The the Kremlin of Moscow (in Russian: МосковскийКремль ) mark the geographical center of Moscow and the political center of the Russia (official residence of the president of the Federation of Russia after having been that of the Tsar S and the Soviet leaders). By Métonymie, the expression “the Kremlin” often indicates in the press and the media the Russian capacity or, at one time, the Soviet capacity.

This prestigious unit is most famous the Kremlin, word adapted of Russian Кремль who indicates an urban fortress. The form is about triangular. It gathers inside its external enclosure, dominating the Red Place and the Moskova, of the palates and the cathedrals.

History

As showed it archaeological research, the first human settlements of Moscow, going back to prehistory, were founded on an eminence dominating the river Neglinnaïa at the place or this one joined the Moskova, and that one names Borovitskaïa hill. One did not find there, however, of traces of fortifications former to the 11th century; the incipient city was increased under the prince Iouri Dolgorouki, Large-Prince of Kiev, at the 12th century. The fortress, made up of a ground slope eight height meters overcome by a palisade of three meters is announced like the Kremlin for the first time in 1331.

Following several seats and destruction, a new palisade was rebuilt of 1339 to 1340 and was set fire to in 1365. Between 1366 and 1368, under the reign of Dimitri Donskoï one built white a stone fortress equipped with five monumental doors. Three of them were located on the north-eastern side (towards current the Red Place). The walls took again the plan of the old fortress out of wooden.

About the 15th century, the principalities of Russia were unified under the large-prince of Moscovie Ivan III, which became thus Large-Prince of all Russies. To have a residence worthy of its new prestige, it ordered to rebuild the Kremlin. Several work campaigns are succèderent, and one made come from Italy the best experts in fortifications of the time, and among them the architect Aristotile Fioravanti. Construction was going to use brick. The first tower, Taïnitskaïa; was built in 1485 then, in 1487, the Beklemichevskaïa tower.

About 1500, the walls and the turns on the north-eastern side were finished. One followed again, in an approached way, the shape of the old stone Kremlin. But the walls nevertheless were built in withdrawal between the turns, so as to improve defense. The towers themselves were built remotely respective studied carefully. From 1508 to 1516, one dug some 30 meters broad and deep ditches of 12; they were filled with water by using the Neglinnaïa river. Drawbridges gave access to the monumental doors, protected by fear.

The spectacular crowning of the turns such as we see them today date of the 17th century, at one time or the Kremlin gave up its role of fortress to become a residence of pageantry.

In September and October 1812, the Kremlin was used as residence with Napoleon 1 {{er}} whose troops occupied Moscow. When the French Army left the city between the 14 and on October 19th, it left a rear-guard ordered by the marshal Mortier who made jump the fortress.

During centuries, the Kremlin thus underwent many destruction: it was attacked in 1571 by Tatares of the Crimea, in 1610 - during the Time of the Disorders - by Polish, in 1812 by the French. This damage was always followed of a restoration. Important transformations are brought during first half of the 19th century, in particular the ditches which were filled. To this time goes back the current appearance. Inside are civil and religious buildings testifying to its history to until the 20th century. The Soviets, in particular, demolished a part and built modern buildings of it, in particular an enormous palate of the congresses.

Today, the Kremlin has twenty turns, all different, which measure between 20 and 70 meters height. The walls measure up to 19 meters height and 6 meters thickness. The overall length of its enclosure is of 2  235 meters.

Buildings and curiosities

The Kremlin of Moscow shelters the burials of 47 Tsar S.

It includes, around the Place of the cathedrals:

Other buildings:

Turns

The Kremlin is flanked of nineteen turns. Twentieth, the Koutafia Tower, does not form part of the enclosure of the Kremlin.

All the towers of the Kremlin different and are irregularly laid out along the enclosure. Some are round, other quadrangular the or polygonal ones. Five of them have a monumental door giving access inside the enclosure. They are built out of brick; the lower part is of an aspect stripped in conformity with their defensive function, whereas the upper part of some of them has a decorative function underlined by the reasons for white stone.

The five higher towers were formerly decorated of a bicephalous eagle: Vodozvodnaïa, Borovitskaïa, Troïtskaïa, Nikolskaïa and Spasskaïa. In 1935, the imperial bicephalous eagles were removed and replaced two years later by stars out of red glass weighing each one between 1 and 1,5 ton.

One finds, in the direction of the needles of a watch on the basis of the south-western corner (along the Moskova):

Vodozvodnaïa *

Also called the Turn of Water , the Tour Vodozvodnaïa ( Водовзводнаябашня ) is a tower of angle in the south-west of the Kremlin; it dominates the bank over the Moskova. It was built in 1488 by the Italian architect Antonio Gilardi (for Russian: Anton Friazine, Antoine the Italian). At the beginning one called it the Tour Sviblov ( Свибловабашня ) of the name of a family of Boyard S which had its house, inside the enclosure, close to the tower. It was then re-elected, in 1633, after one had installed a machine there to pump water (Vodozvodnaïa can result in " pump with eau"). In 1805, it was destroyed because it threatened of ruin, and was rebuilt. Mined by French in 1812, it was restored in 1817-1819 by the architect Joseph Beauvais. Its height is of 61,85 Mr.

Borovitskaïa *

the Tour Borovitskaïa ( Боровицкаябашня ) is a tower comprising one of the entries towards the Kremlin. It holds its name of the hill Borovitski, one of the seven hills of Moscow. It was built in 1490, on order of Vassili III in the place of an old gate by the Italian arthitecte Pietro Antonio Solari - that the Russians called Piotr Friazine, or Pierre the Italian, friaz gold friag meant " then; italien"). The tsar Alexis Ier, in 1658, gave him the name of Predtetchenskaïa (turn of the precursor - предтеча in Russian) according to the church Saint Jean-Baptiste, which of it was close, but which was destroyed for the construction of the Palate of the Armours. However, this name was hardly used. In 1812, it was damaged by the French troops which were going to leave Moscow and beat a retreat. It made then rebuilt in 1817-1819 by the architect Joseph Beauvais. In 1935, Stalin made install a red star at his top. With this star, its height is of 54,05 Mr.

Oroujeïnaïa

Also called the Turn of the Armours , the Tour Oroujeïnaïa ( Оружейнаябашня ) was built in 1495. It accepted this name at the XIXe century after the construction of the Palais of the Armours. Previously one indicated it by turn Koniouchennaïa ( Конюшеннаябашня ), have regard to the royal stables which were behind it.

Komendantskaïa

Also called the Turn of the Commander , the Tour Komendantskaïa ( Комендантскаябашня ) was built in 1495. It was formerly called Kolymajnaïa ( Колымажнаябашня ), of the name of the ground of the Kremlin or were parked the horses and parked the cars. Him his current name was given when, at the XIXe century, the military commander of Moscow installed his residence in the Palate of the Menu-Pleasures. Like the others turns of the Kremlin, it was surmounted by a guet and a roof in the shape of tent in 1676 - 1686. Its height measured since the Jardin of Alexandre is of 41,25 Mr.

Troïtskaïa *

Also called the Tower of the Trinity , the Turn Troïtskaïa ( Троицкаябашня ) order an entry of the Kremlin in the middle of its north-western wall; it dominates the Jardin of Alexandre. It was built in 1495 - 1499 by the Italian achitecte Aloisio da Milano (for Russian: Aleviz Friazine Milanets i.e. Qualities the Italian of Milan). This tower had several other names: Rizopolojenskaïa, Znamenskaïa and Karetnaïa. Its current name goes back to 1658, it holds it of the relay of post office of the Trinity ( Троицкоеподворье ).

the base, including/understanding two stages, of the tower sheltered a prison during XVIe and XVIIe centuries. The bridge of the Trinity, whose entry is ordered by the Koutafia tower, leads to the entry of the Troïtskaïa tower. This one had a clock between 1585 and 1812. In 1707, in front of the danger of a Swedish invasion, the loopholes of the tower were widened to adapt to was guns large gauge. The Soviet capacity made install a red star, symbol of Communism, at its top.

Koutafia

the Tower Koutafia ( Кутафьябашня ) does not form part of the enclosure of the Kremlin. This is why she is regarded as the twentieth tower. This one is connected by a bridge to the Troïtskaïa Tower. Under this bridge the river Neglinnaïa ran formerly, river which formed a ditch on the western side of the Kremlin. The Koutafia Tower became thus the only access to the entry of the Troïtskaïa Tower.

Srednaïa arsenalnaïa

Also called the median Tower of the Arsenal , the Tour Srednaïa Arsenalnaïa ( СредняяАрсенальнаябашня ) was built in 1495 with the site of an old tower of angle dating from the reign of the Large Duke Dimitri Donskoï. Its current name dates from the construction of the Arsenal, in the middle of the XVIIIe century. Its original name is Tour with Facets ( Гранёная ), because of the shape of its frontage. In 1680, a terrace of observation overcome by a small roof in pyramid was added to him. In 1821, at the time when the Alexandrovsky garden was organized with the site where the Iaouza river placed the wall of the Kremlin, a cave was built with the foot of the tower according to a project of Joseph Beauvais

Ouglovaïa arsenalnaïa

Also called the Turn of angle of the Arsenal , the Tour Ouglovaïa Arsenalnaïa ( УгловаяАрсенальаябашня ) was built in 1492 by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari. It finished the line of defense of the Kremlin on the side of the Red Place. It bore the name of Sobakine Turn of the name of a boïar whose house was adjacent then Tour of North ( Севернаябашня ) and accepted its current name after the construction of the arsenal. It still has a secret well.
In 1707, because of a threat of invasion by Swedish, the loopholes spared in the walls of the tower were widened to adapt to the barrel of guns of strong gauge. In 1812, it was damaged by the explosion of mines laid out by the French Army in retirement. It was then restored of 1816 to 1819 by the architect Osip Beauvais. It measures today more than sixty meters in height.

Nikolskaïa *

Also called the Turn of Nicolas , the Tour Nikolskaïa ( Никольскаябашня ) comprises one of the entrance points of the Kremlin starting from the Red Place, which it dominates with the one of its ends; it is located at proxility of the Historical Museum. It was built in 1491 by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari. It is about the tower by which Minine and Pojarski penetrated in the Kremlin.

the Nikolskaïa Tower holds its name of the Greek monastery said Nikolaïevski (or Nikolsk ) now disappeared. In 1806, it was rebuilt in a neo-gothic style by the architect Karl Rossi. In 1812 its upper part was destroyed by French. She was restored in 1816 by the architect Joseph Beauvais. She was again severely damaged by a shooting of artillery in 1917 and once more restored by Nikolaï Markovnikov. In 1935, the Soviet authorities made it surmount by a red star, symbol of Communism. Its current total height is of 70,4 Mr.

Senatskaïa

Also called the Turn of the Senate , the Tour Senatskaïa ( Сенатскаябашня ) was built in 1491 by the architect Pietro Antonio Solari like turn exclusively defensive. It defended the Kremlin on the side of the Red Place and was without name during many years. It is only in 1787 qu ' it accepted its current name, when the Senate was built in the enclosure of the Kremlin by the architect Matvei Kazakov. The dome of the Senate is visible Red Place. In the central part of the tower three stages of arched parts are. In 1860 its top, which was flat, was surmounted by a stone roof in the shape of tent, itself support of a gilded wind vane. Its height is of 14,30 Mr.

Spasskaïa *

Also called the Turn of the Saver , the Tour Spasskaïa ( Спасскаябашня ) owes its name with a icon of the Christ installed above her door in 1648. The tower was formerly the entry of pageantry of the Kremlin. Any person passing by this door, including the Tsar, was to be discovered by respect for the icon. This one was removed after the Révolution.

the construction of the tower was done in two stages. The lower part was carried out by the Italian architect Solario in 1491. Ogourtsov and the Holloway English added the upper part and the Chatior in 1625. In beginning, the chime of the clock played the anthem tsarist, which was replaced, in 1917, by a revolutionary anthem. Today, the clock plays the Russian national anthem.

High 70 meters, the majestic silhouette of the Tour Spasskaïa dominates the Red Place.

Tsarskaïa

Also called the Turn of the Tsar , the Tour Tsarskaïa ( Царскаябашня ) is the smallest tower of the Kremlin. It was built in 1680, directly on the wall, for a total height of 15 meters. It draws its name from what, on a wood lathe built at this place, the tsar Ivan IV looked at the executions which had leu on the place of the decapitation, or in general the Red Place lorqu' he occurred some event there.

Nabatnaïa

Also called the Turn of the Alarm bell , the Turn Nabatnaïa ( Набатнаябашня ), built in 1495, is that from where the Tocsin was sounded when the rounds saw fires or smoke letting suppose the approach of enemies. In 1771, at the time of the " Revolt of Peste" , the bell of the alarm bell was used as signal of rallying to the insurrectionists. Catherine II decided to punish the bell and made him " to remove the langue". Nowadays, the bell of the alarm bell, melted by Ivan Motorine (one of the creators of the bell-princess), is preserved at the museum of the Palate of the Armours

Konstantino-Eleninskaïa

Also called the Turn of Constantin-and-Helene , the Tour Konstantino-Eleninskaïa Tower ( Константино-Еленинскаябашня ) is located on the Eastern wall of the enclosure; it dominates the sloping esplanade which leaves the Red Place, with height of the Cathédrale Saint-Basile, towards the Moskova. This tower was built in 1490 by Pietro Antonio Solari in the place of an entry of the Kremlin precedent out of stone. It holds its name of the old church of the Saints Constantin and Helene built inside the Kremlin during second half of the XVIIe century and which was demolished by Soviet in 1928. The tower was initially provided with a gate and a bridge levis, kept permanently by soldiers. At the beginning of the XIXe passage was walled and the demolished bridge. The tower measures 36,8 m height.


Beklemichevskaïa

the tower Beklemichevskaïa ( Беклемишевскаябашня ) is located at the south-eastern corner of the Kremlin, close to the Moskova. Its height is of 46 meters. It was built in 1487 by the Italian architect Marco Ruffo (also known under the name of Marco Friazine). It owes its name with the boyard Bersen-Beklemishev whose palate was in the vicinity. Being with the junction of Moskova and the ditch it was the first tower to undergo the attacks of the enemy. This explains a simple architecture, comprising moreover a space hidden in the cellar making it possible to detect the noise of enemies digging a tunnel or having the explosives. At the XVIIe century, the tower was surmounted by a pitched roof which clarifies the severe initial aspect of the tower.

Located not far from the bridge Moskvoretskiï ( Москворецкиймост ), the tower is often called by the Muscovites turn Moskvoretskaïa ( Москворецкаябашня )

Petrovskaïa

Also called the Turn of Pierre , the Tour Petrovskaïa ( Петровскаябашня ) holds its name of the church of Métropolite Pierre which was located in the vicinity, in the enclosure of the Kremlin. This tower was destroyed with the gun during the invasion Polish of 1612, during the “Temps of the Disorders” and rebuilt in 1783. Since 1812, the Napoleonean troops reprocesses some made it jump to the explosive. It was again rebuilt in 1818 by the architect Osip Beauvais. This tower was used by the gardeners of the Kremlin. Its height is of 27,15 Mr.

Vtoraïa Biezimiannaïa

It is the Second round without name ( ВтораяБезымяннаябашня ). It was built in the middle of XVe century and has a purely defensive function. In 1680, a quadrangular structure and a large pyramidal roof in the shape of tent were added to its top. It is surmounted by a cupola at octagonal base with a wind vane.

Pervaïa Biezimiannaïa

makes some, the Russian expression ПерваяБезымяннаябашня means “ Première Tower without name ”, which is now its name. The first tower without name was built near the Taïnitskaïa tower in the years 1480. It had purely defensive functions. In 1547, the tower was destroyed by the explosion of a powder reserve which was stored there; it was rebuilt at the XVIIe century. In 1770, one demolishes it to facilitate the building work of the Large palace. After the end of this work, it was rebuilt in 1783, more close to the Taïnitskaïa tower that before. Just like the tower Petrovskaïa, it was destroyed by the French troops in 1812; it was however rebuilt with identical by Osip Beauvais. Its height is of 34,15 Mr.

Taïnitskaïa

Also called the Turn of the Secrecy , the Turn Taïnitskaïa ( Тайницкаябашня ), also called formerly “Turn of Water” ( Водянаябашня ), is located on the southern side of the Kremlin, that which skirts the Moskova. It was built in 1485 by Antonio Gilardi in the place of a postern giving access to the white stone fortress of Dmitri Donskoï. The Taïnitskaïa Tower had a well and a secrete way towards the river, of or its name because taïnitskaïa means “secret”. In 1770 this tower was demolished because of the construction of the Large palace of the Kremlin by Vassili Bajenov, then rebuilt. In 1930-1933, the Soviets walled the tunnel secret and filled the well. This tower measures 38,4 m height.

Blagovechtchenskaïa

Also called the Turn of the Annunciation , the Tour Blagovechtchenskaïa ( Благовещенскаябашня ) was built in 1487-1488. Its name comes from miraculous the icon known as “of the Annunciation” which was preserved there, and recalls also the church of the Annunciation joined to the tower at the beginning of the XVIIIe century and demolished in 1932. With its base remain of the remainders of the white limestone which was used to build the Kremlin in XIVe century. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible this tower was used as prison. At the XVIIe century, the Portomoïniye posterns were built in the vicinity so that the lavender fields of the Kremlin can join the Portomoïny quay on the Moskova to wash the linen and the underclothing there. These posterns were furnished with bricks in 1813. The height of the tower is of 30,7 meters, or 32,45 by including/understanding there the wind vane which replaced the cross of origin in 1932.

See too

External bonds

  • Seen air of the Kremlin
  • Satellite photo of the Kremlin

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