The Moscow Kremlin is the sovereign crown of Russia. The Moscow Kremlin - all the towers of the Kremlin, the history of the construction Legends and myths of the Kremlin
The architecture of the Moscow Kremlin allows you to get a complete picture of how the center of the Russian capital was originally arranged. includes temples, squares, chambers, buildings. Today, all these are sights, which guests and tourists come to see from all over Russia and from abroad.
Kremlin construction
The architecture of the Moscow Kremlin was formed at the end of the 15th century. The main towers and walls were built in 1485-1495. Red brick and white stone with lime mortar were used. It is worth noting that local craftsmen were not sufficiently qualified for such work. Therefore, foreign experts were invited. Ivan III hired architects from Italy to build the Moscow Kremlin.
However, some towers were nevertheless erected by Russian masters. The fact is that their shape resembles characteristic wooden structures. As you know, at that time carpentry in Russia reached its perfection, which was facilitated by the universal material itself, and work was constantly required, since periodically large fires destroyed all buildings. To avoid this, stone was used in the construction of the Moscow Kremlin.
Assumption Cathedral
One of the main buildings of this architectural ensemble is the Assumption Cathedral. It was erected on the site of the first stone cathedral in Ivan Kalita in the first half of the 14th century. The architecture of the Moscow Kremlin is largely determined by this building.
The cathedral began to be erected in 1475. A similar religious building in Vladimir of the 12th century was taken as a model. Thus, the continuity of Moscow in relation to Vladimir, which was previously considered one of the main cities of Russia, was once again emphasized.
For the next 400 years it was the main temple in Russia. It was here that all the rulers were crowned to the kingdom. The main entrance is located on the side of Cathedral Square. The entrance to this one is, as it were, guarded by the Archangel Michael, whose figure is depicted above the arch. Still higher is the Virgin and Child.
The iconostasis, which we can see today in the Assumption Cathedral, was completed by the icon painters of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in the middle of the 17th century.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, the buildings of the Moscow Kremlin were looted and devastated. This cathedral was no exception. Part of the loot from the French was later recaptured by the Russian Cossacks.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral
The architecture of the Moscow Kremlin cannot be imagined without the Cathedral of the Annunciation. It is located in the southwestern part of Cathedral Square. It was built at the end of the 15th century. The work was carried out by Pskov masters.
During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, a porch with a high porch made of white stone was added.
This Kremlin was built in the traditions of early Moscow architecture. Today, the murals of the cathedral, which appeared at the beginning of the 16th century, are of great interest. The main merit belongs to the artel of artists, which was led by Theodosius and his son Dionysius. Lots of stories about the Apocalypse. You can also find secular motifs. For example, Russian princes and Byzantine emperors.
The floor of this cathedral is unique. It was laid out with a special tile of precious agate jasper.
Cathedral of the Archangel
This cathedral within the walls of the Moscow Kremlin appeared at the beginning of the 16th century. It was erected by the invited Italian architect Aleviz Novy. At the same time, he followed the traditions of Russian architecture. The features of the Italian Renaissance are visible only in the rich decoration of the temple.
Its construction was carried out on the site of the ancient Archangel Cathedral, which was erected by Ivan Kalita in the 14th century, in memory of the deliverance of the capital from general famine. It was dismantled due to tightness, making room for a more spacious temple.
The cathedral is crowned with five domes. The central one is gilded, and the side ones are simply painted with silver paint. Carved white stone portals are made in the style of the Italian Renaissance.
During the capture of the capital by Napoleon, a wine warehouse was located here. The French set up a kitchen on the altar, and stole all the valuables.
Church of the Deposition of the Robe
The small church, built by domestic craftsmen at the end of the 15th century, is also noteworthy. It appeared on the site of the old wooden church of the Deposition of the Robe, which was built after the Tatars retreated from Moscow.
In 1451, they came close to the city, but did not storm it, but retreated, leaving behind all the loot. The Orthodox Church gave this a religious significance, considering it a miracle. In reality, the Tatars retreated due to political differences between the military leaders.
The new church was seriously damaged by fire in 1737. It was restored by the architect Michurin.
Armouries
The chambers of the Moscow Kremlin today are of great interest to tourists. The first mention of the valuables that are today in the Armory can be found in 1339. Even during the time of Ivan Kalita, the formation of princely treasures began. Among them were jewelry, dishes, church vessels, expensive clothes and weapons.
At the end of the 15th century, one of the centers of Russian art crafts was located here. In addition, gifts from foreign embassies were brought here. Pearls, ceremonial horse harness.
By 1485, the treasury had grown so much that it was decided to build a separate two-story stone building between the Cathedral of the Annunciation and the Archangel. It was called the Treasury.
Faceted Chamber
The Faceted Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin is one of the few parts of the palace that have been preserved since the time of Ivan III. This was his grand throne room. This is the oldest civil stone building in Moscow.
It was built in 4 years masters with the help of invited Italians - Pietro Solari and Marco Ruffo.
The chamber is a square hall in which they rely on a pillar in the center of the room. The hall, 9 meters high, is illuminated by well-placed 18 windows, as well as by four massive chandeliers. The total area of the Faceted Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin is almost 500 square meters.
At the end of the 16th century, its walls were painted with church and biblical scenes. For centuries, the most important events in the history of the Russian state were celebrated here. Foreign embassies and delegations were received here, the Zemsky Sobor met. The victories of Russian weapons were regularly celebrated in the Palace of Facets. For example, Ivan the Terrible and Peter I celebrated the victory at Poltava over the Swedes.
the Red Square
The Red Square of the Moscow Kremlin appeared in the 15th century. Today it is one of the symbols not only of the capital, but also of the country, its calling card.
It was laid by Ivan III, who ordered to demolish all the wooden buildings around the Kremlin. Since they seriously threatened him with a fire. This place, by his order, was taken under trade. Therefore, Red Square was originally called Torg. True, this did not last long.
Already in the 16th century it was renamed Troitskaya. Due to the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity. Later, St. Basil's Cathedral appeared in its place. Judging by the documents, in the 17th century the square was called Pozhar. At the same time, one should not forget an interesting toponymic feature of Ancient Russia. At that time, the same object could have several official names at the same time.
Red Square officially became known as such only in the 19th century. Although in some documents this name is found as early as the 17th century. The meaning of this name, according to Vladimir Dahl's dictionary, is that our ancestors used the word "red" to mean beautiful, excellent.
Over the centuries, on the example of Red Square, one can trace how the Moscow Kremlin has changed. In the XV century, it appeared here with the famous towers - the Senate, Spasskaya and Nikolskaya. In the XVI century St. Basil's Cathedral and the Place of execution. In the 19th century - the Historical Museum, the Upper Trading Rows, which are now called GUM, a monument to Minin and Pozharsky. The 20th century brought the Mausoleum and the necropolis near the Kremlin wall to Red Square.
St. Basil's Cathedral
This temple was built in the middle of the 16th century. It was erected in honor of the capture of Kazan by Russian troops. The building is a grandiose structure of 9 pillars that rise above the basement, connected by a gallery. The composition is united by a central pillar, which is crowned with tents with a decorative cupola at the top. Many specially come to Moscow to see this temple with their own eyes.
The central tent is surrounded by eight pillars. All the others end with onion-shaped heads.
From the side of the Spasskaya Tower, two porches lead to the terrace of the temple. From there you can get to the bypass gallery. Tourists and residents of the capital are still impressed by the coloring of the temple, even though it was made several centuries ago. St. Basil's Cathedral was painted by real masters. They used exclusively natural colors in combination with white stone and red brick. Of the latter, the smallest details are made. The bright painting was made in the 17th century. When later extensions appeared, they placed a bell tower and a chapel of the temple in the northeast. The names of the architects who built this iconic religious building have come down to our time. Their names were Posnik and Barma.
In 2/pol. 15th c. The Muscovite state is greatly strengthened and gradually annexes the Yaroslavl, Rostov, Ryazan, Tver principalities, Novgorod and Pskov. In 1480, Muscovite Russia was finally freed from the monogol-Tatar yoke and in the 1550s. joins the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates with lands along the entire course of the Volga. The borders of Russia reach the Urals.
The socio-political system of the country is also changing - it acquires the features of a single centralized state, headed by an all-powerful hereditary monarch. The central government influences all spheres of the country's life - military, judicial, cultural, etc.
The idea “Moscow is the third Rome” arises, which asserted the succession of the power of the Moscow princes from the Byzantine emperors and was designed to strengthen the autocracy. The unification of all northeastern Russian lands within the framework of a single state led to extensive construction activity. Particular attention was paid to Moscow, which attracted numerous masters from other cities.
Under Ivan 3 in 1485-1516. new brick walls of the Moscow Kremlin. The work was supervised by Italian masters Marco Fryazin, Pietro Antonio Solari, Aleviz. Ivan 3 sought to use the latest European fortification achievements, but the whole ensemble of walls and towers is based on original Russian traditions. The builders almost intact preserved the location of the walls erected under D. Donskoy, and also preserved the center of the Kremlin with a group of cathedrals and the princely palace. Built of brick, the Kremlin became more majestic and solemn. The walls and towers became taller and more representative (the tents of the towers were erected in the 17th century). In the end of the 15th century The Kremlin occupied an area of 27 hectares, had the shape of a triangle. The height of the walls was from 6 to 17 m, the thickness was from 3 to 5 m. The corners and walls were strengthened by 18 towers, protruding somewhat from the thickness of the walls. The distance between the towers was due to the range of flanking fire from 2 adjacent towers.
The main high-rise accent of the Kremlin was pillar of Ivan the Great- a bell tower, 81 m high, from the height of which you can see the surroundings for 24-30 km. The first floors were built in 1505-1508. architect Bon Fryazin. In 1600, presumably under the leadership of Fyodor Kon, the remaining floors were completed. The internal staircase of the tower has 329 steps, and the pyramidal foundation of the bell tower has a depth of almost 10 m. The bell tower is considered a masterpiece of the architecture of Muscovite Russia of the 16th century. Near the bell tower of Ivan the Great, there is the Assumption Belfry and the Filaret's extension.
Assumption Cathedral - the central building of the Kremlin. Its construction began back in 1472, the Moscow architects Myshkin and Krivtsov, but the almost finished building collapsed. The Pskov masters refused to build the cathedral, then Ivan III invited the architect and engineer Aristotle Fiorovanti from Bologna.
 |
| Assumption Cathedral |
Cathedral of the Annunciation harmonizes well with Faceted Chamber, which was built by Pietro Antonio Solari and Mark Fryazin in 1487-1491. The two-story building consisted of two rooms: a vestibule and a front hall on the 2nd floor. The main hall had an area of approx. 500 m2 and was the largest hall in Muscovite Russia at that time. It was covered with a system of 4 cross vaults supported by a powerful square pillar in the center. The walls and vaults of the Faceted Chamber were painted with frescoes, the white stone floor was covered with flat carvings. There were benches along the walls, in the right corner from the entrance - the throne of the Grand Duke. The Faceted Chamber got its name from the faceted rust that lined its eastern part.
The third cathedral that defines the ensemble of the Kremlin - Arkhangelsk(Archangel Michael), was erected by Aleviz Novy in 1505-1508. It is based on a traditional composition characteristic of an ancient Russian temple having a cubic shape, crowned with five domes. Aleviz, in the design of the facades, used Renaissance details that are organically combined with native Russian forms. The cathedral has a pronounced floor division of the facades with cornices; instead of blades, Corinthian pilasters are used. Zakomaras were decorated with shells, a favorite motif in Venetian architecture, and received a decorative function. 04/21/2012 admin Tags: ,
How to get to the Kremlin
Dear readers! This article was written in 2012. We constantly monitor the changing situation in the Kremlin and, if necessary, edit the text. The last update was made in March 2019. The algorithm for purchasing tickets and entering the Kremlin has remained the same.
In order to be sure to buy tickets to the Armory, we advise you to purchase them online on the website of the Moscow Kremlin.
For those who want to save themselves from reading a tedious 1700-word article and quickly buy tickets and a tour of the Kremlin, I offer an alternative.
How to get to the Kremlin
Be careful! Many sites are misleading and misrepresenting prices for tickets to the Kremlin. Ticket prices have gone up since February 2019.
Summary of the article
- How to get to the Kremlin.
- Where to buy tickets to the Kremlin
- Where are the cash desks of the Kremlin
- Tickets to the Kremlin. How much are?
- Excursions to the Kremlin
All the aspirations of those wishing to get acquainted with the cultural heritage of the capital are directed to the Kremlin. What you need to know in order to view all three Kremlin components ( , ; ; ) with the least loss?
Part one. For Russian and Russian-speaking tourists.
How to get to the Kremlin. For visitors
Attention! With the onset of the warm season (since mid-April), the queues for tickets to the Kremlin have increased! On weekends, be prepared to spend 30 minutes or more at the box office! In the summer on Saturdays, due to the queue at the box office lined up long before its opening by 9 o'clock in the morning there may already be a solid tail.
- The day off is Thursday. On holidays, the Kremlin is usually open. But there are solemn events, meetings of heads of foreign states, inaugurations again. In such exceptional cases, it is closed.
- works on sessions. There are four of them - at 10, 12, 14.30 and at 16.30
– Opening hours of the Moscow Kremlin Museum-Reserve from 10 to 17 in winter, from 9.30 to 18 in summer (from mid-May to mid-September). closes at 18:00. open from 10:00 to 18:00, lunch break: from 13:00 to 14:00.
The Borovitsky gates of the Kremlin are designed for vehicles. Entrance to the Kremlin to the left of the gate through the arch.
To get to the Borovitsky Gates, you need to go from the ticket office along the road, it is shown in the picture. If you stand facing the cash registers, then to the right. The Borovitsky Gates of the Kremlin are NOT visible from the box office
In the top photo, the Borovitskaya Tower is barely visible in the distance to the left. On the way to the Borovitskaya Tower, you will pass by the recently erected monument to Emperor Alexander I.
The monument to Tsar Alexander I is installed in the Alexander Garden between the Commandant (pictured) and the Armory towers
At the entrance to the Borovitsky Gates, you need to present an entrance ticket to the Kremlin or the Armory and go through security.
Officers at the entrance to the Kremlin through the Borovitsky Gates will ask you to open your bags and put all the contents of your pockets on the table. Be sure to inquire about the availability of tickets.
You will be asked to show your ticket either in the building (ticket to visit the Armory) or at the very end of the long building of the Armory. There you need to present a ticket to the territory of the Kremlin.
You can enter the Kremlin through the Trinity Gate
The Trinity Gate is located in the Alexander Garden, in the Trinity Tower, which is connected by a bridge to the Kutafya Tower. Ticket control and screening is carried out at the Kutafya Tower.
In the photo Kutafya tower (left), Trinity tower (right). They are connected by the Trinity Bridge. After being screened by officers of the commandant's office of the Kremlin (a procedure similar to that at an airport), visitors enter the Kremlin through the Trinity Gate. Metal detectors are very sensitive. Be prepared to put all the change out of your pockets.
Below, at the stairs, you need to present a ticket to the territory of the Kremlin or the Armory.
At the bottom of the stairs there is a lone ticket inspector who checks if those who suffer from visiting the Kremlin have them. (Shot on a weekday afternoon in the fall).
Here are diagrams to illustrate.
- You can’t enter the Kremlin with large bags and backpacks, suitcases. These things are left in the storage room near the Kutafya Tower of the Kremlin. (Water will not be taken to the storage room, take bottles with you to the Kremlin). Ladies' bags, which are sometimes quite large, can be carried. It is forbidden to carry ANY weapons into the Kremlin, including gas cartridges and penknives. Professional photo and video shooting is prohibited on the territory of the Kremlin.
Entrance to the Kremlin with luggage - bags and backpacks
ENTRY TO THE KREMLIN WITH BACKPACKS is either allowed or prohibited. It is better to take a voluminous backpack to the storage room under the Kutafya Tower. It works from 10:00 to 18:00. Lunch breaks are from 11:00 to 11:30 and from 15:30 to 16:00.
Luggage storage - to the left of the stairs. Above is the Kutafya Tower.
You can learn more about the operation of the left-luggage office on the official website of the Kremlin. http://www.kreml.ru/visit-to-kremlin/ticket-prices/kamera-khraneniya1/
When is the best time to visit the Kremlin
If you want to see the Kremlin in the morning and buy tickets for a 10-hour show (the ticket office of the museum opens half an hour before the opening of the Kremlin), it is better to come early in the summer. On weekday mornings, at 9.30, the line is usually small. Sometimes it doesn't exist at all. On weekends, people gather early in the morning. In the summer, at 11 o'clock, a decent crowd is observed at the cash desks of the Kremlin. I remind you again that Saturdays in summer when the ceremony of divorce of the guard of honor is held, the queue at the cashier is very long even in the morning .
Not the longest queue at the cash desk of the Moscow Kremlin museums At the entrance to the museum, you will be subjected to a serious search, which is carried out by the Commandant's Office of the Kremlin, and passing through very sensitive metal detectors. The queue at the Borovitsky Gate takes place in the morning: from 10 to 11 and around 12 and 14 hours - people accumulate to get to the Armory at 12 or 14.30 and at
The best time to see the Kremlin on your own
General advice. In the warm season of a weekend and a holiday, it is better to come to the Kremlin ticket office early. But if possible, go to the Kremlin in WEEKDAY day. The best time to visit the Kremlin is in the afternoon. Around 2 pm. In the morning, the Kremlin is visited by school excursion groups. Plan to visit the Armory at 16.30. In the second half weekday there is a high probability that you will fall into the Diamond Fund.
It often happens that all tickets in already sold. Then the following sign hangs at the box office:
Tickets for evening sessions at the box office run out very quickly! The ideal option is to go to the Kremlin ticket office in the Alexander Garden by 14 o'clock. Buy a ticket to visit the territory of the Kremlin. Maybe they will even sell you a ticket to the Armory and the Diamond Fund. Although, until recently, tickets to the Armory were sold only 40 minutes before the start of the session.
We will tell about separately.
Dear Sirs, if you still have questions on the topic “How to get to the Kremlin”, please re-read the article again and take a look at the comments. They have answers to many questions!
I remind you that some frequently asked questions have answers in a separate publication (comments to it are still open, if you have any questions - ask, we will try to answer). I hope that the article will help you get to the Kremlin.
Dear Muscovites and guests of the capital! Before you get to the Kremlin, we strongly recommend that you solve technical issues using, excuse me, the toilet in the Alexander Garden. On the territory of the Kremlin there is a nanotechnological toilet with an eternal queue. There is also a toilet in the building of the Armory, but from the street, without a ticket to it, you will not get there. Therefore, we repeat once again - the optimal solution to technical problems is located in the Alexander Garden opposite the Kremlin ticket office.
We talked about the rules for passing inspection at the entrance to the Kremlin in a publication.
We recommend you a service where in a couple of minutes you can book any excursion to the Kremlin. We offer two of them:
Our travel articles
There are additional publications to this article, where we talked in detail about
,
and
.
Author's excursions
ARCHITECTURE OF MOSCOW IN THE XIVXVII CENTURIES Rus in the 14th century The western lands were occupied by Lithuania. Monasteries played a huge role in that period, becoming not only defensive, but also economic centers. Around the monasteries and new cities there was a unification of the lands and a number of centers began to fight for primacy. The sharpest struggle in n. 14th century unfolded between Moscow and Tver. In 1273, Nevsky's son Daniel became the first independent prince of Moscow. Under him, Kolomna and Pereyaslavl were annexed to Moscow.
Moscow is first mentioned in the chronicle of 1147. The ancient Kremlin of Yuri Dolgoruky occupied less than half of the current Kremlin. Under Ivan Kalita (13041340), the old wooden walls of the Kremlin were replaced with oak… A. Vasnetsov. Moscow Kremlin under Ivan Kalita.
... and his grandson Dmitry Donskoy (13501389) erected a white-stone Kremlin on the site of a wooden one. Moscow Kremlin under Dmitry Donskoy. A. Vasnetsov.
By the end of the XV century, Russia was freed from the yoke of the Golden Horde. The Moscow principality united many Russian lands. Moscow became its capital. Ivan III (14401505) needed a new residence. It became the Moscow Kremlin. Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra near Moscow.
THE MOSCOW KREMLIN "As the whole earth gazes at the sun with a billion eyes. So the thoughts of the best people crowd around the Kremlin." At the invitation of Ivan III, craftsmen from Pskov, Tver, and Rostov came to Moscow, but the Italians, the Fryazins, supervised the work. Construction began in 1485. White walls were overlaid with red brick, Battlements and a roof were added to the walls, The Kremlin became 18 towers with several floors, corner towers - round (3), travel (there are 6) with archers (only one remained - Kutafya). The Kremlin was surrounded by a moat (35 m wide, 12 deep) already in the next century lost its defensive significance
Kremlin buildings
The Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers and they are all different, no two are the same. Each tower has its own name and its own history.
Assumption Cathedral The cathedral was under construction for almost five years (14751479). Its construction was led by the Italian architect and engineer Aristotle Fioravanti. As a model during the construction, the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir was taken. Russian princes and tsars were crowned in this cathedral.
Cathedral of the Annunciation The cathedral was built by unknown Pskov masters in 1484-1489. on the site of the cathedral of the same name in the second half of the 14th century. The cathedral received its final completion in 1560-1570. under Ivan the Terrible. The temple served as the home church of the Grand Dukes.
The Cathedral of the Archangel It was built (15051508) by the Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin Novy, a native of Venice. The rulers of the Muscovite state, tsars and their sons were buried in the cathedral. There are 55 headstones in the cathedral.
Belfry of Ivan the Great and Church of the Ascension It was built in 1505-1508. It is located on the Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin. At the base of the bell tower is a church. After the superstructure to a height of 81 m in 1600, it was the tallest building in Moscow until the beginning of the 18th century. In total, there are 34 bells in the bell tower. In the old days, royal decrees were read at the bell tower - loudly, "in all Ivanovo", as they said then.
The Faceted Chamber was built by Italian architects Mark Fryazin and Pier Antonio Solari in 1487-1491.
Customer: Vel. book. Ivan III Material: brick, white stone cladding Function: front hall of the prince's palace Description: a one-pillar chamber, square in plan, covered with four cross vaults. t t a a, k k v v a d r r a a t n a i v v p l l a n n e, n p e r r e k k krr y y t a y a t h e f t y r r r m i y k k The chamber was part of the ensemble of the Grand Duke's palace, connected with it by open passages. Feature of the risalit (edges of masonry) on the facade
Intercession Cathedral or St. Basil's Cathedral (15551561) Architect: Barma Postnik Customer: Ivan the Terrible Material: brick, white stone, glazed ceramics Semantics: votive church in honor of the capture of Kazan Type: ensemble of a hipped-roof (and eight pillar-shaped churches; the central volume is a hipped-roof church.
NEW TRENDS IN RUSSIAN ART OF THE XVI CENTURY In this century, especially in its second half: 1) iconographic canons are collapsing; 2) the love for decorative elaboration of details in architecture reaches its apogee; 3) there is a convergence of religious and civil construction, which is acquiring an unprecedented scope; 4) there is a process of "secularization" of art, that is, liberation from church influence. In the 16th century, Moscow acquired a leading role not only in the whole of Russian culture (in architecture, icon painting, and arts and crafts). Moscow retains its leading position until the beginning of the 18th century, when the capital is transferred to St. Petersburg. In the workshops of the Moscow Kremlin in the XVII-VII centuries. the best craftsmen, invited from all over Russia and from abroad, worked.
The Moscow Kremlin is the main attraction of the city. Getting to it is easy enough. There are several metro stations, leaving which you can walk to the Kremlin. The Alexandrovsky Garden station will take you, as you can easily guess, straight to the Alexander Garden. There you will already see the Kutafya Tower, where they sell tickets to the Kremlin and the Armory. You can also go to the metro station. Library them. IN AND. Lenin. In this case, the Kutafya tower will be visible across the road. The stations Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Kitay-gorod will take you to Red Square, only from different sides. The first is from the side of the State Historical Museum, the second is from the side. You can also get off at Okhotny Ryad - if you want to take a walk along the shopping row of the same name. Just be prepared for unusual prices)).
About prices in the Kremlin museums. Visiting the Kremlin is not a cheap pleasure. An hour and a half visit to - will cost 700 rubles, - 500 rubles, a walk around with an inspection - 500 rubles. For more information about museums and some of the nuances about visiting them, which you should know, see the links.
The Kremlin is called not only walls with towers, as some people think, but everything that is located inside it. Outside the walls, on the ground of the Moscow Kremlin, there are cathedrals and squares, palaces and museums. This summer, the Kremlin Regiment shows its skills on Cathedral Square every Saturday at 12:00. If I manage to escape to the Kremlin, I will write about it.
History of the Moscow Kremlin.
The word "Kremlin" is very ancient. The Kremlin or citadel in Russia was called the fortified part in the center of the city, in other words, the fortress. Times were different in the old days. It happened that Russian cities were attacked by countless enemy forces. It was then that the inhabitants of the city gathered under the protection of their Kremlin. Old and young hid behind its powerful walls, and those who could hold weapons in their hands defended themselves from enemies from the walls of the Kremlin.
The first settlement on the site of the Kremlin appeared about 4,000 years ago. This has been established by archaeologists. Fragments of clay pots, stone axes and flint arrowheads were found here. These things were once used by ancient settlers.
The place where the Kremlin was built was not chosen by chance. The Kremlin was built on a high hill, surrounded on both sides by rivers: the Moskva River and the Neglinnaya. The high location of the Kremlin made it possible to notice enemies from a greater distance, and the rivers served as a natural barrier in their path.
Initially, the Kremlin was wooden. An earthen rampart was poured around its walls for greater reliability. The remains of these fortifications were discovered during construction work in our time.
It is known that the first wooden walls on the site of the Kremlin were built in 1156 by order of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. These data are preserved in ancient chronicles. At the beginning of the 14th century, Ivan Kalita began to rule the city. Kalita in ancient Russia was called a bag for money. The prince was so nicknamed because he accumulated great wealth and always carried a small bag of money with him. Prince Kalita decided to decorate and fortify his city. He ordered the Kremlin to build new walls. They were cut down from strong oak trunks, so thick that they could not be wrapped around with hands.
Under the next ruler of Moscow, Dmitry Donskoy, the Kremlin was built other walls - stone. From all over the district, stone craftsmen were gathered to Moscow. And in 1367. they set to work. People worked without interruption, and soon Borovitsky Hill was surrounded by a powerful stone wall, 2 or even 3 meters thick. It was built from limestone, which was mined in quarries near Moscow near the village of Myachkovo. The Kremlin so impressed contemporaries with the beauty of its white walls that since then Moscow has been called white stone.
Prince Dmitry was a very brave man. He always fought in the forefront and it was he who led the fight against the conquerors from the Golden Horde. In 1380, his army completely defeated the army of Khan Mamai on the Kulikovo field, which is not far from the Don River. This battle was nicknamed Kulikovo, and the prince has since received the nickname Donskoy.
The white-stone Kremlin stood for more than 100 years. During this time, a lot has changed. Russian lands united into one strong state. Moscow became its capital. It happened under the Moscow Prince Ivan III. Since then, he began to be called the Grand Duke of All Russia, and historians call him "the collector of the Russian land."
Ivan III gathered the best Russian masters and invited Aristotle Fearovanti, Antonio Solario and other famous architects from distant Italy. And now, under the guidance of Italian architects, new construction began on Borovitsky Hill. In order not to leave the city without a fortress, the builders erected a new Kremlin in parts: they dismantled a section of the old white stone wall and in its place quickly built a new one - of brick. There was quite a lot of clay suitable for its manufacture in the vicinity of Moscow. However, clay is a soft material. To make the brick hard, it was fired in special furnaces.
During the years of construction, Russian masters stopped treating Italian architects as strangers, and even their names were remade in the Russian way. So Antonio became Anton, and the nickname Fryazin replaced the complex Italian surname. Our ancestors called overseas lands Fryazhsky, and those who came from there - Fryazins.
They built the new Kremlin for 10 years. The fortress was protected from two sides by rivers, and at the beginning of the 16th century. a wide ditch was dug on the third side of the Kremlin. He connected two rivers. Now the Kremlin was protected from all sides by water barriers. erected one after another, equipped with their diversion archers for greater defense. Along with the renewal of the fortress walls, the construction of such well-known ones as Uspensky, Arkhangelsk and Blagoveshchensky took place.
After the crowning of the Romanovs, the construction of the Kremlin went at an accelerated pace. The Filaret belfry was built next to the bell tower of Ivan the Great, Teremnaya, Poteshny palaces, the Patriarch's chambers and the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles. Under Peter I, the building of the Arsenal was erected. But after the transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg, they stopped building new buildings.
During the reign of Catherine II, a number of ancient buildings and part of the southern wall were demolished for the construction of a new palace. But soon the work was canceled, according to the official version due to lack of funding, according to the unofficial version - because of the negative opinion of the public. In 1776-87. Senate building was built
During the invasion of Napoleon, the Kremlin suffered enormous damage. Churches were desecrated, looted, and part of the walls, towers and buildings were blown up during the retreat. In 1816-19. restoration work was carried out in the Kremlin. By 1917 There were 31 temples in the Kremlin.
During the October Revolution, the Kremlin is bombed. In 1918, the government of the RSFSR moved to the Senate building. Under Soviet rule, the Kremlin Palace of Congresses was built on the territory of the Kremlin, stars were installed on the towers, placed on pedestals, and the walls and structures of the Kremlin were repeatedly restored.
