the wall of the Kremlin and is an octagonal tent placed on four pillars. It was built relatively recently - in the second half of the 19th century. The name is associated with the legend that from here, being on a wooden tower, Ivan the Terrible looked at Red Square.

Ruby stars. Ruby stars are one of the calling cards of the Moscow Kremlin. He is famous all over the world for them. The stars are placed on the five tallest towers and are made of red ruby glass. They were installed in 1930; before them, imperial double-headed eagles were placed on the towers. Stars give a special solemn look to the Moscow Kremlin and are an integral part of its image.

Another business card The Moscow Kremlin is represented by the chimes on the Spasskaya Tower. Every year they mark the last moments of the passing year. The military band festival, which takes place on Red Square, was named after this tower. The tower has long had the status of the main entrance to the fortress. It was built with the expectation that there were no water barriers near it.

Accordingly, in the event of an attack from this side, it was necessary to rely only on its defensive characteristics. Images of the Savior Not Made by Hands were placed here, protecting the capital.

The clock with chimes was installed in the 19th century. They have survived in their original form to this day.

Other towers

In addition to the Moscow Kremlin, the city was protected by fortifications White City, China cities and earthen city. They also had their own towers, which differed from the Kremlin ones, as they were built in the second half of the 16th century. They resembled those fortifications that were preserved in Smolensk and Astrakhan and did not have such a pompous appearance.

IN late XIX- at the beginning of the 20th century they were dismantled due to dilapidation. Despite this, their names were preserved in Moscow toponyms.

For example, the modern Pokrovsky Gate square received its name from the White City tower of the same name.

The Moscow Kremlin acquired its current appearance in the late 1400s thanks to the efforts of Italian craftsmen. Later, its walls and towers were further completed and gradually modified, but their foundation was formed precisely in the 15th century.

In plan, it is an irregular triangle with one very curved Western wall and two relatively flat ones - the Southern and Eastern. The walls of the Kremlin are guarded by 20 towers, different in design and purpose. Each of them has its own.

South wall

Tainitskaya is the main tower of the Southern Wall. It was built by the architect Antonio Gilardi (in the Russified version - Anton Fryazin). Height – 38.4 meters. The name comes from the secret well located in it. A secret passage to the Moscow River passed through it. At one time it had a gate, which is now blocked.

The Annunciation Tower is located to the left of Taynitskaya. Construction time: 1487-1488. Height – 32.45 meters. The name comes from the icon of the Annunciation that was placed on it.

The First Nameless Tower is one of two towers that have not been given their own name. Height – 34.15 meters. Construction time: 1480s. Covered with a simple tetrahedral pyramidal tent.

The Second Nameless, with a height of 30.2 meters, is slightly lower than the First. It was built at the same time as the First Tower, but has a slightly different design. The upper quadrangle is covered with an octagonal tent, on which stands a weather vane.

The Petrovskaya Tower received its name from Metropolitan Peter, which was located nearby. Its second name is Ugreshskaya, which comes from the Kremlin courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery.

Beklemishevskaya was erected by another Italian - Marco Ruffo (name - Mark Fryazin). Years of construction: 1487-1488. The cylindrical design completes the eastern part The southern wall is the top of the South-Eastern corner of the Kremlin. Its height is 46.2 meters. It got its name from the boyar Beklemishev’s courtyard adjacent to it. Later it was renamed Moskvoretskaya after the name of the bridge built nearby.

Eastern wall

Spasskaya is the main tower of the Eastern Wall, 71 meters high. Built by Pietro Antonio Solari in 1491. The name comes from two icons of the Savior, located on both sides of the gate. One of them has now been restored. Now the tower gate is the main entrance to the Kremlin. Spasskaya is the only Kremlin tower with a clock. The current ones (the fourth in a row) were installed in 1852.

Tsarskaya, the smallest and youngest of all, is located to the left of Spasskaya. It is installed straight and has a height of only 16.7 meters. It was built on the site of a small wooden tower from which Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the life of Red Square.

The alarm was built in 1495. Its height is 38 meters. The name comes from the fact that the Spassky alarm bells, which belonged to the Kremlin fire service, were located on it.

Konstantino-Eleninskaya was built by the already famous builder of the Spasskaya Tower, Pietro Antonio Solari, in 1490. The height of the tower is 36.8 meters. The name comes from the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena, which stood nearby. It is also called Timofeevskaya, on behalf of the gate that was previously located on this site.

Senateskaya received its name in 1787 after the construction of the Senate Palace nearby, although it was built in 1491. Height - 34.3 meters.

Nikolskaya, erected in the same year as Senate, was rebuilt in the 19th century in Gothic style, so it stands out from the Kremlin tower ensemble. Named in honor of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisky, whose icon is placed above the gate.

Corner Arsenalnaya is a corner tower between the Eastern and Western walls. Located at the top of the northern corner of the Kremlin. Author: Pietro Antonio Solari. Year of construction – 1492. Height – 60.2 meters. The name was received after the completion of the Arsenal building at the beginning of the 18th century. Its second name (Dog Tower) was assigned to it on behalf of the Sobakin boyars, whose estate stood nearby.

Western Wall

Trinity is the main tower of the Western Wall. The author is the Italian architect Aloisio da Milano (Russian version - Aleviz Fryazin). After Spasskaya, she was considered the second most important in the Kremlin. Year of construction – 1495. Height – 80 meters. It has a gate through which visitors can enter the Kremlin territory. The current name was received in 1658 after the construction of the Trinity Metochion.

The Kutafya Tower forms a single defensive complex with the Trinity Tower. It is the only surviving Kremlin bridgehead tower that previously guarded fortress bridges. Connected to Troitskaya by an inclined bridge. The builder is Aloisio da Milano. Construction time: 1516. Height – 13.5 meters. The name comes from the ancient Slavic word “kut”, meaning “corner”, “shelter”.

The middle Arsenalnaya was built in 1493-1495. Height – 38.9 meters. It got its name from the Arsenal building built nearby. The second name is the Faceted Tower.

The Commandant's Tower received its current name in XIX century from the residence of the commandant of Moscow, located in the chambers of the Miloslavsky boyars. Construction time: 1495. Height – 41.25 m.

The 38.9 m high weapon tower was built in the same years. Previously, it was called Konyushennaya from the Konyushennaya yard, located nearby. The current name was given in the 19th century from the Armory Chamber built next to it.

Borovitskaya was built in 1490. Author: Pietro Antonio Solari. Height – 54 meters. It has gates through which government motorcades now pass. The name is tied to the hill on which, on which he previously grew up Pine forest. Her second name Predtechenskaya comes from the name of the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, located nearby, as well as the icon of St. John the Baptist, which was located above the gate.

The Vodovzvodnaya Tower, round in plan, is located at the top of the South-Western corner of the Kremlin. Year of construction – 1488. Builder – Antonio Gilardi. Height – 61.25 meters. This is the main structure that supplied water to the Kremlin. The name was received in 1633 after a water-lifting machine was installed in it. There was a secret passage through the tower to the Moscow River. The second name of the Sviblov Tower is associated with the boyar family of the Sviblovs, who oversaw the process of its construction.

The Moscow Kremlin is priceless architectural ensemble, dating back to the XV-XIX centuries. In its shape it resembles an irregular triangle. The southern side of the ensemble faces the Moscow River. The fortress is surrounded by a brick wall with 20 towers of different architecture. Today we will briefly introduce you to the features of each of them.

Beklemishevskaya Tower

The construction of this structure dates back to 1487 - 1488. Its author was the architect from Italy Mark Fryazin. The tower is round in plan. Its name comes from the courtyard of the boyar Beklemishev, which adjoined it. Its height is 46.7 m. However, this is not the tallest structure.

Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower

Appeared in the Kremlin in 1490. It was built by Italian architect Pietro Solari. Its name originates from the Church of Saints Helen and Constantine, located nearby. The height of the structure is slightly less than 37 m.

Nabatnaya Tower

The Kremlin towers were built in different time. For example, Nabatnaya appeared in the fortress in 1495. It was named after the Spassky alarm bells located in it, which were part of the Kremlin’s fire-fighting system. It rises 38 meters.

Tsarskaya Tower

The towers of the Moscow Kremlin differ not only in architectural style, but also in size. For example, the Tsar's Tower has quite modest dimensions. It was installed directly on the wall. This happened in the 1680s. She is almost two centuries younger than her “sisters”. Previously, in its place there was a small tower made of wood. According to legend, Ivan the Terrible himself, the Russian Tsar, watched Red Square from it. This is where its name came from. Height - 16.7 m.

Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

This is one of the most famous buildings Kremlin. First of all, because it refers to the towers overlooking Red Square.

The Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower has a gate of the same name, and the famous clock, the Moscow Astronomical Clock, is installed in its tent.

This is a grandiose structure with a height of more than 71 m. The Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin appeared in the Kremlin during the reign of Ivan III (1491). The author of the project was the architect Pietro Solari.

Initially, a much smaller tower was erected than what we see today. This is explained by the fact that in 1625, Christopher Galovey, an architect from England, in collaboration with the Russian architect Bazhen Ogurtsov, completed a large multi-tiered top over the tower. It was made in the Gothic style with some mannerist elements. The tower ends with a stone tent. Fairy-tale figurines are an original design element. They were covered with clothes sewn specially for this purpose.

At the end of the 17th century, the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower was decorated with the first double-headed eagle - the coat of arms of the Russian state. Much later, symbols of the state appeared on the Trinity, Nikolskaya, and Borovitskaya towers.

At all times, the tower gate was the central one of all the Kremlin gates. Moreover, they were revered as saints. It was forbidden to pass through them on horseback, and men passing through them were required to remove their hats. Anyone who did not comply with the holy rule was obliged to make 50 bows to the ground.

The Spassky Gate became the main entrance to the Kremlin territory. Troops went to battle through them. Ambassadors of foreign countries were also met here.

All Kremlin religious processions passed through these gates. Starting with Mikhail Fedorovich, all Russian tsars and emperors necessarily passed through them before their coronation.

There is a legend that when the “invincible” Napoleon drove through the famous gates in devastated Moscow, a gust of wind tore off his famous cocked hat.

During the retreat, the French decided to burn the Spasskaya Tower, but the Don Cossacks arrived in time and were able to put out the already lit wicks.

There were chapels on both sides of the gate. On the left is Smolenskaya, on the right is Spasskaya. They were built of stone in 1802. In 1812, they were both destroyed and restored according to a completely new design. At the end of October 1868, two new tented chapels were solemnly consecrated. In 1925, both of them were demolished.

Kremlin chimes

Another attraction for which the Spasskaya Tower is famous is the chimes that have decorated the tower since the 16th century. However, it should be noted that they are constantly changing. A completely new watch was made in 1625 by the English mechanic and watchmaker Christopher Galovey. They performed musical melodies, measured day and night time, which was indicated by numbers and letters. At that time, there were no hands on the dial.

Tsar Peter I (1705) issued a decree on the reconstruction of the Spassky Clock. They were remade in the German style. A dial appeared, which was divided into 12 sectors.

In 1770 they were replaced by an English clock, which was discovered in the Chamber of Facets. At first they sang the simple song “Dear Augustine,” which belongs to German folklore.

The chimes that we know were made by the Budenop brothers (1851-1852). They were installed on the eighth and tenth tiers of the tower. The chimes were sounded by the “March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment” at 6 and 12 o’clock. At 3 and 9 o’clock they sang the hymn “How Glorious is Our Lord” by D. Bortnyansky. These melodies sounded over Red Square until 1917. At first, the idea arose to set the Russian anthem on the playing shaft of the chimes, but Nicholas I did not allow this to be done.

In early November 1917, the clock was damaged during the Bolshevik assault. They were hit by a shell, which broke one of the arrows and disrupted the rotation mechanism. The clock stood still for almost a year. In September 1918, V.I. Lenin issued a decree according to which the clock was restored by master Nikolai Behrens.

The chimes began to “sing” “Internationale” at 12 o’clock, and “You have fallen a victim...” at 24 o’clock. In 1938, the chimes fell silent for a long time. They only fought to mark the hours and quarters.

58 years later (in 1996), during the solemn inauguration of the First Russian President B. N. Yeltsin, Russians heard the “Patriotic Song” performed by the chimes, and every quarter of an hour - the melody of the “Glory” choir.

The last restoration of the chimes took place in 1999. The numbers and hands are gilded. The appearance of the upper tiers of the tower was completely restored. At the end of the year the chimes were finally set. Now they perform the Russian national anthem, which was officially approved in 2000.

The chimes have quite impressive dimensions - a diameter of 6.12 m. They “look” on four sides. Roman numerals are 0.72 m high, the hour hand is 2.97 m long, and the minute hand is 3.27 m. Previously, the watch was wound manually, but after 1937 three electric motors are used for this.

Senate Tower

The towers of the Moscow Kremlin are not all equally popular and famous. For example, the Senate - it was erected in 1491 by Pietro Solari. It was named much later (1787), when the Senate Palace was built on the territory of the Kremlin. Its height is 34.3 meters.

Nikolskaya Tower

This design is also the work of Pietro Solari. The tower was built at the same time as its Senate “sister” (in 1491). She was named after the icon of St. N. the Wonderworker, which was located above the gate. The tower is crowned with a red star. Huge building rises to 70.4 m.

Arsenal Tower (corner)

The Kremlin towers, located at the corners of the fortress, are more massive. Arsenalnaya was built by Pietro Solari (1492). This is one of the most powerful towers. The name appeared at the beginning of the 18th century, when the Arsenal building was built on the territory of the Kremlin. The round tower has a well inside. The height of the structure is 60.2 meters.

Arsenal Tower (medium)

The second tower, named after the Arsenal, was built in 1495. Its height is 38.9 m.

Trinity Tower

This tower was considered second in importance after Spasskaya. Built by the Italian Aloisio da Milano in 1495. It was renamed several times, but in the end the name Troitskaya stuck (after the name of the courtyard in the Kremlin). Today this is the main entrance for everyone who wants to visit the Kremlin. The building is crowned with a red star. It should be noted that the Kremlin towers differ in size. The height of the tower exceeds 80 meters. There are buildings that are more than twice as low as it.

Kutafya Tower of the Kremlin

It was built in 1516. The author of the project is an architect from Italy Aleviz Fryazin. This is a low tower, surrounded by a deep moat and the Neglinnaya River. It had only one gate, which at the slightest danger was closed tightly by a drawbridge. It was a serious obstacle for enemies.

IN XVII centuries with the help of dams the water level in Neglinnaya was raised high. It began to surround the tower on all sides. Initially, its height above ground level was 18 meters.

Why does the Kremlin's Kutafya Tower have such a name? There are two versions. One of them is from the word “kut” (corner, shelter) or from the word “kutafya”, which means a clumsy, plump woman.

The Kutafya Tower never had a top covering. In 1685, it received an openwork “crown” with spectacular white stone details.

Its height is 13.5 meters.

Commandant Tower

The tower received this name in the 19th century, when the official residence of the commandant of Moscow began to be located in the nearby Poteshny Palace. But the tower was built much earlier, in 1495. Its height is 41.25 m.

Weapon Tower

It must be said that at the end of the 15th century many Kremlin towers appeared. So the Armory was built in the Kremlin in 1495. It was named much later (1851), when the Armory Chamber was built nearby. The height of the building is 38.9 m.

Borovitskaya Tower

As a rule, Kremlin towers received their name from their location or in honor of a structure located nearby. The Borovitskaya Tower appeared on the Kremlin map in 1490. It was created by Pietro Solari. They named it in honor of Borovitsky Hill. It was on its slope that the tower was built. Today it is the main passage for government and presidential motorcades. The tower is crowned with a red ruby star. Its height is 54 meters.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower

This structure was erected by the Italian architect Antonio Gilardi in 1488. Tower round shape, there was a well inside it, and a secret passage was dug in it, which led to the Moscow River. It got its name from the water pump installed in it in 1633, which supplied water to the Kremlin gardens. The beautiful structure is crowned with a ruby star. The height of the tower is 61.25 m.

Annunciation Tower

In our article we published a photo of the Kremlin. Its towers are all very different in style, shape, and size. At the same time, they miraculously create a very harmonious ensemble. Look at the Annunciation Tower. It was built at the end of the 15th century (1488), but it still amazes Kremlin guests with its splendor. It received its name in honor of the icon of the Annunciation, located in the tower. Its height is 32.45 m.

Taynitskaya Tower

The structure was built in 1485. This is not the most high tower- Tainitskaya. Previously, it was a travel pass, but later the gates were blocked. It was named after the secret well located in it and secret passage, which led to the Moscow River. The Taynitskaya Tower rises 38.4 meters above the Kremlin.

Nameless towers

Two not very tall towers. Both were built in the 80s of the 15th century. Their height is 34.15 and 30.2 meters, respectively.

Petrovskaya Tower

Another structure was named in honor of the nearby church of Metropolitan Peter and the courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery. The Petrovskaya Tower has a height of 27.15 meters.

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

This is another attraction dear to the heart of every Russian. Thousands of tourists from different parts of the Earth come every year to see the Nizhny Novgorod miracle.

The length of the Kremlin is about 2 kilometers, its height is from 18 to 30 meters. When the towers of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin were built, there were 13 of them. Only 12 have survived to this day. At the beginning of 2010, restoration and reconstruction of the lost Zachatievskaya tower began.

Each of the 12 structures has its own history, which, as a rule, is reflected in their names - Borisoglebskaya, Georgievskaya, Belaya, Zachatievskaya, Ivanovskaya, Northern, Chasovaya, Tainitskaya, Koromyslova, Kladovaya, Dmitrievskaya, Porokhovaya, Nikolskaya.

The exit to the open wall of the Kremlin for walking is located in the Pantry Tower. Over its long history, the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin has gone through many rebuildings and reconstructions. It is a most valuable monument of history, architecture and culture of Russia. The Kremlin towers attract the interest of researchers and scientists from all over the world.

Question: “How many towers does the Moscow Kremlin have?” interests many. The answer is known - there are 20 of them in total. This article will consider all the buildings in order, presenting a photo of each of them with captions, as well as a message about each interesting features and facts. If you are interested in the question: “What is the purpose of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin?” — let’s answer it: defensive. In the old days they played the role of defense hubs.

The architectural ensemble of the Kremlin, which consists of bright walls and tall structures, is an old-timer. His age exceeded the bar of five centuries. Today it is impossible to imagine a once fortification building without their spiers, and the appearance of Moscow would lose its original flavor.

Prince Ivan III began construction work. The difference in size and shape features in each case was determined by the location and protective capabilities. Each structure contained its own exits, which went to the attached spindles of the walls.

This made it possible to walk around the entire perimeter without having to go down to the ground. The final decoration was merlons, otherwise known as “dovetails.” Behind them were archers hiding on the upper parts of the structure.

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History of the towers

On this moment Residents and visitors of the capital can see twenty towers. These buildings have seen many historical events. The military actions of 1812 brought them particular harm, when many defensive structures were completely destroyed by explosions.

Therefore, a huge amount of restoration work was done. The fortification structures owe their current appearance to Boeve’s magnificent architectural skills.

During restoration efforts at the Kremlin complex, they were able to highlight its antiquity and even add to all this romantic notes and decorative details in the manner of the Middle Ages. The bastions built during the reign of Peter the Great were eliminated, and the ditch that crossed Red Square was buried.

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) tower

The structure has a round shape and is located next to the Moskvoretsky Bridge. It is wonderfully visible from Red Square. In those distant times, this defensive structure successfully withstood the onslaught of advancing enemies.

A hiding place was built in front of the fortress, and in the 18th century the pylon was decorated with a tent. This added harmony to the composition and removed some of the serf-like severity.

During the battle with the Swedes, bastions were built and the dimensions of the loopholes were expanded. In the middle of the last century, a major restoration was carried out, and the loopholes acquired their original shape.

Taynitskaya Tower

During the construction of the Kremlin, this building was one of the first to be completed. The design received its name due to the presence of a hidden passage underground.

It connected the defense structure with the river. It was used to deliver water in case of an enemy blockade.

The object rises almost forty meters. Over its history, it has undergone many changes.

After the destruction caused by Napoleon's army, the fortress was restored. And closer to the half of the last century, the archery was completely dismantled, the well was filled in and the gates for passage were blocked.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower

Another name for this building is Sviblova. It was formed by the name of the boyar, whose yard was located nearby, and the machine that stood here and served to supply water.

This water supply operated for a very long period until the mechanism ended up in St. Petersburg, where it filled the fountain with water.

Together with the star, the structure reaches a height of 62 meters. And during restoration efforts, elements of classics and pseudo-Gothic were introduced into it.

Borovitskaya Tower

Borovitsky Hill was once covered with shadow from a pine forest. This 54-meter building, crowned with a star, is also located here. The building is otherwise called Predtechenskaya.

At first it served the needs of the Zhitnoy and Konyushenny yard, located nearby. The passage gate played the role of the Kremlin's back gate.

The upper part of the piloton was decorated with an open figure of eight and a large stone tent.

Weapon Tower

Previously, next to this building there were workshops producing weapons. The craftsmen here also made dishes and items that served as decorations.

The old name “Konyushennaya” was quickly replaced by “Armory”, and this happened when the Armory Chamber appeared in this place.

At that time, it became a treasury; uniforms and other things of Russian soldiers were preserved in it.

Trinity Tower

The structure rises 32 meters high and is a storage place, and the extreme side of the Alexander Garden is its entrance.

In terms of protective capabilities, this structure took second place (the first belongs to the protective building of Spasskaya). It also has the highest height. The quadrangle of six tiers has a basement at the base, which in turn is made in two tiers. Stairs help you move comfortably from tier to tier.

Over its history, the name of this protective structure has changed several times.

It had the following names:
Epiphany;
Znamenskaya;

Karetnaya.

In the end, the royal decree turned it into Trinity. The entire building rises eighty meters.

Kutafyeva Tower

Many years ago there were two guard buildings, they guarded the entrance to the Kremlin. Only one has survived to this day. It is also known as Predmostnaya, and it is the lowest of the entire list of towers in the Moscow Kremlin.

It was located next to the Trinity Bridge, where it was surrounded by a moat and a river.

One gate was built in a low pylon, which, if necessary, could be closed by the lifting side of the bridge, which created great difficulties for penetration from the outside. The structure stood out with special power.

Now this building, made in two colors, rises thirteen meters, and becomes an organic addition to the entire architectural ensemble.

Corner Arsenal Tower

The lower massive part of the structure consists of sixteen faces, which are expanded by the base.

Below, underground, there is a basement room, accessible via an internal staircase. There is also an underground well located there. It contains clean drinking water. Boyar Sobakin used to live next to the structure, and because of him the structure had a second name - Sobakin.

The building began to be called the Arsenal building after the Arsenal was erected.

Arsenal Tower

The described structure was included in the number of Kremlin buildings in the 15th century. A little later, a grotto was built next to it, which became a landmark in the Alexander Garden. The outer side of the pylon is divided by niches.

Inside, the structure consists of three tiers that cover barrel vaults.

Alarm tower

This facility is built tightly. It is distinguished by its special strength, and is located between the Konstantino-Elenskaya and Tsarskaya structures.

The basement and the rooms located in it together represent a complex multi-chamber network.

The tent-shaped tetrahedral top in former times sounded with the sound of bells. Like the Spassky alarm, these sounds became a signal of some kind of disaster. The alarm bell installed here weighs 150 pounds. This is the creation of the hands of the craftsman Ivan Motorin.

Tsar's Tower

This building is comfortably located between Nabatnaya and Spasskaya. In structure it resembles a tower. This addition to the Kremlin was erected in the 60s of the nineteenth century.

Four dome-like pillars support an octagonal tent, which in turn was decorated with a gilded weather vane. Previously, fire protection bells could be heard from it.

This is one of a small number of buildings that has remained virtually unchanged. This structure reaches seventeen meters in height.

Konstantino-Eleninskaya (Timofeevskaya) tower

It appeared in the middle of the fifteenth century and was located in place of the former passage building. She let a lot of people pass through her.

Regiments passed here, and even Dmitry Donskoy himself went this way to the Battle of Kulikovo. In addition, the building played the role of a military security facility protecting the Great Posad and the routes running from the pier on the river.

From this object all paths from the adjacent streets were clearly visible. The pylon was equipped with gates for passage and an archer. It became possible to get here through a drawbridge above the level. The building received a different name because of the nearby Church of Constantine and Helena.

Senate Tower

Since the fifteenth century, it has been decorating the complex, surrounded by Nikolskaya and Frolovskaya fortification structures.

For a long time it was not called anything. And at the end of the eighteenth century, the Senate settled in the Kremlin. And they used it in the title.

The interior of the object is divided into three tiers, where rooms with vaults are located. The built-out structure was later supplemented with a tent and a weather vane. These details were complemented by beautiful gilding. All this rises 35 meters.

Nikolskaya Tower

The building is located in the northern part of the complex. The high-power quadrangle was previously equipped with gates for passage. It was also complemented by an archer and a crossing operating in lifting mode.

The name uses the image of St. Nicholas, which was installed above the driveway. Judging by information from Wikipedia and numerous memoirs and historical information, amazing events took place in all historical times, as evidenced by St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk, whose image was lost, restored and solemnly consecrated in 2010.

The “lace” octagon is considered to be a decoration of the structure, and the additional part (tent) reflects the Gothic style of architecture.

During the battle with Napoleonic army, the building was partially damaged, but a little later it was restored. And during the restoration, the tent was decorated with white stone turrets.

Petrovskaya Tower

The need for this facility arose at the stage of improving the complex’s defense system. The nearby Church of Metropolitan Peter gave it its name.

After the building was blown up by a gunpowder charge in 1812, extensive restoration work was carried out.

The built twenty-seven-meter structure was used for the economic needs of gardeners who monitored the improvement of the Kremlin territory.

Kolymazhnaya or Commandant Tower

An almost blank and austere building, which is shifted to the south side of the Trinity defensive building.

Like most other objects, it appeared in the fifteenth century. And the name “Kolymazhnaya” was given due to the close location of the Kolymazhny yard.

After the commandant moved to Poteshin (this happened in the nineteenth century), the building was renamed.

Annunciation Tower

This object has its own secret - it is deep underground. If you believe the legends, the name was given to it by the icon of the Annunciation, which hung here in ancient times.

Historians are also inclined to believe that the name is associated with the Church of the Annunciation, built nearby, which was demolished under Soviet rule.

Back in the seventeenth century, the Porto-Wash Gate was built near the pylon, through which local washerwomen hurried to the river to rinse their clothes here.

Over time, this gate was built up. The building, together with the weather vane, rises thirty-two meters.

Frolovskaya or Spasskaya tower

It is located next to the main gate, which in the old days was equipped with a special passage to the Kremlin. During construction, the task was to protect the northeastern corner of the complex, since it did not contain water barriers.

When describing this construction, it should be noted that in this case the architecture was not the same as in other buildings. She was distinguished by precision in geometric shapes, luxurious jewelry and animal figurines. The corner parts of the quadrangle were decorated with attractive pyramids with iridescent weather vanes.

First Nameless Tower

It stands next to Taynitskaya and is a completely blind building. For almost two centuries (15th and 16th) it was used as a gunpowder storage facility.

In the mid-sixteenth century, the building was destroyed by fire, but 150 years later it was rebuilt. Now it has already been supplemented by a new tier, which was called a tent tier.

During the construction of the luxurious Kremlin palace, the building was dismantled. As soon as this was completed, the architect Bazhenov received instructions to build the object again. In the end, the beauty of the current complex is complemented by one spire, rising 35 meters.

Second Nameless Tower

The building gained architectural attractiveness in the second half of the seventeenth century, when it was completed with a four-sided tent and an observation post was added.

The crowning achievement of the structure was a stone tent with a weather vane. The Kremlin building delights with the emerald tents, the ruby shine of the stars and the “swallow tails”.

The grandeur and beauty of this place is simply mesmerizing. This is the most striking and recognizable symbol, familiar from childhood from pictures in books, textbooks, stamps and other images, dear to every Russian person.

For interesting information about the walls and towers of the Kremlin, watch the following video:

"Who knew that Moscow would be a kingdom,
who knew that Moscow was considered a state?"
(Chronicle of the 17th century, author unknown)

In the summer of 6666 from the creation of the world, the Grand Duke of Kiev Yuri Vladimirovich, nicknamed Dolgoruky, the son of the Grand Duke Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh, traveled with his retinue from the capital Kyiv to his son Andrei Yuryevich Bogolyubsky in the city of Vladimir-on-Klyazma, where he reigned father's will.
And suddenly, in the middle of one vast swamp, Prince Yuri Vladimirovich saw a huge wonderful beast. That beast had three heads and motley fur of many colors. And the whole squad, and all the prince’s companions saw this beast and stood up in amazement. Having appeared to people, the wonderful beast then disappeared, melting away like morning fog.

Then Prince Yuri Vladimirovich asked one of his companions, a learned Greek philosopher:
- What does the appearance of this wonderful beast signify?
“Elementary, Grand Duke,” answered the learned Greek. “This phenomenon signifies that a great triangular city will arise near these places and a great kingdom will spread around it. And the diversity of the animal’s skin means that people of different tribes and nations will come here.

The prince thought for a moment, then asked again:
- Is your interpretation true, learned philosopher?
“True,” answered the learned philosopher, “because even at the founding of the great city of Rome there was a sign.” When they began to dig a ditch under the city wall, they dug up a human head as if it were alive, and this meant that Rome would be the head of many cities. Which came true. And when they were building Constantinople, a serpent crawled out of the hole, and at that same moment an eagle fell on him from above, and they began to fight. And the wise man of books therefore said: “The city of Constantine will be king over other cities, just as the eagle is king over all birds, and it will be subject to the invasions of infidels.” Which also came true. Therefore, the sign shown to you today will also come true.
(The previous text is taken from "The Tale of Bygone Years", "The All-Beautiful Place of Moscow", author unknown).

Then there were many different historical events, about them another time, but in the end Dolgoruky erected a wooden fortress on Borovitsky Hill, and named it after the local river - Moscow. This is how it appeared best city on the ground. Huge, colorful from all nationalities, and the Kremlin has a triangular shape, as can be seen in the pictures above and below. The two photos below are not mine, the first one belongs to Marina Lystseva photografersha
But why exactly “Moscow” and not, say, Komsomolsk-on-Amur? Everything is simple here. Tradition says that at the first meeting of the prince with the local boyar Kuchka, the following conversation took place:
- What is the name of this river? - asked the prince.
- Moscow.
- What does this name mean?
“It was not named by us, but by those who lived before us,” answered Kuchko, “but we don’t know what it means.” It’s been this way since centuries: we say “Moscow” - and that’s it.
“So, you say, the name was given by those who lived before you,” said the prince, and thought to himself: “You once replaced those who lived here before you, and now it’s your turn to give way to me. And Moscow, not Moscow, what the hell is the difference? and I will command the name of the city."

The walls and towers of the Kremlin form an irregular triangle. There are twenty towers in the Kremlin, three round towers are located in the corners. Each such tower protected a corner of the fortress and both walls adjacent to it. The remaining towers are square.
Almost all are made in the same architectural style of the 17th century, only Nikolskaya is out of order, which at the beginning of the 19th century was rebuilt into a pseudo gothic style.
The walls and towers of the Kremlin, which still stand today, were built under the Grand Duke of All Rus' Ivan III Vasilyevich in 1485-1495. They were erected by Italian architects Anton Fryazin (Antonio Gilardi), Marco Fryazin (Marco Ruffo), Pyotr Fryazin (Pietro Antonio Solari), Aleviz Fryazin the Old (Aloisio da Carcano). All these architects, oddly enough, are not brothers or even namesakes. It’s just that in Rus' at that time the Italians were called “Fryags” or “Fryazins”.
We will walk around the Kremlin clockwise, starting from the metro.

Corner Arsenal Tower

Height - 60.2 m.
The most powerful tower of the Moscow Kremlin. Its lower mass consists of 18 faces, and the base is greatly expanded. This gives it greater stability. In the upper part there are hinged loopholes - machikuli. The walls reach 4 meters in thickness. Built in 1492 by Pietro Antonio Solari.
A well was dug in the tower, which in case of a siege could be used by the garrison of the fortress (it has survived to this day). From the Corner Arsenal Tower came secret passage to the Neglinnaya River (later it was founded). In the 15th-16th centuries, the tower was strengthened with an additional wall that went around it in a semicircle.

Nikolskaya Tower

Height with star - 70.4 m.
Built in 1491 according to the design of Pietro Antonio Solari. It is named after the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, located above the passage gate of the diversion arch. According to the existing tradition, at this tower in front of the icon of St. Nicholas - the holy saint of God, the most revered in Rus' - the townspeople resolved their controversial issues.
In 1612, it was through the gates of the Nikolskaya and Spasskaya towers that the people's militia, led by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, solemnly entered the Kremlin on November 1. Muscovites and residents of surrounding villages greeted the winners with jubilation. (On October 27, an agreement on the surrender of the Polish garrison was signed).
In 1702-1736 the Arsenal building was built. The building is adjacent to the Kremlin wall between the Nikolskaya and Corner Arsenal towers. The Nikolskaya Tower acquires Baroque decor, just like the original design of the Arsenal.

In 1812, it was blown up by the French retreating from Moscow, the tent collapsed, part of the passage gate was damaged, but part of the quadrangle with the gate icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisky was not touched. In the book by Alexey Remizov you can find a mention: “It exploded so hard that it broke the windows and doors of all the houses in the area. All that remains of the Arsenal are ruins. And half the tower collapsed. But Nikola - with sword and hail - resisted! Even the glass on the icon did not crack. Even the lantern with the candle continued to hang.”
News of the miracle soon reached the emperor. Arriving in Moscow, Alexander I personally became convinced of the safety of the icon and ordered, first of all, to restore the tower, and to hang a marble plaque under the icon, the words for which he himself had inscribed. It was later dismantled.

During the battles in October 1917, the gate image of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk was riddled with bullets and shrapnel, but the face itself was not damaged, which was perceived as a miracle by believing Muscovites.
At the end of April 1918, before the first official celebration of the proletarian May Day, the facade, including the icon, was completely draped in red calico. By official version strong gusts of wind, twisting the panels, cleared the view of the image. However, according to people’s recollections, the weather was calm and the red canvas tore as if it had been cut with a sword.

Senate Tower

Height - 34 m.
Built in 1491 by the architect Pietro Antonio Solari. The tower received its name after the construction of the Senate Palace on the Kremlin territory was completed in 1787. In 1680, a stone tent was built over the tower, ending with a golden weather vane. In front of the tower is the Lenin Mausoleum.
In 1948, a passage was made from the tower to the Mausoleum so that members of the CPSU Central Committee could enter the stands directly from the Kremlin, bypassing Red Square.

Spasskaya Tower

Height with star - 71 m.
Built in 1491 during the reign of Ivan III by the architect Pietro Antonio Solari. The name is associated with the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, placed above the gate on the Red Square side. The icon itself has not survived, but the place where it hung is clearly visible. With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the gate image, as well as the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands itself, were lost. However, in June 2010, icon painter Dmitry Vinokurov wrote an accurate list of the famous miraculous icon.
If the enemy penetrated inside the archery, the iron bars were lowered, and the enemy found himself locked in a kind of stone bag. He was fired at from the upper gallery of the archery.
Fantastic figurines - an element of decor - under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, their nakedness was bashfully covered with specially sewn clothes. In the mid-17th century, the first double-headed eagle was installed on the main tower of the Kremlin.

The Spassky Gate was revered as saints. It was forbidden to ride through them on horseback, and men passing through them had to remove their headdresses in front of the image of the Savior, which was illuminated by an unquenchable lamp. Anyone who disobeyed the holy rule had to make 50 prostrations.
There is a legend that when Napoleon was passing through the Spassky Gate in captured Moscow, a gust of wind pulled the famous cocked hat from his head. During the retreat of the French army from Moscow, the Spasskaya Tower was ordered to be blown up, but the Don Cossacks arrived in time and extinguished the already lit wicks.
They were also the main entrance to the Kremlin, from here regiments left for battle, and here they met foreign ambassadors. All religious processions from the Kremlin went through these gates, all the rulers of Russia, starting with Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, solemnly passed through them before his coronation.

The famous chiming clock has existed since the 16th century. They were made in 1625 under the direction of the English mechanic Christopher Galovey. In 1705, by decree of Peter I, the Spassky clock was converted into a German style with a dial at 12 o'clock. Modern chimes were made by brothers Nikolai and Ivan Budenop in 1851-1852 and installed on 8-10 tiers of the Spasskaya Tower. From that time on, the chimes played the “March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment” at 12 and 6 o’clock, and at 3 and 9 o’clock the hymn “How Glorious is Our Lord in Zion.” After the revolution of 1917, the clock began to read “Internationale” at 12 o’clock, and “You have fallen a victim...” at 24 o’clock. Nowadays, at 12 and 6 o'clock the chimes play the national anthem. Russian Federation, and at 3 and 9 - the melody of the choir “Glory”.

Tsar's Tower

Height with weather vane - 16.7 m.
This is the youngest and smallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin, built in 1680. Its octagonal tent on jug-shaped pillars resembles the porch lockers of stone residential mansions that were common at that time. Well preserved its original shape.
Strictly speaking, this is not a tower, but a stone tower, a tent placed on the wall. Once upon a time there was a small wooden tower from which, according to legend, Tsar Ivan IV (the Terrible) loved to watch the events taking place on Red Square - hence the name of the tower.

Alarm tower

Height - 38 m.
The name comes from the Spassky alarm bell hanging on it, which served as a fire alarm. Erected in 1495. The tower is placed very high - on a hill. It was a watchtower of the Kremlin fortress. Columns of smoke indicated the approach of the steppe enemy, which the watchmen reported ringing bells. Muscovites from unprotected settlements hurried to take refuge, some behind the walls of the monastery, and some in the Kremlin.
In 1771, during the Plague Riot, the rebels sounded the Spassky alarm and thus gathered Muscovites to the Kremlin. At the end of the riot, Catherine II ordered the removal of the tongue from the bell. For more than 30 years, the bell hung on the tower without a tongue.
The tower deviates from the vertical by one meter.

Konstantino-Eleninskayatower

Height - 36.8 m.
Built in 1490 by Pietro Antonio Solari. It received its modern name after the Church of Constantine and Helen was built nearby in the Kremlin in the 17th century (it was dismantled in 1928).
Previously, in its place there was an ancient white stone tower from the time of Demetrius Donskoy, called Timofeevskaya. Through its gates, Dimitry Donskoy in 1380 rode with his squads to the famous Battle of Kulikovo.
At the end of the 17th century, when the former defensive role of the tower came to naught, the strelnitsa was turned into a prison, the dungeon was nicknamed “Torture”. The tower gates were closed.

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) tower

Height - 46.2 m.
It is located near the junction of the Moscow River with a moat and performs an important defensive function. Built in 1487-1488 by Italian architect Mark Fryazin. The first name comes from the courtyard of boyar Beklemishev adjacent to the tower; later - from the nearby Moskvoretsky Bridge.
Ivan Beklemishev was nicknamed “Bersenem” for his caustic tongue, that is, gooseberry (hence Bersenevskaya embankment). He led the boyar opposition to the grand ducal power. Vasily III, who sought to rule individually without the boyars, ordered his head to be cut off, and his courtyard, along with the tower, was used as a prison for disgraced boyars.
This is one of the few Kremlin towers that were practically not rebuilt.

Petrovskaya Tower

Height - 27.15 m.
The Petrovskaya Tower received its name from the Church of Metropolitan Peter, which belonged to the courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery. Therefore, it was sometimes called Ugreshskaya.
This tower, which looks very different from the neighboring towers, was rebuilt many times. The exact time of the first construction of the Petrovskaya Tower is unknown; it is assumed that it was erected along with other towers of the southern wall in the 1480s.
It is not difficult to recognize it - it is the only tower that has a drainage pipe on the façade.

Second Nameless Tower

Height - 30.2 m.
Built in the 1480s as an intermediate tower on the southern side of the Kremlin.
In 1701 the tower had a gate, which was later blocked. In 1771, in connection with the construction of the Kremlin Palace, it was demolished and then restored.
There is nothing special to tell about it, as well as about the First Nameless Tower, otherwise they would have names.

First Nameless Tower

Height - 34.15 m.
This architecturally simple tower was rebuilt many times. It was first erected in the 1480s. In 1547, the tower collapsed during the fire of Moscow from the explosion of the gunpowder warehouse built in it (that’s why it was also called Porokhovaya). It was rebuilt in the 17th century.
The tower was dismantled in 1770 in preparation for the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace by V. I. Bazhenov. After the completion of the palace in 1776-1883, the tower, together with the wall between it and the Second Nameless Tower, was rebuilt in a new location, closer to the Tainitskaya Tower.

Taynitskaya Tower

Height - 38.4 m.
The central tower of the southern wall of the Kremlin, the construction of the existing Kremlin walls and towers began with it. The construction of the Kremlin fortifications began on the southern side, since from here, it is believed, the Kremlin was most often threatened by the Tatars, and the old white stone walls here were the most dilapidated.
Erected in 1485 by Anton Fryazin. There was a secret well inside and a hidden exit to the Moscow River, which is why the tower was nicknamed Tainitskaya.
It is very easy to recognize - it is the only tower on the side of the Moscow River on which the walled gates are visible.

The third “cache”, or rather a secret, is connected with the fact that even if the enemies broke through the gates with a battering ram, they ended up not in the Kremlin, but only in the annex - in the shooting gallery. And the entrance to the tower itself is around the bend. But in the close shooting, the enemy could neither turn around with a long ram nor run away properly.
When constructing the tower, the architect used brick for the first time for fortress construction. Until 1674, the tower had a striking clock.
Until 1917, the Kremlin signal cannon was fired daily from the archer of the Tainitskaya tower, notifying Muscovites about the onset of noon - similar to the tradition of firing the Peter and Paul cannon in St. Petersburg.

Annunciation Tower

Height with weather vane - 32.45 m.
The name comes from the “Annunciation” icon that previously existed on the tower, presumably built in 1487-1488, for which the tower served as a bell tower. In the old days, there was an underground floor in the tower, now half-buried, which served as a prison.
There is such a legend: once Tsar Ivan the Terrible put his governor in the Annunciation Tower. But the governor prayed so earnestly every day that the Mother of God appeared to him and promised to help. Soon the king’s servants came to free the governor, and froze in surprise: on the wall of the tower was an imprinted miraculous image of the Mother of God!

Vodovzvodnaya Tower

Height with star - 61.25 m.
Built in 1488 by Italian architect Anton Fryazin. The former name Sviblova Tower comes from the boyar family Sviblovy, whose courtyard adjoined the tower from the Kremlin. It received its modern name in 1633 after the installation of a water-lifting machine to supply water from the Moscow River to the Kremlin. According to contemporaries, a similar machine, manufactured under the leadership of the Englishman Christopher Galovey, cost several barrels of gold. This was the first pressure water supply system in the history of Russia.
Unlike other towers on which ruby stars are installed, Vodovzvodnaya did not previously have a top in the form of an eagle. The star with a diameter of 3 meters was installed on the tower in 1937 and is the smallest of the Kremlin stars.

Borovitskaya Tower

Height with star - 54.05 m.
The name of the tower, according to legend, comes from an ancient forest that once covered one of the seven hills on which Moscow stands. According to another legend, the tower got its name from the builders of the white-stone Kremlin under Dmitry Donskoy - this part was built by the residents of Borovsk.
Before the construction of the modern Borovitskaya tower, there was another one in its place, which had the same name. This is evidenced by the record of the construction of the Church of John the Baptist “on the forest” in 1461, where it was written that this church stood at the “Borovitsky Gates”.
The new Borovitskaya Tower was built by Pietro Antonio Solari during the renovation of the Kremlin in 1490, by order of Ivan III.

WITH outside Kremlin wall on the folds of the gate one can see coats of arms carved from white stone, clearly ancient origin, - Lithuanian and Moscow. Experts still have not given an answer about the time and reasons for their appearance on the Borovitskaya Tower.
Another interesting fact- if a flag of a foreign state is flying on a building near the Borovitsky Gate, this means that a foreign president is currently in the Kremlin.
Today, the Borovitsky Gate is the only permanently operating passage gate in the Kremlin. Visitors to the Armory Chamber also pass through the Borovitskaya Tower. It is believed that they are the oldest of the Kremlin gates.

Weapon Tower

Height - 38.9 m.
Built in 1493-1495. At the beginning of the 17th century, it had a passage gate to the Stables Yard in the Kremlin. Hence its ancient name Konyushennaya. The tower received its modern name in the 19th century after the Armory Chamber building built on the territory of the Kremlin.
During its construction, extensive hydraulic engineering work was required; due to the swampy floodplain, it was necessary to strengthen the creeping soil of the slope and rebuild the fortress wall above the river bank.

Commandant's Tower

Height - 41.25 m.
Built in 1493-1495 under Ivan III, it was formerly called Glukha or Kolymazhnaya (after the nearby Kolymazhnaya yard, where the royal carriages were kept and stables were located). It received its current name in the 19th century, when the commandant of Moscow settled nearby in the Poteshny Palace.
This photo is not mine.

Kutafya Tower

The height on the city side is 13.5 m.
The only surviving archery tower. Built in 1516 under the leadership of Aleviz Fryazin.
It has only one gate, which in moments of danger was tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the water level in the Neglinnaya River was raised high by dams, so that water surrounded the tower on all sides.

Such diversion towers are called “barbicans” (from the Arabic or Persian bab-khanah - “gate fortification”). Most often, the barbican was a tower placed outside the perimeter of the walls of a fortress or castle and guarding the approaches to a bridge or gate. The barbican was connected to the fortress by a passage bordered by walls (or a bridge if the barbican was located beyond the line of the moat).
There are two common 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.

Trinity Tower

Height with star - 80 m.
This is the tallest tower of the Kremlin. The Trinity Bridge, protected by the Kutafya Tower, leads to its gates. The tower gate serves as the main entrance for visitors to the Kremlin. Built in 1495-1499. Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin.
During its history, it managed to change several names - Epiphany, Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya, Karetnaya. It received its current name in 1658 by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich based on the nearby courtyard of the Trinity Monastery.
The two-story base of the tower housed a prison in the 16th and 17th centuries. A stone staircase led to it; a small hatch led from the upper rooms to the lower ones, through which only one person could crawl. This was the only way out of these “stone bags”. For air circulation, vents were made in them - special slots.
In 1870, it was adapted to house the Archives of the Ministry of the Imperial Household.

Above the Trinity Gate in the icon case there was an icon of the Kazan Mother of God, damaged during the storming of the Kremlin by the Bolsheviks in 1917. The fate of the gate icon Soviet time unknown. Currently, the place of the icon above the Trinity Gate on the side of the Alexander Garden is occupied by a clock, and on the side of the Kremlin - by the same empty architectural niche.
In terms of its administrative significance it was second only to Spasskaya. The tower gate served as the entrance to the metropolitan's mansion, to the chambers of the queen and princesses, as well as the exit to the Volotsk road leading to the north, along which the princes, and later the kings, went on campaigns. Ceremonial meetings of returning rulers also took place here.
Now the Presidential Orchestra of Russia is based here.

Middle Arsenal Tower

Height - 38.9 m.
Built in 1493 - 1495 on the site of the corner tower of the time of Dmitry Donskoy. Previously, it was called Granena - from the facade dissected on the edge.
In ancient times, it was connected by intra-wall passages with the Corner Arsenal and Trinity towers. The first move was unwalled in 1934. Another passage inside the wall was discovered in June 1974, when during the restoration of the Kremlin wall from the side of the Alexander Garden, an entrance arch was found in it, next to the Middle Arsenal Tower.

From the 1600s until 1935, the four towers were topped with gilded double-headed eagles. In August 1935, it was decided to replace the eagles (they were installed on the Borovitskaya, Spasskaya, Nikolskaya and Troitskaya towers) with five-pointed stars with a hammer and sickle (the star was also installed on the Vodovzvodnaya Tower). Sketches of the stars were developed by academician Fyodor Fedorovsky. The first ones were made of high-alloy stainless steel and red copper. In the middle of each star, a hammer and sickle covered with gold was lined with Ural gems. But they quickly faded, and they also looked ridiculous in the overall composition of the Kremlin, they were bulky and greatly disturbed the architectural ensemble. In 1937 they were replaced with ruby and luminous ones. The power of the lamps in the star is 5000 watts.
Recently, social activists and the church are increasingly turning to the president with a request to replace the stars with eagles, but so far there have been no official statements on this matter.

The topic used materials from Moscow expert Tatyana Sykova.
P.S. Personally, the year of foundation of Moscow, 6666th from the Creation of the World, seems inaccurate to me. According to my calculations, this should be the year 6655.

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