Interesting facts about the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. Interesting facts about the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Extraordinary stories about the Kremlin

The main symbol of Russia, the building is so status, significant, outstanding that only such world-famous historical architectural objects as Egyptian pyramids or Tower of London…

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

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

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

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

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

The first detailed plan of the Moscow Kremlin, 1601

The architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin includes 4 palaces and 4 cathedrals, the southern wall faces the Moscow River, the eastern wall faces Red Square, and the northwestern wall faces the Alexander Garden. Currently, the Kremlin is an independent administrative unit within Moscow and is included in the list of world natural and cultural heritage UNESCO.

Plan of the Moscow Kremlin, presented on its official website

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

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

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

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

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

Monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Assumption Cathedral on a postcard from the early 20th century

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tainitskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Data

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anna Sedykh, rmnt.ru

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

Why at this place?

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

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

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

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

Underground Kremlin

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

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

Which Kremlin tower is the most important?

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

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

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

Leonardo and the Kremlin: what is the connection?

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

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

Hanging Gardens

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

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

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

Red or white?

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

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

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

Interesting Facts about the Moscow Kremlin will tell you about the history and secrets of the construction of this majestic ancient complex. The Moscow Kremlin is known all over the world. This fortress once served as a defense against enemies.

Today the Kremlin is the main socio-political, historical and artistic complex, as well as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

1. Did you know that the Kremlin is the oldest building in Moscow?
2. Initially, on the site of the modern Kremlin there was a wooden Kremlin, erected. After this, he ordered the construction of a white stone building. That is why Moscow is often called “white stone”.
3. The Kremlin is located on an area of ​​27.7 hectares.
4. An interesting fact is that the thickness of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin ranges from 3.5 to 6.5 m, and the height - from 5 to 19 m.
5. The modern Kremlin was built in the period 1482-1495. by order.
6. It is curious that the famous red stars on the towers were installed only in the mid-30s of the last century.
7. Before the stars were installed, the tops of the towers were decorated with double-headed eagles.
8. On the walls of the Kremlin you can see 20 towers. 17 of them are rectangular, and only 3 are round.
9. In general, the Kremlin is the fortified core of the historical Russian city, its central and most ancient part. You can see more than 20 Kremlins in different places, but Moscow is the most ancient and beautiful among them.
10. Once upon a time, a deep ditch was dug around the Kremlin, connected to the river. Thanks to this, the structure was almost impossible to capture. Later, as unnecessary, the ditches were filled with earth, since they created many inconveniences.
11. An interesting fact is that under the Kremlin walls there are underground passages and premises.
12. In the central part of the Moscow Kremlin you can see the Assumption Cathedral, the towers of which are located at an equal distance from each other.
13. After the arrival of the Bolsheviks, 28 churches located on the territory of the complex were destroyed.
14. Did you know that, according to experts, the Moscow Kremlin is valued at $50 billion?
15. During the period (1941-1945) the Kremlin was carefully camouflaged. Plywood, paints, nets and other materials were used. Nevertheless, more than 160 aerial bombs were dropped on the complex. They destroyed some buildings, including the Arsenal.
16. It is curious that in the 18th century there were real hanging gardens on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. Various “overseas” plants were grown here.
17. The clock installed on the Spasskaya Tower always shows exact time. And all because their work is monitored by employees of the astronomy university.
18. Due to the fact that 2 of the 20 towers remained without names, they began to be called the First and Second Nameless Towers.
19. In terms of its scale, the Moscow Kremlin is the largest fortress in all of Europe.
20. An interesting fact is that when in 1812 he entered Moscow (see), abandoned by the Russians, he decided to blow up the Kremlin. It is curious that some of the ammunition never exploded. However, 3 towers, along with many buildings, were completely destroyed.
21. The weight of any of the stars on the Kremlin towers exceeds 1 ton.
22. It turns out that the stars on the towers are movable. When strong winds begin to blow, they turn sideways towards them, as a result of which the structure experiences much less load.
23. If you believe the legend, then in the Kremlin dungeons there is a lost library

The main attractions of Russia are the Moscow Kremlin and the monuments located within its boundaries. These famous buildings attract thousands of tourists every day. For many centuries, the Kremlin was the center of social, political and religious life of Muscovites and residents of other Russian cities. It still remains the main asset of the country.

Quite a lot interesting stories kept by the Moscow Kremlin. It is impossible to see all the sights of this ensemble in a day. Surprisingly, not every Russian today knows when this complex was built. Few are also able to answer the question of what does not belong to the sights of the Moscow Kremlin.

You should start getting acquainted with the capital from the center. Historical monuments are concentrated here that will not leave anyone indifferent. They give a complete picture of the life of the Russian people, their history and cultural values.

History of the Kremlin

The sights of the Moscow Kremlin have survived different times. Their history began in the 12th century, when a small wooden fortress was built on Borovitsky Hill, at the confluence of the Moscow River and Neglinka. It was subsequently destroyed by the Tatar-Mongols. But later it was restored using a more durable material - stone. The fortress was called the Moscow Kremlin. So it became the official residence of Russian princes.

The second half of the 15th century was not the best time for Kremlin buildings. The buildings became dilapidated, which was the reason for the construction of new chambers and churches, which have partially survived to this day.

The Assumption and Annunciation Cathedrals and the Church of the Deposition of the Robe were built in the city. New churches appeared at the monasteries. In addition, the Grand Duke's Palace and the Chamber of Facets were erected. In the 15th century, the Kremlin had the famous red brick walls and openwork towers along the entire perimeter. The construction was completely completed in the 17th century. During the reign of Peter I, the sights of the Moscow Kremlin lost their significance for the political life of the country. The capital moved to St. Petersburg. However, the Kremlin continued to be built. At the same time, the Arsenal building was built, and later the Senate building.

With the outbreak of the War of 1812, the Moscow Kremlin and its buildings were partially destroyed. The greatest destruction awaited the historical monument during the Soviet era. Twenty-eight buildings were destroyed, monasteries and churches were blown up. It was then that red stars appeared on the Kremlin towers.

To the Great Patriotic War The Germans failed to destroy the Kremlin, but it still required serious restoration work. In 1990 it was included in the UNESCO list. Today it is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Entrance to the Kremlin is partially limited.

Attractions

The Moscow Kremlin and other attractions located near it form a complete ensemble. The length of its walls is more than two thousand meters, and the height reaches nineteen meters.

The walls of the Kremlin were built in the form of an irregular triangle. Seventeen towers have a square cross-section, and three are round, which allows them to be located in the corners of the walls. The Spasskaya Tower is the tallest in this ensemble - seventy-one meters. The architectural style of the Moscow Kremlin is uniform. The only difference is the Nikolskaya Tower, which was rebuilt in the 19th century in the Gothic style. The complete ensemble of Kremlin sights consists of twenty towers, seven cathedrals, nine administrative buildings and museums, five squares and gardens, and two monuments.

Monuments

Most guests of the capital do not know what the sights of the Moscow Kremlin are. All ensembles located within its walls, including Red Square, are considered the main Kremlin symbols. The famous monuments of the ensemble include the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell.

The Tsar Cannon was cast in bronze in 1586. Its main purpose is to protect the Kremlin, but in its entire history the famous cannon has not fired a single shot. The weight of this weapon is thirty-nine tons.

The Tsar Bell was also never used for its intended purpose. Its weight is two hundred and two tons. In 1737 it fell during a fire and a large piece broke off. The craftsmen were never able to restore the bell.

The buildings

Today, the Moscow Kremlin is not only an open museum, but also the residence of the President of Russia. Some buildings are closed to tourists. The exception is the buildings that are located on its territory and are of particular great historical and cultural value. Thus, tourists can visit the Grand Kremlin Palace only as part of a group excursion. You must register for it in advance.

The State Kremlin Palace hosts concerts, festivals and other significant events. The sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are always open to tourist groups and foreign visitors who want to get acquainted with the history of the country.

Cathedrals and churches

Perhaps the most important attractions of the Moscow Kremlin are churches and cathedrals. They are a symbol of the spiritual wealth of the Russian people and have enormous historical value. Most of the cathedrals were erected in the 15th century.

The main place on the Kremlin Square is occupied by the Assumption Cathedral. This is the oldest building in the capital. Russian tsars were crowned kings within its walls. It was here that the most important decisions for the state were made. The Archangel Cathedral was built in 1508. It contains fifty-four burials. This is the tomb of the Moscow sovereigns. Annunciation Cathedral, Church of the Placing of the Robe Holy Mother of God and the Church of the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles in the Patriarchal Chambers also belong to the Kremlin attractions.

Armouries

The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are the sights of Russia that foreign tourists should definitely visit. The Armory Chamber is the Kremlin treasury. Here you can see items of jewelry, jewelry that belonged to Russian tsars and rulers of the 12th-20th centuries.

Guests of the capital will be able to see in the Armory Chamber Monomakh's hat, decorated with expensive gems, a throne, Gospels, carriages, Russian and European weapons. In a word, everything that once belonged to the Moscow kings. The diamond fund, located in a separate room, will definitely appeal to visitors. This is where precious stones in a single, unique copy and valuable jewelry are kept. The Armory also houses items that are of particular value. This is the empress's scepter, crowns, the Orlov diamond, the Shah diamond, the imperial orb, the sign and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, decorated with diamonds.

Towers and walls

The most frequently visited attractions in Moscow by tourists are the Moscow Kremlin and its buildings. This is not surprising, because it is the center of the capital and all of Russia.

The peculiarity of the Kremlin is that it is surrounded by high and strong walls around the perimeter. They were erected in the 15th century by architects from Italy. All twenty towers are not alike. The most notable towers are Tainitskaya and Spasskaya. The name of the first comes from the word “secret”, since a secret passage passed through it. The second tower is one of the most famous. It faces Red Square, its front entrance opens only in special cases. The Spasskaya Tower is popular with most people because of the chimes installed on its façade. The ensemble of towers also includes the Nikolskaya Tower, Middle Arsenalskaya, Troitskaya, Borovitskaya, Vodovzvodnaya, Kutafya and many others.

In the historical center of the capital is the most recognizable architectural structure of Russia - the Moscow Kremlin. Main feature architectural ensemble is its fortifying complex, consisting of walls in the form of a triangle with twenty towers.

The complex was built between 1485 and 1499 and is well preserved to this day. Several times it served as a model for similar fortresses that appeared in other cities of Russia - Kazan, Tula, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, etc. Within the walls of the Kremlin there are numerous religious and secular buildings - cathedrals, palaces and administrative buildings of different eras. The Kremlin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990. Together with the adjacent Red Square, which is included in this list, the Kremlin is generally considered the main attraction of Moscow.

Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin

The architectural ensemble is formed by three temples, in the center is located. The history of the cathedral began in 1475. It is the oldest fully preserved building among all the Kremlin buildings.

Initially, construction took place in 1326-1327 under the leadership of Ivan I. After completion of construction, the cathedral served as the home church of the Metropolitan of Moscow, who settled in the predecessor of the current Patriarchal Palace.

By 1472, the now ruined cathedral was destroyed, and then a new building was built in its place. However, it collapsed in May 1474, possibly due to an earthquake or due to errors in construction. A new attempt at revival was made by Grand Duke Ivan III. It was in this cathedral that prayer services were held before important campaigns, kings were crowned and patriarchs were elevated to the rank of patriarchs.

Dedicated to Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Russian rulers, it was built in 1505 on the site of the church of the same name built in 1333. It was built by the Italian architect Aloisio Lamberti da Montignana. The architectural style combines traditional ancient Russian religious architecture and elements of the Italian Renaissance.

Located on the southwest corner of the square. A wooden church was built here in 1291, but a century later it burned down and was replaced by a stone church. The white stone cathedral has nine onion domes on its facades and is intended for family ceremonies.

Cathedral opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (closed on Thursday). A single ticket for visits will cost 500 rubles for adults and 250 rubles for children.

Palaces and squares of the Moscow Kremlin

• - These are several representative secular buildings created in different centuries and served as a home for Russian grand dukes and tsars, and in our time for presidents.
  

  

  

  

• - a five-story building, decorated with richly carved decorative frames, as well as a tiled roof.
  

  

  

• - a building of the 17th century, has preserved rare architectural features of civil architecture of that time. The museum displays jewelry, exquisite tableware, paintings, and royal hunting items. The magnificent iconostasis of the Ascension Monastery, destroyed in 1929, has been preserved.
  
  
• - a three-story building made in the early neoclassical style. Initially, the palace was supposed to serve as the residence of the Senate, but in our time it exists as the central working representation of the President of Russia.
  

  

  

  

Among the popular places in the Moscow Kremlin, the following squares should be noted:

Towers of the Moscow Kremlin

The length of the walls is 2235 meters, their maximum height is 19 meters, and their thickness reaches 6.5 meters.

There are 20 defensive towers similar in architectural style. Three corner towers have a cylindrical base, the remaining 17 are quadrangular.

Trinity Tower is the highest, rising 80 meters high.

Lowest - Kutafya Tower(13.5 meters), located outside the wall.

Four towers have travel gates:

The tops of these 4 towers, which are considered especially beautiful, are decorated with symbolic red ruby ​​stars from the Soviet era.

The clock on the Spasskaya Tower first appeared in the 15th century, but burned down in 1656. On December 9, 1706, the capital first heard the chimes, which announced a new hour. Since then, many events have happened: wars have been fought, cities have been renamed, capitals have changed, but the famous chimes of the Moscow Kremlin remain the main chronometer of Russia.

The bell tower (height 81 meters) is the most tall building in the Kremlin ensemble. It was built between 1505 and 1508 and still serves its function for three cathedrals that do not have their own bell towers - Arkhangelsk, Assumption and Annunciation.

Nearby is the small church of St. John, hence the name of the bell tower and the square. It existed until the beginning of the 16th century, then it collapsed and has since become significantly dilapidated.

The Chamber of Facets is the main banquet hall of the Moscow princes; it is the oldest surviving secular building in the city. Currently, this is the official ceremonial hall for the President of Russia, so it is not open to tours.

Armory Chamber and Diamond Fund

The chamber was built by order of Peter I to store weapons obtained in wars. Construction was delayed, starting in 1702 and ending only in 1736 due to financial difficulties. In 1812, the chamber was blown up in the war against Napoleon and was reconstructed only in 1828. Now the Armory Chamber is a museum, which can be visited any day of the week from 10:00 to 18:00, except Thursday. Ticket price for adults is 700 rubles, for children – free.

Here are not only exhibits of the weapons industry, but also the Diamond Fund. The permanent exhibition of the State Diamond Fund first opened in the Moscow Kremlin in 1967. Unique jewelry and precious stones are especially valuable here; most of them were confiscated after the October Revolution. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 17:20 on any day except Thursday. For a ticket for adults you will have to pay 500 rubles, for children it costs 100 rubles.

The two diamonds on display deserve special attention, as they belong to the most famous examples of this gemstone in the world:

1. It is not only the largest medieval fortress in Russia, but also the largest active fortress in all of Europe. Of course, there were more such structures, but the Moscow Kremlin is the only one that is still in use.
2. The Kremlin walls were white. The walls “acquired” their red brick in late XIX century. To see the White Kremlin, look for works by 18th or 19th century artists such as Pyotr Vereshchagin or Alexey Savrasov.
3. Red Square has nothing to do with the color red. The name comes from the Old Russian word "red", meaning beautiful, and is in no way related to the color of the buildings, which we now know were white until the end of the 19th century.
4. The stars of the Moscow Kremlin were eagles. During Tsarist Russia, the four Kremlin towers were topped with double-headed eagles, which have been the Russian coat of arms since the 15th century. In 1935, the Soviet government replaced the eagles, which were melted down and replaced with the five-pointed stars we see today. The fifth star on the Vodovzvodnaya Tower was added later.
5. The Kremlin towers have names. Of the 20 Kremlin towers, only two do not have their own names.
6. The Kremlin is densely built up. Behind the 2235-meter Kremlin walls there are 5 squares and 18 buildings, among which the most popular are the Spasskaya Tower, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Assumption Cathedral, the Trinity Tower and the Terem Palace.
7. The Moscow Kremlin was virtually undamaged in World War II. During the war, the Kremlin was carefully camouflaged to look residential building block. The church domes and famous green towers were painted gray and brown respectively, fake doors and windows were attached to the Kremlin walls, and Red Square was encumbered with wooden structures.
8. The Kremlin is in the Guinness Book of Records. In the Moscow Kremlin you can see the world's largest bell and the world's largest cannon. In 1735, a bell 6.14 meters high was made from metal casting; the Tsar Cannon, weighing 39.312 tons, was lost in 1586 and was never used in war.
9. The stars of the Kremlin always shine. Over the 80 years of its existence, the Kremlin's star lighting has only been turned off twice. The first time was during World War II, when the Kremlin was camouflaged to hide it from bombers. The second time they were turned off was for the film. Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov filmed a scene for The Barber of Siberia.
10. The Kremlin clock has a deep secret. The secret of the accuracy of the Kremlin watches literally lies under our feet. The clock is connected to the control clock at the Sternberg Astronomical Institute via a cable.