There are 20 defensive towers in the Kremlin wall. The tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin

Of the five gates of the Kremlin, which connected it with the settlement, the main ones were Spassky. It was the front gate of the Kremlin. In the old days they were called "saints", and they were very revered by the people.

Through this gate, the great princes and tsars entered the Kremlin and went to Red Square to the Execution Ground for the announcement of state letters; foreign ambassadors and envoys with a large retinue arrived through them, and from the 18th century until the October Revolution, Russian emperors solemnly entered. On the days of great church holidays, a ceremonial procession of the highest clergy took place through the Spassky Gate to Red Square to the Place of Execution and to St. Basil's Cathedral, religious processions were made. It was not allowed to pass through the Spassky Gates with a covered head and ride a horse; even the kings, approaching the gates, dismounted and walked on foot, taking off their hats.

The Spassky Gates have not lost their leading role even today. They are now the front gates of the Kremlin. Every year, on the occasion of the Great October Socialist Revolution, the commander of the Armed Forces of the country travels through them to take a military parade on Red Square, through them the changing of the guard of honor to the Lenin Mausoleum passes to Red Square.

Until 1658, the Spasskaya Tower was called the Frolovskaya Strelnitsa, as it is believed, after the church of Frol and Lavr, located in the suburb not far from the tower. In 1658, by royal decree, it was renamed into Spasskaya - in the image of the Savior of Smolensk, written over the gate of the diversion archer from the side of Red Square, in memory of the liberation of the city of Smolensk by Russian troops. This ancient fresco is still preserved under a special protective layer in a white stone frame above the gate of the tower.

The Nikolskaya tower with a passage gate was named in antiquity after the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, placed in a white stone frame above the gate of the diversion archer from the side of Red Square. This ancient image in a white stone frame has also survived to this day.

The name of the tower was also associated with Nikolskaya Street, which branched off from the tower in a northern direction (now 25 October Street), on which there was a monastery with the Church of St. Nicholas the Old (on the site of the current building of the Historical and Archival Institute). Through the Nikolsky gates they passed to the Kremlin to the boyar and monastic farmsteads, which occupied the northeastern part of the Kremlin.

The name of the Trinity Gate is associated with the Trinity Compound located in the Kremlin nearby. Until the 17th century, the gates, like the tower, were called either Kuretny, then Rizpolozhensky, then Znamensky, then Epiphany. The name Troitsky has been attached to them since 1658. These gates served as passage to the patriarchal court and the female half of the royal palace, the mansions of queens and princesses.

All the economic supply of the Kremlin and the entrance to the Grand Duke's court were carried out through the Borovitsky Gates. Near them was the Grand Duke's court, and near the Kremlin wall, facing the Neglinnaya River, there were fodder, living quarters and stables. In the 17th century, the tower was renamed Predtechenskaya, but this name was not consolidated behind it.

The Tainitskaya tower on the banks of the Moskva River and the gates in it got their name from the cache-well that was in the tower. The gates of the tower were used only for passage to the Moscow River and for the passage of the procession to the blessing of water.

In the 70s of the XVIII century, the Taynitskaya Tower was dismantled in connection with the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace, designed by V.I. Bazhenov. Upon the termination of construction, the tower was restored anew, but without a diversion archer. In 1862, according to the project of the artist A. S. Campioni, a retractable archer was attached to the tower, ending with teeth and a special platform inside, on which guns were installed for firing at holidays. In 1930, the archer was dismantled, and the gates were laid. The arch of the gate, bricked up, is still clearly visible on the facade of the tower from the side of the Moskva River.

The name of the Konstantin-Eleninskaya Tower and the passage gates in it is associated with the Church of Konstantin and Helena, located in the Kremlin not far from the tower. Previously, the gates were called Timofeevsky - after the name of the governor Dmitry Donskoy. In the 17th century the gates were laid. The tower and the diversion archer began to be used as a prison. In the XV-III century, the diversion archer was dismantled, and later, when planning the Vasilyevsky descent to the Moscow River, both the moat in front of the tower and the lower part of the tower with the gate were filled up. The upper part of the gate arch with a niche for the icon above the gate is still visible on the facade of the tower.

The remaining towers of the Kremlin were deaf, that is, impassable, and their name sometimes changed depending on the purpose, use, and the buildings that appeared behind them in the Kremlin. So, for example, the alarm tower got its name from the alarm bell, which was placed on it until 1771. Despite the fact that the bell on the tower has long been gone, the name has been preserved. The Beklemishevskaya Tower, whose name goes back to ancient times, is sometimes now called the Moskvoretskaya Tower, since next to it is the Moskvoretsky Bridge across the Moscow River. The Petrovskaya Tower was named in the 18th century from the Church of Peter the Metropolitan, which was moved to the tower after the abolition of the courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery, located in the Kremlin.

The name of the Annunciation tower is associated with the icon of the Annunciation placed on it, as well as with the Church of the Annunciation.

The Armory Tower is so named because of its proximity to the Armory. Before the construction of the chamber in the 19th century, it was called Konyushennaya - from the royal Stables Yard, located near the tower. The commandant's tower got its name in the 19th century, when the commandant lived behind the tower in the Poteshny Palace. Prior to that, it was called Kolymazhnaya - after the Kolymazhny yard, where wagons, carriages and chariots were kept.

After the construction of the Arsenal building in the Kremlin in the 18th century, the Corner Dog Tower became known as the Corner Arsenal Tower, and the Faceted Tower became the Middle Arsenal Tower. In the same century, the Senate Tower was also named. The 1st and 2nd Nameless towers remained without a name.

The Tsar's Tower was built in 1680 on the site of a wooden turret on which the Spassky alarm bell hung. According to legend, from this wooden tower, Ivan the Terrible watched various ceremonies that took place at the Execution Ground and at St. Basil's Cathedral.

The name of the bridge tower Kutafya is still a mystery. In the old days, it was called the Borisoglebskaya, Vladimirskaya and Patriarchal Gates, but these names were not consolidated behind it. This tower closes the Trinity Bridge and is located outside the Kremlin. In ancient times, it was surrounded by a moat and had gates on the sides for passage to the bridge. Drawbridges spanned the moat from the gates of the tower. In 1780, due to decay, the brick vault covering it was dismantled, a direct passage through the tower to the Trinity Bridge was arranged, and the side gates were laid. During the restoration of the tower in 1975, the side passages were opened.

Moscow Kremlin towers. Today it is difficult to imagine without their spiers the once fortified structure itself, and the appearance of the capital - Moscow - would lose some zest.

So how many towers are in the Moscow Kremlin? Their total number is 20, and in this review we will give their names, former and existing, and also briefly tell about their interesting history.

Some facts from the history of the Kremlin towers in Moscow

Each tower in the Kremlin is unique. You won't find exactly the same here. Their names also differ, which have changed several times over the centuries. Indeed, two of them First And Second- and have remained so far Nameless.

The very first tower of the Moscow Kremlin, the foundation stone of which was laid simultaneously with the construction of the Kremlin walls, became Taynitskaya tower. This name is due to the fact that it was from it that a secret passage, arranged underground, led to the Moscow River. This was necessary in case of a siege, so that it would be possible to replenish the necessary supply of water.

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Question: "How many towers does the Moscow Kremlin have?" many people are interested. The answer is known - there are 20 in total. In this article, all buildings will be considered in order, a photo of each of them with captions will be presented, as well as a message for each interesting features and facts. If you are interested in the question: “What is the purpose of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin?” - we will answer him: defensive. In the old days, they played the role of defense nodes.

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

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

This made it possible to make a bypass of the entire perimeter, and at the same time it was not necessary to go down to the ground. The final decoration was merlons, otherwise they are called "swallowtails". Archers were hiding behind them on the upper parts of the structure.

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Tower History

On the this moment residents and visitors of the capital can see twenty towers. These structures have seen many historical events. The military operations of 1812 brought particular harm to them, when many defense installations were completely destroyed by explosions.

Therefore, a lot of work has been done to restore it. The current appearance of the fortifications is due to the magnificent architectural skill of Boeva.

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

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) Tower

The building has a rounded shape and is located next to the Moskvoretsky bridge. It is wonderfully visible from Red Square. This defensive structure in those distant times successfully resisted the onslaught of advancing enemies.

A cache was arranged in front of the fortress, and in the 18th century the pylon was decorated with a tent. This added harmony to the composition, and removed a certain serf severity.

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

Taynitskaya tower

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

He connected the defense structure with the river. They were used to deliver water in case of an enemy blockade.

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

After the destruction caused by the Napoleonic army, the fortress was restored. And closer to the middle of the last century, the archer was completely dismantled, the well was sprinkled and the gates were laid for passage.

Vodovzvodnaya tower

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

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

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

Borovitskaya tower

Borovitsky hill was once covered with a shadow from a pine forest. This 54-meter building, crowned with a star, is also located here. In another way, the building is called Predtechenskaya.

At first, it served the needs of the Zhitny and Konyushenny yard, located nearby. The gates for passage played the role of the rear gates of the Kremlin.

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

weapon tower

Previously, in the neighborhood of this building, there were workshops engaged in the manufacture of weapons. Also, the craftsmen here made dishes and objects that served as decorations.

The old name "Konyushenny" was quickly replaced by "Army", and this happened when the Armory appeared in this place. At that time, it became a treasury; uniforms and other things of Russian soldiers were saved in it.

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

Trinity Tower

In terms of protective capabilities, this building ranked second (the first belongs to the Spasskaya defensive building). It also has the highest height.

Four of six tiers has a basement at the base, which in turn is made in two tiers. Stairs help to move comfortably from tier to tier. During its history, the name of this protective structure has changed several times.

It had the following names:

• Epiphany;
• Znamenskaya;
• Karetnaya.

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

Kutafiev tower

Many years ago there were two guard buildings, they guarded the entrance to the Kremlin. Only one has survived to this day.

They also know it under the name Bridgehead, and it is the lowest of the entire list of towers of the Moscow Kremlin. It was located next to the Trinity Bridge, where it was surrounded by a moat and a river.

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

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

Corner Arsenal Tower

The lower massive part of the building consists of sixteen faces, which expand the base.

Below, underground, there is a basement, which can be accessed via an internal staircase. There is also an underground well. It contains clean drinking water.

Boyar Sobakin used to live next to the building, and because of him the structure had a second name - Sobakin. The Arsenal building began to be called after the Arsenal was built.

Arsenal Tower

The described structure was included in the number of Kremlin buildings in the 15th century. A little later, a grotto was built next to it, which became a place of interest in the Alexander Garden.

Niches divide the outer side of the pylon. The upper part has four corners and they are decorated with machicolations.

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

alarm tower

This object is built "tightly". It is distinguished by a special fortress, and is located between the Konstantin-Elenskaya and Tsarskaya structures.

The basement and the premises located in it together represent a complicated multi-chamber network.

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

Royal tower

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

Four pillars, like domes, hold an octagonal tent, which in turn was decorated with a gilded weather vane. Previously, one could hear the bells of the fire department from it.

This is one of a small number of buildings that have not changed much. In height, this structure reaches seventeen meters.

Konstantin-Eleninskaya (Timofeevskaya) Tower

Appeared in the middle of the fifteenth century and was located instead of the former travel building. She passed through a large number of of people.

Regiments passed through here, and even Dmitry Donskoy himself went this way to the Battle of Kulikovo. In addition, the building played the role of a military object of protection, protecting the Great Posad and the paths passing from the pier on the river.

From this object, all the paths from the adjacent streets were clearly visible. The pylon was equipped with gates for passage and archery. It became possible to penetrate here by means of a drawbridge. The building received another name because of the nearby church of Constantine and Helena.

Senate Tower

Since the fifteenth century, it has adorned the complex, surrounded by Nikolskaya and Frolovskaya fortifications.

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

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

Nikolskaya tower

The building is located in the northern part of the complex. A high-power quadruple was previously equipped with gates for passage. It was also supplemented by a shooter and a crossing operating in a lifting mode.

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

The "laced" octagon is considered a decoration of the structure, and the additional part (shatro) reflects the Gothic style of architecture.

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

Petrovskaya tower

The need for this object arose at the stage of improving the protective system of the complex. The nearby Church of Metropolitan Peter gave him his name.

After the building was blown up with a powder charge in 1812, a lot of restoration work was carried out.

The erected twenty-seven-meter building was used for the household needs of gardeners who monitored the beautification of the Kremlin territory.

Kolymazhnaya or Commandant's Tower

Almost deaf and austere building, which is shifted to the south side of the Trinity defensive building.

Like most other objects, it appeared in the fifteenth century. And the name "Kolymazhnaya" was given because of the close location of the Kolymazhny yard.

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

Annunciation tower

This object has its own secret - it is a deep underground. If you believe the legends, then the icon "Annunciation", which hung here in ancient times, gave its name.

Historians are also inclined to believe that the name is connected with the Church of the Annunciation built nearby, demolished under Soviet rule. Back in the seventeenth century, the Port Washing Gate was built near the pylon, through which local washerwomen hurried to the river to rinse their laundry here.

Over time, these gates built up. The building, together with the weather vane, rises to thirty-two meters.

Frolovskaya or Spasskaya Tower

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

In the seventeenth century, the object was decorated with the coat of arms of the state (double-headed eagle). And the clock that was placed here back in the nineteenth century is here and now.

Describing this construction, it should be noted that in this case the architecture was not the same as on other buildings. She was distinguished by accuracy in geometric shapes, luxurious jewelry and animal figures. The corner parts of the quadrangle were decorated with attractive pyramids with iridescent weathercocks.

First Nameless Tower

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

In the middle of the sixteenth century, the building was destroyed by fire, but after 150 years it was rebuilt again. Now it has already been supplemented by a new tier, which was called a tent.

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

Second Nameless Tower

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

The crown of the construction was a stone tent with a weather vane. The Kremlin building delights with the emerald of tents, the ruby ​​glow of the stars and the "dovetails".

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

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

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

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

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

Armory and Commandant towers

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

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

Troitskaya, Kutafya and Petrovskaya towers

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

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

The Spasskaya Tower was built on the site of the former main gates of the Kremlin. An icon of the Savior was installed over the passage, and the entrance itself was revered by the people as saints, it was necessary to enter it on foot with an uncovered head. Nowadays, the famous chimes are installed on it.

Other Kremlin towers

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

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

The Tsar’s tower can hardly be called a tower, since it is just a tent superstructure, where Ivan the Terrible liked to come to look at the city.

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

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

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. And for sure, many do not know the names of all the towers. Let's meet?

BEKLEMISHEVSKAYA (Moskvoretskaya) tower is located in the south-east corner of the Kremlin. It was built by the Italian architect Marco Fryazin in 1487-1488. The courtyard of the boyar Beklemishev adjoined the tower, for which it got its name. Beklemishev's courtyard, together with the tower under Vasily III, served as a prison for disgraced boyars. The current name - "Moskvoretskaya" - is taken from the nearby Moskvoretsky Bridge. The tower was located at the junction of the Moskva River with the moat, so when the enemy attacked, it was the first to take the hit. Related to this is architectural solution towers: a high cylinder is placed on a beveled white stone plinth and separated from it by a semicircular roller. The surface of the cylinder is cut through by narrow, rarely spaced windows. The tower is completed by machicolas with a combat platform, which was higher than the adjoining walls. In the basement of the tower there was a hiding place-a rumor to prevent undermining. In 1680, the tower was decorated with an octagon, carrying a tall narrow tent with two rows of eaves, which softened its severity. In 1707, expecting a possible offensive by the Swedes, Peter I ordered to build bastions at its foot and expand the loopholes to install more powerful guns. During the Napoleonic invasion, the tower was damaged and then repaired. In 1917, during the shelling, the top of the tower was damaged, which was restored by 1920. In 1949, during the restoration, the loopholes were restored in their original form. This is one of the few Kremlin towers that has not been radically rebuilt. The height of the tower is 62.2 meters.

The KONSTANTINOV-ELENINSKAYA tower owes its name to the church of Constantine and Helena that stood here in antiquity. The tower was built in 1490 by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari and was used for the passage of the population and troops to the Kremlin. Earlier, when the Kremlin was made of white stone, another tower stood in this place. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy with the army went to the Kulikovo field. new tower built for the reason that on her part, not the Kremlin had no natural barriers. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful diversion archer and a passage gate, which after, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were disassembled. The tower got its name from the church of Constantine and Helena, which stood in the Kremlin. The height of the tower is 36.8 meters.

The alarm tower got its name from the large bell - the alarm that hung above it. Once upon a time, sentinels were constantly on duty here. From a height, they vigilantly watched - if the enemy army was coming to the city. And if danger was approaching, the sentinels had to warn everyone, strike the alarm bell. Because of him, the tower was called Nabatnaya. But now there is no bell in the tower. Once, at the end of the 18th century, a riot began in Moscow at the sound of the alarm bell. And when order was restored in the city, the bell was punished for disclosing bad news - they were deprived of the language. In those days it was a common practice to remember at least the history of the bell in Uglich. Since alarm bell fell silent and remained idle for a long time until he was removed to the museum. The height of the Nabatnaya tower is 38 meters.

TSAR tower. It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns directly on the wall, and on them there is a peaked roof. There are no powerful walls, no narrow loopholes. But they are of no use to her. Because they were built two centuries later than the rest of the towers and not at all for defense. Previously, there was a small wooden tower at this place, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the Red Square. Previously, there was a small wooden tower at this place, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the Red Square. Later, the smallest tower of the Kremlin was built here and called it the Tsarskaya. Its height is 16.7 meters.

SPASSKAYA (Frolovskaya) tower. Built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari. This name comes from the 17th century, when an icon of the Savior was hung over the gates of this tower. It was erected on the spot where in ancient times the main gates of the Kremlin were located. It, like Nikolskaya, was built to protect the northeastern part of the Kremlin, which had no natural water barriers. The passage gates of the Spasskaya Tower, at that time still Frolovskaya, were considered “holy” by the people. They did not pass through them on horseback and did not pass with their heads covered. Regiments marching on the march passed through these gates, tsars and ambassadors were met here. In the 17th century, the coat of arms of Russia, the double-headed eagle, was hoisted on the tower, and a little later the coats of arms were hoisted on other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658 Kremlin towers renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. She was so named in honor of the icon of the Savior of Smolensk, located above the gate of the tower from the side of Red Square, and in honor of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, located above the gate from the Kremlin. In 1851-52. a clock was installed on the Spasskaya Tower, which we still see. Kremlin chimes. Chimes are called large clocks that have a musical mechanism. At the Kremlin chimes, bells play music. There are eleven of them. One large one, it marks the hours, and ten smaller ones, their melodious chime is heard every 15 minutes. There is a special device in the chimes. It sets the hammer in motion, it strikes the surface of the bells and the sound of the Kremlin chimes sounds. The mechanism of the Kremlin chimes occupies three floors. Previously, the chimes were wound by hand, but now they do it with the help of electricity. The Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with a star is 71 meters.

The SENATE Tower was built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari, rises behind the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin and is named after the Senate, whose green dome rises above the fortress wall. The Senate Tower is one of the oldest in the Kremlin. Built in 1491 in the center of the northeastern part of the Kremlin wall, it performed only defensive functions - it protected the Kremlin from Red Square. The height of the tower is 34.3 meters.

NIKOLSKAYA Tower is located at the beginning of Red Square. In ancient times, there was a monastery of St. Nicholas the Old nearby, and an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed above the gate of the tower. The gate tower, built in 1491 by the architect Pietro Solari, was one of the main defensive redoubts in the eastern part of the Kremlin wall. The name of the tower comes from the St. Nicholas Monastery, located nearby. Therefore, an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed over the travel gates of the archer. Like all towers with entrance gates, Nikolskaya had a drawbridge across the moat and protective bars that were lowered during the battle. The Nikolskaya Tower went down in history in 1612, when militia troops led by Minin and Pozharsky broke into the Kremlin through its gates, liberating Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. In 1812, the Nikolskaya Tower, along with many others, was blown up by Napoleon's troops retreating from Moscow. The upper part of the tower was especially damaged. In 1816, it was replaced by the architect O.I. Bove with a new needle-shaped dome in pseudo-Gothic style. In 1917 the tower suffered again. This time from artillery fire. In 1935, the dome of the tower was crowned with a five-pointed star. In the 20th century, the tower was restored in 1946-1950s and in 1973-1974s. Now the height of the tower is 70.5 meters.

CORNER ARSENAL tower was built in 1492 by Pietro Antonio Solari and is located further away, in the corner of the Kremlin. It received its first name at the beginning of the 18th century, after the construction of the Arsenal building on the territory of the Kremlin, the second comes from the nearby estate of the Sobakin boyars. There is a well in the dungeon of the corner Arsenal Tower. He is over 500 years old. It is filled from an ancient source and therefore there is always clean and fresh water in it. Previously, from the Arsenal tower went underground passage to the Neglinnaya river. The height of the tower is 60.2 meters.

The MIDDLE ARSENAL tower rises from the side of the Alexander Garden and is called so because right behind it there was a warehouse of weapons. It was built in 1493-1495. After the construction of the Arsenal building, the tower got its name. Near the tower in 1812 a grotto was erected - one of the attractions of the Alexander Garden. The height of the tower is 38.9 meters.

The TROITSKAYA tower is named after the church and the Trinity Compound, which were once nearby on the territory of the Kremlin. Trinity Tower - the most tall tower Kremlin. The height of the tower at present, together with the star from the direction of the Alexander Garden, is 80 meters. The Trinity Bridge, protected by the Kutafya Tower, leads to the gates of the Trinity Tower. The gates of the tower serve as the main entrance for visitors to the Kremlin. Built in 1495-1499. Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin Milanets. The tower was called differently: Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya and Karetnaya. It received its current name in 1658 after the name of the Trinity Compound of the Kremlin. The two-storey base of the tower housed a prison in the 16th-17th centuries. From 1585 to 1812 there was a clock on the tower. At the end of the 17th century, the tower received a multi-tiered tent superstructure with white stone decorations. In 1707, due to the threat of a Swedish invasion, the loopholes of the Trinity Tower were expanded for heavy cannons. Until 1935, an imperial double-headed eagle was installed on top of the tower. By the next date of the October Revolution, it was decided to remove the eagle and install red stars on it and the rest of the main towers of the Kremlin. The double-headed eagle of the Trinity Tower turned out to be the oldest - manufactured in 1870 and prefabricated on bolts, therefore, when dismantled, it had to be dismantled at the top of the tower. In 1937, the faded semi-precious star was replaced with a modern ruby ​​one.

KUTAFYA tower (connected by a bridge with Troitskaya). Her name is associated with this: in the old days, a casually dressed, clumsy woman was called a kutafya. Indeed, the Kutafya tower is not high, like the others, but squat and wide. The tower was built in 1516 under the leadership of the Milanese architect Aleviz Fryazin. Low, surrounded by a moat and the Neglinnaya River, with the only gate, which in moments of danger was tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge, the tower was a formidable barrier for the besiegers of the fortress. She had loopholes of the plantar battle and machicolations. In the XVI-XVII centuries, the water level in the Neglinnaya River was raised high by dams, so that the water surrounded the tower from all sides. Its initial height above ground level was 18 meters. It was possible to enter the tower from the side of the city only on an inclined bridge. There are two versions of the origin of the name "Kutafya": from the word "kut" - shelter, corner, or from the word "kutafya", denoting a full, clumsy woman. The Kutafya Tower has never been covered. In 1685, it was crowned with an openwork "crown" with white stone details.

The KOMENDANTSKAYA tower got its name in the 19th century, since the commandant of Moscow was located in the building nearby. The tower was built in 1493-1495 on the northwestern side of the Kremlin wall, which today stretches along the Alexander Garden. It was formerly called Kolymazhnaya after the Kolymazhny yard located near it in the Kremlin. In 1676-1686 it was built on. The tower is made up of a massive quadrangle with machicolations (mounted loopholes) and a parapet and an open tetrahedron standing on it, completed with a pyramidal roof, an observation tower and an octagonal ball. In the main volume of the tower there are three tiers of rooms covered with barrel vaults; vaults are covered and tiers of completion. In the 19th century, the tower was called “Komendantskaya”, when the commandant of Moscow settled in the Poteshny Palace of the 17th century near the Kremlin. The height of the tower from the Alexander Garden is 41.25 meters.

The ARMORY tower, which once stood on the banks of the Neglinnaya River, now enclosed in an underground pipe, was named after the nearby Armory, the second comes from the nearby Stables Yard. Once upon a time, ancient weapons workshops were located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. The ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to a wonderful museum located next to the Kremlin wall - the Armory. Many Kremlin treasures and simply very ancient things are collected here. For example, helmets and chain mail of ancient Russian warriors. The height of the Armory Tower is 32.65 meters.

Built in 1490 by Pietro Antonio Solari. Travel card. The first name of the tower - the original, comes from the Borovitsky hill, on the slope of which the tower stands; the name of the hill, apparently, comes from the ancient forest that grew on this place. The second name, assigned by the royal decree of 1658, comes from the nearby Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist and the icon of St. John the Baptist, located above the gate. At present, it is the main passage for government motorcades. The height of the tower is 54 meters.

WATER TOWER - so named because of the car that was here once. She raised water from a well, arranged at the bottom to the very top of the tower into a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. Thus, in the old days, the Kremlin had its own water supply system. He worked for a long time, but then the car was dismantled and taken to St. Petersburg. There it was used for the device of fountains. The height of the Vodovzvodnaya tower with a star is 61.45 meters. The second name of the tower is associated with the boyar surname Sviblo, or the Sviblovs, who were responsible for its construction.

Blagoveshchenskaya tower. According to legend, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously kept in this tower, and in 1731 the Church of the Annunciation was attached to this tower. Most likely, the name of the tower is associated with one of these facts. In the 17th century, for the passage of laundresses to the Moscow River, a gate was made near the tower, called Portomoinny. In 1831 they were laid down, and in Soviet times the Church of the Annunciation was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation Tower with a weather vane is 32.45 meters.

TAYNITSKAYA tower - the first tower laid down during the construction of the Kremlin. It was named so because a secret underground passage led from it to the river. It was intended to be able to take water in case the fortress was besieged by enemies. The height of the Tainitskaya tower is 38.4 meters.

Built in the 1480s. The tower ends with a simple tetrahedral pyramidal tent. The inside of the tower is formed by two tiers of vaulted rooms: the lower tier with a cross vault and the upper tier with a closed vault. The upper quadrangle is open into the cavity of the tent. One of the two towers which did not get a name. Height 34.15 meters.

Built in the 1480s. Above the upper quadrangle of the tower is an octagonal tent with a weather vane; the upper quadrangle is open inside the tent. The interior of the tower includes two levels of rooms; the lower tier has a cylindrical vault, and the upper one is closed. Height 30.2 meters.

The PETROVSKAYA tower, together with two nameless ones, was built to reinforce the southern wall, as it was the most frequently attacked. Like the two nameless ones, the Petrovsky Tower did not have a name at first. She received her name from the church of Metropolitan Peter at the Ugreshsky Compound in the Kremlin. In 1771, during the construction of the Kremlin Palace, the tower, the church of Metropolitan Peter and the Ugreshskoye metochion were dismantled. In 1783 the tower was rebuilt, but in 1812 the French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818, the Petrovsky Tower was restored again. It was used for their needs by the Kremlin gardeners. The height of the tower is 27.15 meters.