What the Kremlin's passage towers looked like. How many towers does the Moscow Kremlin have: list, description and history. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy and his army went to the Kulikovo field

Age architectural ensemble The Moscow Kremlin, consisting of bright walls and tall slender towers, has exceeded 500 years. At one time, its construction was started by Prince Ivan III. The difference in the sizes and proportions of the towers depended on the location of the structures themselves and their role in the defense of the city. Each of them had its own exits to the adjacent wall spindles, which made it possible to bypass all the walls without descending to the ground. Merlons, the so-called dovetails, became the crowning glory of the Kremlin buildings. They protected the shooters hiding on the upper platforms of the buildings. Today, Moscow residents and guests can see 20 towers.

All the towers had to endure many historical events. They suffered especially in the War of 1812, when explosions continually turned defensive structures into piles of stones. A lot of work was carried out to restore them. The appearance that Moscow residents and guests contemplate is due to the competent actions of the architect O.I. Bove.

When working on the restoration of the Kremlin complex, the craftsmen managed to emphasize its antiquity and add romance. The decor of some towers was made in medieval style. The bastions built under Peter I were eliminated, and the ditch crossing Red Square was buried.

Taynitskaya Tower

During the construction of the Kremlin, it was laid first. And the building received this name because of the underground secret passage, which connected it to the river. The move itself was needed to supply water to the fortress in case of a long siege by enemies.

The tower stretches up almost 39 m. Its design has undergone many changes due to restoration following the devastating flight of Napoleonic army. In the 40s of the XX century. The archer was finally dismantled, the well was filled in, and the passage gates were blocked.

Vodovzvodnaya (Sviblova) tower

It was named so because of the boyar Sviblov and because of the mechanism that raised water from the well. Life-giving moisture came from the underground kingdom into a huge tank standing at the very top of the pylon. The water supply worked for quite a long time until the car was dismantled and transported to St. Petersburg. In this city it was used to fill fountains. The length of the structure including the star is 61.45 m. During its restoration, pseudo-Gothic and classical components were introduced - rustication, decorative machismos and huge windows.

Borovitskaya Tower

On Borovitsky Hill, which in ancient times was covered in the shadow of a pine forest, there is a 54-meter building with a star. Its second name is Predtechenskaya. The tower was intended to meet the needs of the Konyushenny and Zhitny courtyards located nearby.

It had passage gates, but they played the role of the back gate of the great Kremlin. The top of the pylon is equipped with an open octagon and an impressive stone tent.

Weapon Tower

In ancient times, it was adjacent to weapons workshops. Craftsmen also made jewelry and dishes here. The former name of the tower, Konyushennaya, is explained by its former proximity to the Tsar’s Konyushenny yard. It was named the Armory in 1851, when the Armory Chamber appeared at the Kremlin - a repository of treasures, ancient things and uniforms of ancient Russian warriors. You can approach the 32-meter object from the extreme part of the Alexander Garden.

Trinity Tower

After Spasskaya, it was listed as the second most serious protection and was the tallest among all the towers. At the base of the 6-tier quadrangle of this pylon there is a 2-tier basement with strong walls. For convenient movement between tiers, stairs are provided. This tower had several names. From Epiphany, Znamenskaya and Karetnaya, by royal decree it turned into Trinity due to the neighboring courtyard of the Trinity Monastery. Together with the star, the structure rises 80 m.

Kutafya (Bridge) Tower

Surrounded by a moat and a river, it rises near the Trinity Bridge. The low pylon had one gate, which was closed as necessary by the lifting section of the bridge. So the design created a barrier to the siege of the fortress.

Its power consisted in the presence of plantar loopholes and machicolations. To get to the tower territory from the city streets, Muscovites had to drive across an inclined bridge. Now the two-color 13-meter turret organically complements the Kremlin ensemble.

Corner Arsenalnaya (Dog) tower

Its lower mass is represented by 16 faces and an expanded base. There is a basement under the tower, which can be accessed via an internal staircase. In the dungeon there is a well with drinkable water. The design was named after the Dog because of the nearby courtyard of a boyar with the surname Sobakin. In the 18th century After the construction of the Arsenal, the tower with the well was renamed the Corner Arsenal.

Middle Arsenalnaya (Faceted) Tower

Entered the Kremlin complex in 1495. Later, a grotto was erected next to it - a landmark of the Alexander Garden. The outer edge of the pylon is divided by flat niches. The 4-angled top is topped with machicolations and equipped with a parapet with caissons (recesses for carved decorations). The internal part of the structure is represented by 3 tiers, covered with cylindrical vaults. They have internal staircases. The entire structure is completed by an end-to-end observation tower and a tent.

Commandant (Kolymazhnaya) tower

A silent, austere building standing south of the Trinity Tower. Its appearance as part of the Kremlin dates back to 1495. The Kolymazhnaya Tower was called because of the proximity of the Kremlin Kolymazhny Yard. But when the commandant of the capital settled in the Poteshny Palace, and this happened already in the 19th century, the tower was renamed accordingly.

Tsar's Tower

Conveniently located between the Spasskaya and Nabatnaya towers. A tower-like structure appeared on the Kremlin wall in 1860.

Four jug-like pillars support an octagonal tent, decorated with a gilded weather vane. Once upon a time, the ringing of fire service bells could be heard from it. The tower has not undergone significant changes. Its height is about 17 m including the weather vane.

Petrovskaya (Ugreshskaya) tower

It appeared as the Kremlin’s military defense system improved. The name of the building was given to the church of Metropolitan Peter, standing in the courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery. The tower was built on and restored after the explosion of a gunpowder charge made by the French in 1812.

The purpose of the 27-meter building was to satisfy the economic needs of gardeners who were beautifying the Kremlin territory.

Alarm tower

This solid, strong object stands between the Tsarskaya and Konstantino-Eleninskaya towers. The basement level of its interior is represented by a complex multi-chamber system, combined with the running part of the walls through stairs. Bells once rang in the tent-topped tetrahedron. Like the instruments of the Spassky alarm, they notified the people about the fire. The 150-pound alarm bell was rung by a distinguished craftsman of that time, Ivan Motorin.

Senate Tower

Since 1491, the tower has stood on Red Square between the Nikolskaya and Frolovskaya defensive buildings. Until the end of the 18th century. it did not have any name until the Senate building appeared in the Kremlin in 1790. The internal volume of the tower is divided into 3 tiers of rooms with vaults. The initially square, solid structure was added in 1680 with a stone tent and a gilded weather vane. The total height of the building is 34.3 m.

Spasskaya (Frolovskaya) tower

It is located near the main gate, which in ancient times had a special passage to the Kremlin. The structure was erected to protect the northeastern corner of the ensemble, which had no water barriers. In the XVII century. the tower was decorated with the sovereign's coat of arms in the form of a double-headed eagle. The clock hung on the structure in the 60s of the 19th century adorns it even now. The architecture of the pylon differed from the plan of the surrounding buildings by the precision of proportions, luxury of facade decorations and figurines of mythical animals. The corners of the quadrangle are in harmony with the pleasing pyramids with shining weather vanes.

Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower

Built in 1490, it is located on the site of a former passage structure. The townspeople and regiments passed through it, and Prince Donskoy himself headed through this tower to fight on the Kulikovo Field, in the 2nd half of the 14th century. The structure acted as a security military facility, ensuring the safety of the Great Posad and the routes leading from the river pier. The tracks from the adjacent streets were also monitored. The pylon was equipped with a passage gate and a diversion arch. It was possible to get to it via a drawbridge that spanned over the moat. The object received a new name due to the proximity of the Church of Constantine and Helena.

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) tower

The round-shaped tower is located near the Moskvoretsky Bridge and is clearly visible from Red Square. Once upon a time, the defender repelled the blows of advancing enemies. There was a hiding place underneath it. In the 17th century the pylon was built with a beautiful tent, which gave it slender forms and relieved it of the severity of a fortress.

In connection with the unfolding of the Russian-Swedish war, bastions appeared around the structure, and the width of the loopholes was made larger. In 1949, a large-scale restoration of the tower also included the loopholes - they were restored to their original form.

Annunciation Tower

If you believe the legend, the structure with a deep underground received this name because of the “Annunciation” icon that supposedly hung in it in ancient times. Historians also link the name of the tower to the fact that the Church of the Annunciation was built next to it, which was destroyed by order of the Soviet government. In the XVII century. next to the pylon, the Porto-Wash Gate was built, through which the palace washerwomen hurried to the Moscow River to caress their linen. Over time, these gates were tightly sealed. Together with the weather vane, the tower structure extends 32 m into the sky.

Nikolskaya Tower

Located in the northern part of the Moscow Kremlin. In the old days, its powerful quadrangle was equipped with travel gates, a diversion arrow and a lifting crossing. The name of the tower comes from the image of St. Nicholas, hanging above the passage of the archery. The population passed through the gates to the Kremlin, heading to the monastery courtyards and courtyards of the nobility. The decoration of the tower is considered to be an octagon with a “lace” of white stone elements. Additional part with tent conveys Gothic style architecture During the battles with Napoleon's army, the tower was partially destroyed, but was subsequently restored. The newly built iron tent is decorated with white stone turrets in the corners.

First Nameless Tower

It neighbors Taynitskaya and is a remote building. In the XV - XVI centuries. it served as a gunpowder storage. In 1547, the pylon completely burned down in a fire, but in the 17th century. it was rebuilt and supplemented with a tier with interesting name: "tent-shaped". When the government started building a luxurious Kremlin palace, the facility was liquidated. As soon as the work that was entrusted to the architect Bazhenov was completed, it was decided to work on the structure again. As a result, the beauty of the Kremlin was complemented by another object, the exact height of which is 34.15 m.

Second Nameless Tower

Since 1680, the tower has acquired even greater attractiveness in an architectural sense, since it was completed with a 4-sided tent and equipped with an observation post-tower. Neatly crowns stone structure tent with weather vane.

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There are 20 towers and they are all different, no two are alike. Each tower has its own name and its own history. Only two towers did not get names; they are called that First Nameless And Second Nameless. Behind them comes the Petrovskaya Tower, but the rightmost tower has two names at once. Nowadays it is called Moskvoretskaya and once upon a time they called Beklemishevskaya by the name of the person next to whose yard it was laid. Somehow it turned out that enemies most often attacked from the direction of the Moscow River, and the Moskvoretskaya Tower had to be the first to defend itself. That is why it is so formidable and with so many loopholes. Its height is 46.2 m.

The first tower that was founded during the construction of the Kremlin was Tainitskaya. Taynitskaya Tower so named 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 Tainitskaya tower is 38.4 m.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower– so named because of a car 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 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 another city - St. Petersburg. There it was used to construct fountains. The height of the Vodovzvodnaya tower with a star is 61.45 m.

At the Vodovzvodnaya Tower the Kremlin wall turns away from the river. Here on the corner there is another tower - Borovitskaya. This tower stands near Borovitsky Hill, on which a pine forest grew a long time ago. This is where its name comes from. The height of the tower with the star is 54.05 m.

Next after Borovitskaya is Weapon Tower. Once upon a time there were ancient weapons workshops located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. Ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to the wonderful museum located nearby Kremlin wall– . 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 m.

Kutafya and Trinity towers of the Moscow Kremlin

If we walk a little further along the Kremlin walls, we will see the Trinity Bridge. It was thrown across the Neglinnaya River many centuries ago, even before it was hidden underground. Trinity Bridge leads to the gates of one of the tallest Kremlin towers - Trinity. The bridge connects the Trinity Tower with another low and wide tower. This . In the old days, this was the name given to a clumsily dressed woman. The tower was decorated already in the seventeenth century. Before this, Kutafya was very harsh, with drawbridges at the side gates and hinged loopholes. She guarded the entrance to the Trinity Bridge. Previously, there were more such bridgehead towers. But only one has survived to this day. The height of the Trinity Tower with a star is 80 m. This is the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. The Kutafya Tower is only 13.5 m high. It is the lowest tower in the Kremlin.

Let's move on Kremlin wall. She turns again. There is another tower here. From a distance it seems round, but if you get closer, it turns out to be not at all, because it has 16 sides. This corner Arsenal Tower . Once upon a time she was called Sobakina, after the name of a person who lived nearby. But in the 18th century, a tower was built next to it, and the tower was renamed. 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. Tower height 60.2 m.

Middle Arsenal Tower. 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 m.

Alarm tower. 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, just remember the story. 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 m.

To the right of the Alarm Tower is 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 the tower was not built for defense at all. According to legend, Tsar Ivan the Terrible loved to look at his city from this place. Later, the smallest tower of the Kremlin was built here and called it Tsarskaya. Its height is 16.7 m.

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

Senate Tower At first it did not have a name, and received it only after the construction of the Senate building. After which they began to call her Senate. The tower was built in 1491, its height is 34.3 m.

Nikolskaya Tower. It was built in 1491. architect Pietro Antonio Solari to strengthen the north-eastern part of the Kremlin, not protected by natural barriers. There was a gate in it, it had a diversion arch with a drawbridge. Branch archer or a barbican was a tower outside the fortress walls that guarded the approaches to a gate or bridge. For example, the Kutafya Tower is a barbican. The name of the Nikolskaya Tower comes from the name of the icon of St. Nicholas, installed above the gates of her barbican. At this icon they decided controversial issues. In ancient times, a clock was also installed on the tower. Now they are not there, but the top of the tower is crowned with a red star. The height of the tower with the star is 70.4 m.

Petrovskaya Tower together with two unnamed ones, it 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 m.

Commandant's Tower (Kolymazhnaya). It was built in 1495. It got its first name - Kolymazhna - from the Kolymazhny yard of the Kremlin. In the 19th century, when the commandant of Moscow began to live in the Kremlin, not far from it, it began to be called Komendantskaya. Tower height 41.25m.

Annunciation Tower. According to legend, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously kept in this tower, as well as 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. In 1831 they were pawned, and in Soviet time The Church of the Annunciation was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation Tower with a weather vane is 32.45 m.

Spasskaya Tower (Frolovskaya) was erected on the site 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 placed on the tower; a little later, coats of arms were placed on other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658 Kremlin towers 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 m.

In Moscow on Red Square we see the Kremlin towers, and immediately notice how different they are. But at the same time, each of them is unique and beautiful in its own way. And, in addition, each tower has its own name, which is not accidental, but arose in the process of historical development and changes in the architectural appearance of the city.

A total of 20 towers are concentrated throughout the Kremlin in Moscow. Each of them has its own name and its own history of construction. According to the architectural features, the buildings are divided into round and square towers.

At the same time, only three towers have a circular cross-section - these are Vodovzvodnaya, Beklemishevskaya and Arsenalnaya Uglovaya. All other buildings are square in plan. Most of the towers are made in the same architectural style, which allows you to create a single building ensemble. The integrity of the ensemble was given by the decoration, which was made in the 17th century.

However, the Nikolskaya Tower, which was rebuilt in a pseudo-Gothic style at the beginning of the 19th century, stands out noticeably against this background. Let's look at the distinctive features of each tower, as well as the historical conditions for the construction of the structures.

Beklemishevskaya tower.

The second name of the Beklemishevskaya tower is Moskvoretskaya. It is located in the south-eastern corner of the Moscow Kremlin and is just over 46 meters high. The structure was built during the reign of Tsar Ivan III Vasilyevich in 1487 - 1488.

The tower project was developed and implemented by the Italian Marco Ruffo (Mark Fryazin). The Beklemishevskaya Tower has a plan round shape. At first, the tower received its name after the surname of the boyar Beklemishev, whose courtyard was located next to the tower. Later the building was renamed after the name of the nearby bridge.

Borovitskaya Tower.

This tower was built in 1490 by the architect Pietro Antonio Solari during the reign of Tsar Ivan III Vasilyevich. The Borovitskaya Tower is located at the mouth of the Neglinnaya River. The tower got its name from the name of the hill on the slope of which it was built. In ancient times, there was a dense forest on the hill - a small pine grove. And probably. this was the reason for the name.

However, in 1658, by royal decree, the tower was given the name Predtechenskaya in honor of the nearby Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist. The height of the Borovitskaya Tower is 54 meters, and its spire at the top is decorated with a ruby star. Today, the gates of the Borovitskaya Tower are used for the ceremonial passage of government motorcades.

Weapon tower.

The next one, the Armory Tower, is located next to the Armory Chamber, which is where its name originated in the mid-19th century. Once upon a time there was a passage gate in the lower part of the tower, and then it was called Konyushennaya, because the royal stable yard was located nearby, and from there horses could drive through the tower gate.

The armory tower was built in two years, from 1493 to 1495. The height of the structure reaches almost 39 meters. The building fits the overall style of the ensemble and harmoniously fits into the appearance of the Kremlin wall.

Commandant's Tower.

The Commandant's Tower began to be called that only in the 19th century. At that time, in the Kremlin Amusement Palace, next to the tower, the commandant of Moscow was located, and in ancient times it was called Kolymazhnaya, because nearby there was a Kolymazhnaya yard where the royal carriages, carts and rattles were parked.

The commandant tower was built in 1495 during the reign of Ivan III Vasilyevich. The height of the building is 41 meters.

Trinity Tower.

From a distance you can see the gigantic wall of the highest tower of the Kremlin - Trinity. Perhaps, like no other Kremlin tower, it amazes with its harsh power and inaccessibility. The Trinity Tower was built in 1495 by the Italian architect Aloisio da Milano (Aleviz Fryazin).

The Trinity Tower is the tallest Kremlin tower, because the height of the structure is 80 meters. Also, this tower also has an entrance and passage, and in terms of its importance it ranks second after Spasskaya.

The name of the tower changed many times, but it began to be called Trinity in 1658, named after the Trinity courtyard, which was located near it on the territory of the Kremlin. But even earlier it had other names - Epiphany and Znamenskaya.

Currently, the gates of the Trinity Tower are the main entrance to the Kremlin territory, and the elegant spire of the structure is decorated with a luxurious ruby star.

Kutafya Tower.

In front of the Trinity Tower, right behind the bridge, the Kutafya Tower proudly protrudes forward. It is significantly smaller in height and size, but at the same time very solid, squat, stocky and strong. Its name is associated with the word “kut” - corner, but even more often historians associate the name of the structure with the word “kutafya”. This is how in some places in Russia they called a woman covered from head to toe or a clumsy woman.

The Kutafya Tower is so different from all the others in the features of its architecture that it cannot be confused with any of the other towers of the Kremlin ensemble. It was built in 1516 by the architect Aleviz Fryazin during the reign of Vasily III.

The height of the tower is small - only 13.5 meters, and today it is the only surviving Kremlin tower that is free-standing and not built into the wall. In the old days, similar bridgehead towers served to guard bridges through which one could enter the fortress. The Kutafya Tower is located opposite the Trinity Tower, and between them there is an inclined bridge.

Corner Arsenal Tower.

In 1492, in the northern corner of the Kremlin wall, the architect Pietro Antonio Solari built a round tower, which was called the Arsenalnaya. This structure is the most powerful tower of the Kremlin, although it reaches only 60 meters in height.

The Arsenal Tower received its name at the beginning of the 18th century after the Arsenal building, the “Arms House,” was built on the territory of the Kremlin. The second name - Dog Tower - was obtained as a result of the fact that not far from the structure there was an estate of the Sobakin boyars. A distinctive feature of the Corner Arsenal Tower is that there is a well inside it.

Middle Arsenal Tower.

The second name of the Middle Arsenal Tower is Faceted. The building received it due to some characteristic features of the construction. The tower was erected in 1493 - 1495 during the reign of Ivan III Vasilyevich.

The height of the structure reaches almost 39 meters. The middle Arsenal Tower is located on the northwestern wall of the Moscow Kremlin, which extends along the Alexander Garden. It is noteworthy that the Faceted Tower was built on the site where the corner tower, built during the time of Dmitry Donskoy, was previously located.

Nikolskaya Tower.

One of the most beautiful towers Moscow Kremlin - Nikolskaya with Nikolsky Gate. Once upon a time, an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed above them, and even earlier, not far from here, there was a monastery of St. Nicholas the Old.

The Nikolskaya Tower is located on the eastern wall of the Kremlin in Moscow. It was built in 1491 under Tsar Ivan III Vasilyevich. Architect Pietro Antonio Solari designed a structure with a height of just over 70 meters.

At the same time, the Nikolskaya Tower is also a travel pass - through its gate you can enter the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. Architectural appearance The Nikolskaya Tower is somewhat different from all other buildings, because in the 19th century it was rebuilt in a pseudo-Gothic style. Today, the majestic spire of the Nikolskaya Tower is also crowned with a ruby star.

Senate Tower.

Immediately behind the mausoleum of V.I. Lenin rises the Senate Tower with the building of the former Senate located behind it. This tower was built on the eastern part of the Kremlin wall in 1491 during the reign of Ivan III Vasilyevich.

The height of the tower reaches 34 meters, and it was built under the direction of the architect Pietro Antonio Solari. The tower received its modern name only three hundred years after its construction. This happened after the Senate Palace was built on the territory of the Kremlin in 1787.

Spasskaya Tower.

A little further there is a tower that everyone knows. This is the Spasskaya Tower with the Spassky Gate, the spire of which is crowned with a ruby star. It has been called Spasskaya since 1658 thanks to the icons of the Savior, which used to be on both sides above the gate. Currently, the gate is decorated with only one restored image of the Savior.

The second name of the Spasskaya Tower is Frolovskaya. The building received it in honor of the nearby Church of Frol and Laurus. The most important clock in the country is installed on the Spasskaya (Frolovskaya) Tower - the Kremlin chimes, to the melodious chime of which Russians say goodbye to the outgoing year and welcome the new year.

The Spasskaya Tower was built on the eastern wall of the Kremlin and is the main entrance to the Kremlin. The height of the tower reaches 71 meters, and therefore it is one of the tallest buildings in the Kremlin ensemble. And at the same time one of the most beautiful towers in the entire territory of the Moscow Kremlin.

The development of the project and the construction process of the structure was led by the architect from Italy Pietro Antonio Solari. The Spasskaya Tower was built in 1491 during the reign of Tsar Ivan III Vasilyevich. Today the building is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russia.

Tsar's Tower.

The smallest of the Kremlin towers, Tsarskaya, is located south of Spasskaya. This small turret was installed on the eastern Kremlin wall in the 80s of the 17th century, during the reign of Peter I and then Ivan V.

The Tsar's Tower reaches almost 17 meters in height, which is significantly smaller than all tower structures. It was built in the 1680s on the site of a wooden tower with the alarm bell “Vspolokh” and was previously called “Vspolokh”.

The Tsar's Tower was built almost 200 years later than all the other towers on the site of a small wooden tower, in which Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the city and admired the view. That is why the erected structure of elegant design got its name.

Alarm tower.

The Alarm Tower received its name due to the Spassky Alarm bells located in it. This tower at one time had an important practical purpose. It served as an observation tower from which the fire safety of the city was monitored.

The Alarm Tower is square in cross-section, and its height is 38 meters. The building was built in 1495 during the reign of Ivan III Vasilyevich.

First of all, the Alarm Tower owes its name to the largest bell, which used to hang in its upper part. This bell is famous for the fact that, by order of Catherine II, it was deprived of its tongue as punishment for the fact that the Muscovites who rebelled in 1771 called on the people to a “plague riot” by ringing this bell. Now this bell is kept in the Armory Chamber.

Konstantino - Eleninskaya Tower.

The Eleninskaya Tower also has a second name - Timofeevskaya. It is located on the eastern wall of the Moscow Kremlin and reaches a height of just over 36 meters. Konstantino - Eleninskaya Tower was built in 1490, during the reign of Tsar Ivan III Vasilyevich.

The square-section tower was erected by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari. At first, the tower was named after the nearby Church of Saints Constantine and Helena. But later it was renamed in honor of the Timofeevsky Gate, which was part of the white stone Kremlin in the 14th century.

Petrovskaya Tower.

On the southern part of the Kremlin wall is the Petrovskaya, or Ugreshskaya Tower. Both of its names can be explained very simply: here in the Kremlin, in the former courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery, there was the Church of Metropolitan Peter.

The Petrovskaya Tower was also built during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, and its construction dates back to the 80s of the 15th century. The height of the tower is 27 meters. Its roof is crowned with a tent-shaped octagonal dome.

Nameless towers.

But for many centuries they could not come up with a name for the next two towers, but this does not mean that they were left without a name. That's why these towers are called: First Nameless and Second Nameless Towers. Both of them were built in the 80s of the 15th century during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.

The height of the First Nameless Tower is 34 meters, and the Second is just over 30 meters. Both structures have a square section in plan, and the buildings end with a tent-shaped dome. Only the First Tower has a dome with four sides, while the Second Tower has eight.

Tainitskaya Tower.

The height of the Taynitskaya tower is just over 38 meters. It is noteworthy that this tower, built in 1485 by the architect Anton Fryazin, is the very first in the Kremlin ensemble. Previously, this tower was a passage point, but today its gates have been blocked.

The Taynitskaya Tower received its name due to the secret passage passing through it and leading to the bank of the Moscow River. There was also a well with water in the tower, which would have helped, if necessary, to withstand a long siege of the enemy. There is also the Taynitsky Garden in the Kremlin.

Annunciation Tower.

Immediately behind Tainitskaya there is the Annunciation Tower. During the time of Ivan the Terrible, it was used as a prison building where rebels and criminals were kept. The Annunciation Tower was built in 1487 - 1488, and its height is more than 32 meters.

The tower got its name thanks to the icon of the Annunciation, which, according to legend, unexpectedly appeared on one of the walls of the tower. The Annunciation Tower is located between the Vodovzvodnaya and Tainitskaya towers in the southern part of the Kremlin wall, which runs along coastline Moscow - rivers.

Vodovzvodnaya tower.

This tower was erected as one of the very first in the ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin. The Vodovzvodnaya Tower was built in 1488 by the Italian architect Antonio Gilardi (Antonio Fryazin).

The structural features of the tower are that there was a well located in it, and also a secret passage leading to the bank of the Moscow River. The height of the Vodovzvodnaya Tower is 61 meters.

The name "Vodovzvodnaya" tower received in 1633, when a lifting mechanism was built in the building, with the help of which water was supplied to the Kremlin gardens. The second name - Sviblova Tower - comes from the surname of the boyar Sviblova, who was responsible for its construction.

Twenty majestic towers surround the Moscow Kremlin, and each of them has its own amazing story. Built in different time, the Kremlin towers, nevertheless, form a single harmonious ensemble, which at all times has been a source of pride for Muscovites and aroused the admiration of guests of the capital.

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 during 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 from Italy were called in, 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.

Travel towers include:

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 most high towers and 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 Annunciation Tower is named after the miraculous icon that was kept in it. Later a church was built for the icon, but the name remained.

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

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

Armory and Commandant towers

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

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

Trinity, Kutafya and Petrovskaya towers

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

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

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

Other Kremlin towers

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

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

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

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

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

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