The history of each tower of the Kremlin. Where did the Kremlin towers get its name? Corner Arsenal Tower

The Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers and they are all different, two are not the same. Each tower has its own name and its own story. And probably the names of all the towers, many do not know. Get to know each other?

Most of the towers are made in a single architectural style, given to them in the second half of the 17th century. The Nikolskaya Tower stands out from the general ensemble, which was rebuilt in the Gothic style at the beginning of the 19th century.

Beklemishevskaya (MOSCOW)

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) tower is located in the southeast corner of the Kremlin. It was built by Italian architect Marco Fryazin in 1487-1488. The courtyard of the boyar Beklemishev adjoined the tower, for which it got its name. Beklemishev's yard, along with the tower under Vasily III, served as a prison for disgraced boyars. The current name, Moskvoretskaya, is taken from the Moskvoretsky bridge located nearby. The tower was located at the junction of the Moskva River with a moat, so when attacking the enemy, it was the first to take the blow. The architectural solution of the tower is also connected with this: the high cylinder is placed on a sloping white stone base and is separated from it by a semicircular roller. The smooth surface of the cylinder is cut through by narrow, rarely spaced windows. The Mashikuli tower is completed with a combat platform that was higher than the adjoining walls. In the basement of the tower there was a rumor cache to prevent undermining. In 1680, the tower was decorated with an octagon, carrying a tall narrow tent with two rows of rumors, which softened its severity. In 1707, awaiting the possible offensive of the Swedes, Peter I ordered to build bastions at her foot and expand the loopholes to install more powerful guns. During the invasion of Napoleon, 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.

KONSTANTINO-YELENINSKAYA (TIMOFEEVSKAYA)

KONSTANTINOVO-YELENINSKAYA tower owes its name to the church of Constantine and Helena standing here in antiquity. The tower was built in 1490 by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari and was used to pass the population and troops to the Kremlin. Previously, when the Kremlin was white-stone, another tower stood on this site. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy with the army went to Kulikovo field. The new tower was built for the reason that on its part, the Kremlin did not have natural barriers. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful retractable archery and a travel gate, which later, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were disassembled. The tower got its name from the church of Konstantin and Elena, who stood in the Kremlin. The height of the tower is 36.8 meters.

ALARM

The NAVATNAYA tower got its name from the big bell - the alarm bell hanging above it. Once upon a time, sentinels were constantly on duty here. From a height they vigilantly watched whether the enemy was not coming to the city. And if danger was approaching, the sentinels should have warned everyone, hit 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 strike of the Alarm Bell. And when order was restored in the city, they were punished for disclosing the evil bell, and they deprived them of their language. In those days, it was a common practice to recall at least the history of the bell in Uglich. Since then, the Alarm Bell has been silent and remained idle for a long time until it was removed to the museum. The height of the Alarm Tower is 38 meters.

Imperial

The royal tower. It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns right on the wall, and on them is a pointed roof. There are no powerful walls, nor narrow loopholes. But they do not need her. Because they built two centuries later than the rest of the towers and not at all for defense. Previously, a small wooden tower was located on this place, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible was observing Red Square. Previously, a small wooden tower was located on this place, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible was observing Red Square. Later, they built the smallest tower of the Kremlin and called it the Tsar’s. Its height is 16.7 meters.

SPASSKAYA (FROLOVSKAYA)

SPASSKAYA (Frolovskaya) tower. Built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari. This name dates back to the 17th century, when the icon of the Savior was hanged over the gates of this tower. It was erected on the spot where in ancient times the main gate of the Kremlin was located. It, like Nikolskaya, was built to protect the north-eastern part of the Kremlin, which did not have natural water barriers. The passage gates of the Spasskaya Tower, at that time still Frolovskaya, were popularly considered “saints”. They did not pass through horses and did not pass with their heads covered. Through these gates passed the shelves, protruding on a campaign; here they met kings and ambassadors. In the 17th century, the emblem of Russia, a two-headed eagle, was erected on the tower, a little later the emblems were erected on other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658, the Kremlin towers were renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. It was so named in honor of the icon of the Savior Smolensky, 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 side of the Kremlin. In the years 1851-52. on the Spasskaya Tower, the clock that we see so far has been installed. Kremlin chimes. Chimes are called large clocks that have a musical mechanism. At the Kremlin chimes, bells perform music. There are eleven of them. One big one, he marks the clock, and ten smaller ones, their melodic chime is heard every 15 minutes. There is a special device in the chimes. It sets in motion a hammer, it strikes the surface of the bells and sounds the battle of the Kremlin chimes. The mechanism of the Kremlin chimes occupies three floors. Previously, chimes were wound manually, but now they do it with the help of electricity. Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with a star is 71 meters.

SENATE

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 north-eastern part of the Kremlin wall, it performed only defensive functions - it defended the Kremlin from Red Square. The height of the tower is 34.3 meters.

NIKOLSKAYA

NIKOLA tower is located at the beginning of Red Square. Nearby in ancient times there was a monastery of St. Nicholas the Old, 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 of the eastern part of the Kremlin wall. The name of the tower comes from the St. Nicholas Monastery, which was nearby. Therefore, the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed over the passage gates of the archer. Like all towers with an entrance gate, Nikolskaya had a drawbridge over the moat and protective lattices, which were lowered during the battle. The Nikolskaya Tower went down in history in 1612, when militia forces led by Minin and Pozharsky broke into the Kremlin through its gates and liberated Moscow from Polish-Lithuanian invaders. In 1812, the Nikolskaya Tower, along with many others, was blown up by Napoleon’s troops retreating from Moscow. The top of the tower was particularly affected. In 1816, it was replaced by the architect O.I. Bove with a new needle-shaped dome in a pseudo-Gothic style. In 1917, the tower was damaged again. This time from artillery fire. In 1935, a five-pointed star crowns the dome of the tower. In the 20th century, the tower was restored in the 1946-1950s and in the 1973-1974s. Now the height of the tower is 70.5 meters.

ANGULAR ARSENAL (DOG)

ANGULAR ARSENAL tower was built in 1492 by Pietro Antonio Solari and is located further away, in the corner of the Kremlin. The first name was received at the beginning of the XVIII century, after the construction of the Arsenal building on the territory of the Kremlin, the second comes from the nearby estate of the Sobakins 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 spring and therefore it always has clean and fresh water. Previously, from the Arsenal tower there was an underground passage to the Neglinnaya River. The height of the tower is 60.2 meters.

MIDDLE ARSENAL (BOUNDED)

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

TRINITY

The Trinity Tower is called after the church and the Trinity Compound, which were once nearby in the Kremlin. Trinity Tower - the highest tower of the Kremlin. The height of the tower, along with the star from the side of the Alexander Garden, is now 80 meters. The Troitsky Bridge, protected by the Kutafia Tower, leads to the gates of the Trinity Tower. The tower gates serve as the main entrance for visitors to the Kremlin. Built in 1495-1499. Italian architect Aleviz Fryazinom Milanets. The tower was called differently: Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya and Karetnaya. It got its current name in 1658 after the name of the Trinity Compound of the Kremlin. In the two-story base of the tower in the XVI-XVII centuries the prison was located. From 1585 to 1812 the clock was on the tower. At the end of the XVII century, the tower received a multi-storey tented superstructure with white stone decorations. In 1707, due to the threat of Swedish invasion, the loopholes of the Trinity Tower were expanded under heavy guns. Until 1935, an imperial double-headed eagle was installed on the 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 other main towers of the Kremlin. The double-headed eagle of the Trinity Tower turned out to be the oldest - manufactured in 1870 and prefabricated with bolts, so when dismantling it had to be dismantled at the top of the tower. In 1937, the faded semiprecious star was replaced by a modern ruby.

KUTAFIA

KUTAFIA tower (connected by a bridge to Trinity). Her name is associated with this: Kutafia was called in the old days a casually dressed, clumsy woman. Indeed, the Kutafya tower is low, like the rest, but squat, wide. The tower was built in 1516 under the leadership of Milan architect Aleviz Fryazina. Low, surrounded by a moat and Neglinnaya river, with the only gates that were tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge in moments of danger, the tower was a formidable barrier for besieging the fortress. She had loopholes of plantar combat and mashikuli. 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” - a shelter, corner, or from the word “kutafya”, which meant a full, clumsy woman. Kutafya tower has never been covered. In 1685 she was crowned with an openwork "crown" with white stone details.

KOMENDANTSKAYA (STRAWBERRY)

The commandant tower got its name in the 19th century, since the commandant of Moscow was located nearby. The tower was built in the years 1493-1495 on the northwest side of the Kremlin wall, today stretching along the Alexander Garden. It was formerly called the Kolymyazhnaya along the Kolymazhny yard located near it in the Kremlin. In the years 1676-1686 was built on. The tower is made up of a massive quadrangle with mashikulyami (mounted loopholes) and a parapet and an open tetrahedron standing on it, completed with a pyramidal roof, watch tower and an octagonal ball. In the main volume of the tower there are three tiers of rooms covered by cylindrical arches; with arches are closed and tiers of completion. In the 19th century, the tower was called the “Commandant”, when the commandant of Moscow settled nearby in the Kremlin, in the Comic palace of the 17th century. The height of the tower from the side of the Alexander Garden is 41.25 meters.

WEAPONS (STABLE)

The WEAPONS tower, which once stood on the banks of the Neglinnaya River, now enclosed in an underground pipe, was named after the Armory chamber nearby, the second comes from the nearby Konyushenny Dvor. Once upon a time, ancient weapons workshops were located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. Ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to the wonderful museum located 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 Old Russian warriors. The height of the Armory Tower is 32.65 meters.

Borovitskaya (Forerunner)

Built in 1490 by Pietro Antonio Solari. Travel The first name of the tower - the original one, comes from Borovitsky hill, on the slope of which stands the tower; the name of the hill, apparently, comes from the ancient boron that grew on this site. The second name, given by 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. It is currently the main thoroughfare for government motorcades. The tower is 54 meters high.

WATER DRAINAGE (SVIBLOVA)

WATER TOWER - named after the car that used to be here. She lifted water from a well, located down to the very top of the tower in a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. Thus, in the old days, the Kremlin organized its own water supply system. He worked for a long time, but then the car was disassembled and taken to St. Petersburg. There it was used to make 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 Sviblovy, responsible for its construction.

ANNIVERSARY

ANNIVERSARY tower. According to legend, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously stored in this tower, and in 1731 the Church of the Annunciation was added to this tower. Most likely, the name of the tower is associated with one of these facts. In the 17th century, gates called Portomoyny were made near the tower for the passage of the laundries to the Moscow River. In 1831 they were laid, and in Soviet times the Annunciation Church was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation tower with a weather vane is 32.45 meters.

TAYNITSKAYA

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

PETROVSKAYA (UREGHESKAYA)

PETROVSKAYA tower, along with two nameless towers, was built to strengthen the southern wall, as the most frequently attacked. Like the two nameless Petrovskaya Tower, at first it did not have a name. 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 Ugreshsky Compound were dismantled. In 1783, the tower was rebuilt, but in 1812 the French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818, the Peter Tower was restored again. Kremlin gardeners used it for their needs. The height of the tower is 27.15 meters.

The Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers and they are all different, two are not the same. Each tower has its own name and its own story. Only two towers did not get names; they are called the First Nameless and the Second Nameless. Behind them comes the Peter Tower, but at the very rightmost tower there are two names at once. In our time, it is called Moskvoretskaya, and once it was called Beklemishevskaya by the name of the person near whose yard it was laid.

Somehow it turned out that the enemies most often attacked from the side of the Moskva River, and the Moskvoretskaya Tower had to be the first to defend. Therefore, it is so formidable and with so many loopholes. Its height is 46.2 m.

The first tower that was laid during the construction of the Kremlin was Tainitskaya.

Plan of the Kremlin towers:

TAYNITSKAYA TOWER

It was named so because a secret underground passage led from it to the river. It was intended in order to be able to take water if the fortress was besieged by enemies. The height of the Tainitskaya tower is 38.4 m.

BOROVITSKAYA DOORS AND TOWER

They are located on the highest hill, from where the whole of Moscow went. This tower stands at Borovitsky hill, on which a long time ago there was a pine forest. From him came her name. The height of the tower with the star is 54.05 m.

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) TOWER

Located in the southeast corner of the Kremlin. It was built by Italian architect Marco Fryazin in 1487-1488. The courtyard of the boyar Beklemishev adjoined the tower, for which it got its name. Beklemishev's yard, along with the tower under Vasily III, served as a prison for disgraced boyars.

The current name, Moskvoretskaya, is taken from the Moskvoretsky bridge located nearby. The tower was located at the junction of the Moskva River with a moat, so when attacking the enemy, it was the first to take the blow. The architectural solution of the tower is also connected with this: the high cylinder is placed on a sloping white stone base and is separated from it by a semicircular roller. The smooth surface of the cylinder is cut through by narrow, rarely spaced windows. The Mashikuli tower is completed with a combat platform that was higher than the adjoining walls.

In the basement of the tower there was a rumor cache to prevent undermining. In 1680, the tower was decorated with an octagon, carrying a tall narrow tent with two rows of rumors, which softened its severity. In 1707, awaiting the possible offensive of the Swedes, Peter I ordered to build bastions at her foot and expand the loopholes to install more powerful guns. During the invasion of Napoleon, 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.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT TOWER

According to legend, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously stored in this tower, and in 1731 the Church of the Annunciation was added to this tower. Most likely, the name of the tower is associated with one of these facts. In the 17th century, gates called Portomoyny were made in the tower to pass the laundries to the Moscow River. In 1831 they were laid, and in Soviet times the Annunciation Church was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation tower with a weather vane is 32.45 meters.

WATER TOWER

Named after the car that was here once. She lifted water from a well below, to the very top of the tower in a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. Thus, in the old days, the Kremlin organized its own water supply system. He worked for a long time, but then the car was dismantled and taken to another city - St. Petersburg. There it was used to make fountains. The height of the Water Tower with a star is 61.45 m.

WEAPON TOWER

Once standing on the banks of the Neglinnaya River, now enclosed in an underground pipe, it was named after the nearby Armory. Once upon a time, ancient weapons workshops were located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. Ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to the wonderful museum located 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 Old Russian warriors. The height of the Armory Tower is 32.65 m.

COMMANDANT TOWER

It got its name in the XIX century, as the commandant of Moscow was located nearby. The tower was built in the years 1493-1495 on the northwest side of the Kremlin wall, today stretching along the Alexander Garden. It was formerly called Kolymyazhnaya along the Kolymazhny yard located near it in the Kremlin. In the years 1676-1686 was built on.

In the 19th century, the tower was called the “Commandant”, when the commandant of Moscow settled nearby in the Kremlin, in the Comic palace of the 17th century. The height of the tower from the side of the Alexander Garden is 41.25 m.

TRINITY TOWER

It is called by the church and the Trinity Compound, which were once nearby in the Kremlin. Trinity Tower - the highest tower of the Kremlin. The height of the tower at the present time with the star from the side of the Alexander Garden is 80 m.

The Troitsky Bridge, protected by the Kutafia Tower, leads to the gates of the Trinity Tower. The tower gates serve as the main entrance for visitors to the Kremlin. Built in 1495-1499. Italian architect Aleviz Fryazinom Milanets (Italian. Aloisio da Milano).

At the end of the XVII century, the tower received a multi-storey tented superstructure with white stone decorations. In 1707, due to the threat of Swedish invasion, the loopholes of the Trinity Tower were expanded under heavy guns. Until 1935, an imperial double-headed eagle was installed on the 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 other main towers of the Kremlin.

KUTAFIA TOWER

(Connected by a bridge to Troitskaya). Her name is associated with this: Kutafia was called in the old days a casually dressed, clumsy woman. Indeed, the Kutafya tower is low, like the rest, but squat, wide.

The tower was built in 1516 under the leadership of Milan architect Aleviz Fryazina. Low, surrounded by a moat and Neglinnaya river, with the only gates that were tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge in moments of danger, the tower was a formidable barrier for besieging the fortress. She had loopholes of plantar combat and mashikuli. In the sixteenth and seventeenth 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.

PETROVSKAYA TOWER

Together with two nameless was built to strengthen the southern wall, as the most frequently attacked.

Like the two nameless Petrovskaya Tower, at first it did not have a name. 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 Ugreshsky Compound were dismantled. In 1783 the tower was rebuilt anew, but in 1812 the French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818 The Peter Tower was restored again. Kremlin gardeners used it for their needs. The height of the tower is 27.15 m.

MIDDLE ARSENAL TOWER

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

ANGULAR ARSENAL TOWER

Located away, in the corner of the Kremlin. Once she was called Sobakina, by the name of a person who lived nearby. But in the 18th century, the Arsenal building was erected next to it, and the tower was renamed. There is a well in the dungeon of the corner Arsenal tower. He is over 500 years old. It is filled from an ancient spring and therefore it always has clean and fresh water. Previously, from the Arsenal tower there was an underground passage to the Neglinnaya River. The height of the tower is 60.2 m.

NIKOLA TOWER

Located at the beginning of Red Square. Nearby in ancient times there was a monastery of St. Nicholas the Old, and an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed above the gate of the tower. The gate tower, built in 1491 by architect P. Solari, was one of the main defensive redoubts of the eastern part of the Kremlin wall.

The name of the tower comes from the St. Nicholas Monastery, which was nearby. Therefore, the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed over the passage gates of the archer. Like all towers with an entrance gate, Nikolskaya had a drawbridge over the moat and protective lattices, which were lowered during the battle.

In 1812, the Nikolskaya Tower, along with many others, was blown up by Napoleon’s troops retreating from Moscow. The top of the tower was particularly affected. In 1816, it was replaced by the architect O.I. Bove with a new needle-shaped dome in a pseudo-Gothic style. In 1917, the tower was damaged again. This time from artillery fire. In 1935, a five-pointed star crowns the dome of the tower. In the 20th century, the tower was restored in the 1946-1950s and in the 1973-1974s. Now the height of the tower is 70.5 m.

SENATE TOWER

It rises behind the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin and is named for 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 north-eastern part of the Kremlin wall, it performed only defensive functions - it defended the Kremlin from Red Square. The height of the tower is 34.3 m.

SPASSKAYA (FROLOVSKAYA) TOWER

This name dates back to the 17th century, when the icon of the Savior was hanged over the gates of this tower. It was erected on the spot where in ancient times the main gate of the Kremlin was located. It, like Nikolskaya, was built to protect the north-eastern part of the Kremlin, which did not have natural water barriers. The passage gates of the Spasskaya Tower, at that time still Frolovskaya, were popularly considered “saints”. They did not pass through horses and did not pass with their heads covered. Through these gates passed the shelves, protruding on a campaign; here they met kings and ambassadors.

In 1658 Kremlin towers renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. It was named after the icon of the Savior Smolensky, 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, which was located above the gate from the side of the Kremlin.

In the years 1851-52. on the Spasskaya Tower a clock was installed, which we still see - the Kremlin chimes.

Chimes are called large clocks that have a musical mechanism. At the Kremlin chimes, bells perform music. There are eleven of them. One big one, he marks the clock, and ten smaller ones, their melodic chime is heard every 15 minutes. The mechanism of the Kremlin chimes occupies three floors. Previously, chimes were wound manually, but now they do it with the help of electricity. Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with a star is 71 m.

TSAR'S TOWER

It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns right on the wall, and on them is a pointed roof. There are no powerful walls, nor narrow loopholes. But they do not need her. Because the tower was not built for defense at all. According to legend, Tsar Ivan the Terrible loved to look at his city from this place. Later, they built the smallest tower of the Kremlin and called it the Tsar’s. Its height is 16.7 m.

ALARM TOWER

It got its name from the big bell - the alarm bell hanging above it. Once upon a time, sentinels were constantly on duty here. From a height they vigilantly watched whether the enemy was not coming to the city. And if danger was approaching, the sentinels should have warned everyone, hit the alarm bell. Because of him, the tower was called Nabatnaya. But now there is no bell in the tower.

KONSTANTINOVO-ELENINSKAYA TOWER

It owes its name to the church of Constantine and Helena standing here in antiquity. The tower was built in 1490 and used to pass the population and troops into the Kremlin. Previously, when the Kremlin was white-stone, another tower stood on this site.

The new tower was built because the Kremlin had no natural barriers on its part. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful retractable archery and a travel gate, which later, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were disassembled. The tower got its name from the church of Konstantin and Elena, who stood in the Kremlin. Tower height 36.8 m

FIRST UNNAMELESS TOWER

Neighboring Tainitskaya and is a solid building.In the XV - XVI centuries she served as a storehouse of gunpowder. In 1547, the pylon completely burned down in a fire, but in the XVII century. it was rebuilt and supplemented with a tier with an interesting name: "tent". When the government started the construction of the magnificent Kremlin Palace, the facility was liquidated. As soon as the work entrusted to the architect Bazhenov was over, it was decided to work on the construction again. As a result, the beauty of the Kremlin was complemented by another object, the exact height of which is 34.15 m.

SECOND UNNAMELESS TOWER

The tower was built in the 1480s as an intermediate tower on the south side of the Kremlin.

Since 1680, the tower has become even more attractive in the architectural sense, as it was completed with a 4-sided tent and equipped with an observation tower. Neatly crowns the stone structure of the tent with a weather vane.

At the beginning of the 18th century, gates were laid in the tower. Like many other towers of the south wall, the Second Nameless Tower was dismantled in 1771 during the preparation for the construction of the Bazhenovsky Grand Kremlin Palace and after the construction of the palace was stopped, it was rebuilt.

The Moscow Kremlin is an invaluable architectural ensemble dating back to the 15th-19th centuries. In its shape, it resembles a triangle of irregular shape. The southern side of the ensemble faces the Moscow River. The fortress is surrounded by a brick wall, which has 20 towers of different architecture. Today we will briefly introduce you to the features of each of them.

Beklemishevskaya tower

The construction of this design dates back to 1487 - 1488 years. Its author was an architect from Italy, Mark Fryazin. The tower is round in plan. Its name comes from the court of boyar Beklemishev, adjacent to it. Its height is 46.7 m. However, this is not the tallest structure.

Konstantino-Eleninsky tower

Appeared in the Kremlin in 1490. It was built by Italian architect Pietro Solari. Its name originates from the church of Saints Helena and Constantine, which was nearby. The height of the structure is slightly less than 37 m.

Nabatnaya Tower

Kremlin towers were built at different times. For example, Nabatnaya appeared in the fortress in 1495. It was named after the bells of the Spassky Nabat that were in it, which were part of the Kremlin’s fire system. She rises to 38 meters.

Tsarskaya Tower

The towers of the Moscow Kremlin differ not only in their architectural style, but also in size. For example, the Tsar’s tower is quite modest in size. It was installed directly on the wall. This happened in the 1680s. She is almost two centuries younger than her “sisters”. Previously, in its place was a small tower made of wood. According to legend, Ivan the Terrible himself, the Russian Tsar, watched Red Square from her. From here its name went. Height - 16.7 m.

Spasskaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin

This is one of the most famous buildings of the Kremlin. First of all, because it refers to towers overlooking Red Square.

The Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin has the gate of the same name, and the famous clock, Moscow Chimes, is installed in its tent.

This is a grandiose structure with a height of more than 71 m. The Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin appeared in the Kremlin during the reign of Ivan III (1491). The author of the project was the architect Pietro Solari.

The tower was originally erected much smaller than we see today. This is due to the fact that in 1625, Christopher Galovei - an architect from England - in collaboration with the Russian architect Bazhen Ogurtsov built a large multi-tiered top over the tower. It was made in the Gothic style with some elements of mannerism. The tower ends with a stone tent. Fairy-tale figures - an original design element. They were covered with clothes sewn specially for this purpose.

At the end of the XVII century, the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin was decorated with the first two-headed eagle - the coat of arms of the Russian state. Much later, symbols of the state appeared on the Trinity, Nikolskaya, Borovitskaya towers.

At all times, the tower gates were central from all the Kremlin gates. Moreover, they were revered as saints. Horse riding was forbidden through them, and men passing through them were required to take off their hats. Anyone who did not observe the holy rule was obliged to make 50 bows to the ground.

Spassky Gate became the main entrance to the Kremlin. Through them, troops went to battle. Ambassadors of foreign countries were also welcomed here.

Through this gate went all the Kremlin processions. Beginning with Mikhail Fedorovich, all Russian tsars and emperors must have passed through them before the coronation.

There is a legend that when the "invincible" Napoleon drove through the famous gate in the devastated Moscow, a gust of wind tore off his famous cocked hat.

During the retreat, the French decided to burn the Spasskaya Tower, but the Don Cossacks arrived in time were able to extinguish the already lit wicks.

There were chapels on either side of the gate. On the left is Smolenskaya, on the right is Spasskaya. They were built of stone in 1802. In 1812, they were both destroyed and rebuilt already on a completely new project. At the end of October 1868, two new tent chapels were solemnly consecrated. In 1925, both were demolished.

Kremlin chimes

Another attraction that the Spasskaya Tower is famous for is the chimes that adorn the tower from the 16th century. True, it should be noted that they are constantly changing. Brand new watches were made in 1625 by an English mechanic and watchmaker by the craftsman Christopher Galovei. They performed musical melodies, measured day and night time, which is indicated by numbers and letters. At that time, the arrow on the dial did not exist.

Tsar Peter I (1705) issued a decree on the reconstruction of the Spassky Clock. They were redone in German fashion. A dial appeared, which was divided into 12 sectors.

In 1770, they were replaced by English watches, which were found in the Faceted Chamber. Initially, they performed the uncomplicated song “Dear Augustine”, relating to German folklore.

The chimes that are known to us were made by the Budenop brothers (1851-1852). They were installed on the eighth and tenth tiers of the tower. The chimes were voiced by the “March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment” at 6 and 12 o’clock. At 3 and 9 o’clock they sang the hymn “How glorious is our Lord” by D. Bortnyansky. These melodies sounded over Red Square until 1917. Initially, the idea came up to collect the Russian national anthem on the clock wall, but Nicholas I did not allow this.

In early November 1917, the watch suffered during the assault on the Bolsheviks. A shell hit them, which interrupted one of the arrows and violated the rotation mechanism. The clock froze for almost a year. In September 1918, V.I. Lenin issued a decree by which the watch was restored by the master Nikolai Berens.

The chimes began to “sing” “International” at 12 o’clock, and “You fell a victim ...” at 24 o’clock. In 1938, the chimes fell silent for a long time. They only noted the hours and quarters in battle.

58 years later (in 1996), during the ceremonial inauguration of the First Russian President B. N. Yeltsin, the Russians heard the “Patriotic song” performed by the chimes, and every quarter of an hour - the melody of the “Glory” choir.

The last restoration of the chimes took place in 1999. Numbers and arrows gilded. The appearance of the upper tiers of the tower was completely restored. At the end of the year, the chimes were finally tuned. Now they are playing the national anthem of Russia, which was officially approved in 2000.

The chimes are quite impressive in size - 6.12 m in diameter. They "look" on four sides. Roman numerals are 0.72 m high, the hour hand is 2.97 m long, the minute is 3.27 m. Previously, the clock was manually started, but after 1937, three electric motors were used for this.

Senate Tower

The towers of the Moscow Kremlin are not all equally popular and famous. For example, the Senate - it was erected in 1491 by Pietro Solari. It was named much later (1787), when the Senate Palace was built on the territory of the Kremlin. Its height is 34.3 meters.

Nikolskaya Tower

This design is also the work of Pietro Solari. The tower was built at the same time as its Senate "sister" (in 1491). It was named after the icon of St. N. Miracle Worker, which was above the gate. The tower is crowned with a red star. The huge building rises to 70.4 m.

Arsenal tower (corner)

The towers of the Kremlin, located at the corners of the fortress, are more massive. Arsenal built by Pietro Solari (1492 g). This is one of the most powerful towers. The name appeared at the beginning of the XVIII century, when the Arsenal building was built on the territory of the Kremlin. The round-shaped tower inside has a well. The height of the structure is 60.2 meters.

Arsenal Tower (Medium)

The second tower, named after the Arsenal, was built in 1495. Its height is 38.9 m.

Trinity Tower

This tower was considered in its importance the second after Spasskaya. Built by the Italian Aloisio da Milano in 1495. It was renamed several times, but in the end the name Troitskaya (by the name of the courtyard in the Kremlin) took root. Today it is the main entrance for everyone to visit the Kremlin. The building is crowned by a red star. It should be noted that the towers of the Kremlin differ in their sizes. The height of the tower exceeds 80 meters. There are structures that are lower than it by more than two times.

Kutafia Kremlin Tower

It was built in 1516. The author of the project is Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin. It is a low tower surrounded by a deep moat and the Neglinnaya River. It had the only gate that, at the slightest danger, was closed tightly by a drawbridge. She was a serious obstacle for the enemy.

In the XVII centuries, with the help of dams, the water level in Neglinnaya was raised high. She began to surround the tower from all sides. At first, its height above ground level was 18 meters.

Why does the Kutafya tower of the Kremlin have such a name? There are two versions. One of them is from the word “kut” (corner, shelter) or from the word “kutafya”, which means a clumsy, full woman.

Kutafya tower never had a top cover. In 1685, she received an openwork "crown" with spectacular white stone details.

Its height is 13.5 meters.

Commandant Tower

This name was given to the tower in the 19th century, when the official residence of the commandant of Moscow began to be located in the Poteshny Palace next door. And the tower was built much earlier, in 1495. Its height is 41.25 m.

Gun tower

It must be said that at the end of the 15th century many towers of the Kremlin appeared. So the Armory was built in the Kremlin in 1495. They called it much later (1851), when the Armory Chamber was built nearby. Building height - 38.9 m.

Borovitskaya tower

As a rule, the Kremlin towers received the name from the location or in honor of the structure located nearby. Borovitskaya tower appeared on the map of the Kremlin in 1490. It was created by Pietro Solari. It was named after Borovitsky Hill. It was on its slope that the tower was built. Today it is the main thoroughfare for the motorcade of the government and the president. The tower is crowned with a red ruby \u200b\u200bstar. Its height is 54 meters.

Water tower

This building was erected by the Italian architect Antonio Gilardi in 1488. The tower is round in shape, there was a well inside it, and a secret passage was opened in it that led to the Moscow River. It got its name from the water machine installed in it in 1633, which supplied water to the Kremlin gardens. The ruby \u200b\u200bstar crowns the beautiful structure. The height of the tower is 61.25 m.

Annunciation tower

In our article, we published a photo of the Kremlin. Its towers are all very different in style, shape, size. However, they surprisingly create a very harmonious ensemble. Look at the Annunciation tower. It was built at the end of the 15th century (1488), but still it impresses the guests of the Kremlin with its splendor. She received her name in honor of the icon of the Annunciation, located in the tower. Its height is 32.45 m.

Tainitskaya tower

The structure was built in 1485. This is not the highest tower - Tainitskaya. Previously, it was a travel card, but later the gates were laid. It was named after the secret well in it and the secret passage that led to the Moscow River. The Taynitskaya Tower rises 38.4 meters above the Kremlin.

Unnamed tower

Two not very high towers. Both were built in the 80s of the XV century. Their height is 34.15 and 30.2 meters, respectively.

Petrovskaya Tower

In honor of the nearby church of Metropolitan Peter and the courtyard of the Ugreshsky Monastery, another construction is named. Peter's Tower has a height of 27.15 meters.

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

This is another attraction, dear to the heart of every Russian. Thousands of tourists from different parts of the Earth annually come to see the Nizhny Novgorod miracle.

The length of the Kremlin is about 2 kilometers, the height is from 18 to 30 meters. When the towers of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin were being built, there were 13. Until now, only 12 have survived. At the beginning of 2010, restoration and reconstruction of the lost Zachatievsky tower began.

Each of the 12 designs has its own history, which, as a rule, is reflected in their names - Borisoglebskaya, Georgievskaya, Belaya, Zachatievskaya, Ivanovskaya, Severnaya, Chasovaya, Tainitskaya, Koromyslova, Kladova, Dmitrievskaya, Porokhovaya, Nikolskaya.

The entrance to the open wall of the Kremlin for walks is located in the Pantry Tower. Over its long history, the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin has gone through many reconstructions and reconstructions. It is a valuable monument of history, architecture and culture of Russia. Kremlin towers are of interest to researchers and scientists from around the world.

Behind them comes the Peter Tower, but at the very rightmost tower there are two names at once. In our time, it is called Moskvoretskaya, and once it was called Beklemishevskaya by the name of the person near whose yard it was laid.

The first tower that was laid during the construction of the Kremlin was Tainitskaya.

TAYNITSKAYATOWER

BOROVITSKAYA DOORS AND TOWER

Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) TOWER

AN ANNOUNCEMENT TOWER

According to legend, this tower used to store the miraculous icon of the Annunciation, as well as 1731. The Annunciation Church 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 the laundries to the Moscow River near the tower, gates were called Portomoyny. In 1831 they were laid, and in Soviet times the Annunciation Church was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation tower with a weather vane is 32.45 m.

- named after the car that was here once. She lifted water from a well, located down to the very top of the tower in a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. Thus, in the old days, the Kremlin organized its own water supply system. He worked for a long time, but then the car was dismantled and taken to another city - St. Petersburg. There it was used to make fountains. The height of the Water Tower with a star is 61.45 m.

... who once stood on the banks of the Neglinnaya River, now enclosed in an underground pipe, was named after the Armory Chamber nearby. Once upon a time, ancient weapons workshops were located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. Ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to the wonderful museum located 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 Old Russian warriors. The height of the Armory Tower is 32.65 m.

COMMANDANT TOWER

The tower was called differently: Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya and Karetnaya. It got its current name in 1658 after the name of the Trinity Compound of the Kremlin. In the two-story base of the tower in the XVI-XVII centuries the prison was located. From 1585 to 1812 the clock was on the tower.

The Trinity Tower turned out to be the oldest - manufactured in 1870 and assembled on bolts, so when dismantling it had to be dismantled at the top of the tower. In 1937, the faded semiprecious star was replaced by a modern ruby.

KUTAFIA TOWER

The tower was built in 1516 under the leadership of Milan architect Aleviz Fryazina. Low, surrounded by a moat and Neglinnaya River, with the only gates that were tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge in moments of danger, the tower was a formidable barrier for besieging the fortress. She had loopholes of plantar combat and mashikuli. 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” - a shelter, corner, or from the word “kutafya”, meaning a full, slow woman. Kutafya tower has never been covered. In 1685 she was crowned with an openwork "crown" with white stone details.

PETROVSKAYA TOWER

Together with two nameless was built to strengthen the southern wall, as the most frequently attacked.

MIDDLE ARSENAL TOWER

ANGULAR ARSENAL TOWER

NIKOLA TOWER

The Nikolskaya tower went down in history in 1612, when militia troops led by Minin and Pozharsky broke into the Kremlin through its gates and liberated Moscow from Polish-Lithuanian invaders.

SENATE TOWER

SPASSKAYA (FROLOVSKAYA) TOWER

In the 17th century the emblem of Russia, a two-headed eagle, was hoisted on the tower, a little later the emblems were hoisted on the other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya.

In the years 1851-52. on the Spasskaya Tower a clock was installed, which we still see - the Kremlin chimes.

TSAR'S TOWER

ALARM TOWER

Once at the end of the 18th century, a riot began in Moscow at the strike of the Alarm Bell. And when order was restored in the city, they were punished for disclosing the evil bell, and they deprived them of their language.

In those days, it was a common practice to recall at least the history of the bell in Uglich. Since then, the Alarm Bell has been silent and remained idle for a long time until it was removed to the museum. The height of the Alarm Tower is 38 m.

KONSTANTINOVO-ELENINSKAYA TOWER

It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy with the army went to Kulikovo field.

FIRST UNNAMELESS TOWER

Neighboring Tainitskaya and is a solid building. In the XV - XVI centuries she served as a storehouse of gunpowder. In 1547, the pylon completely burned down in a fire, but in the XVII century. it was rebuilt and supplemented with a tier with an interesting name: "tent". When the government started the construction of the magnificent Kremlin Palace, the facility was liquidated. As soon as the work entrusted to the architect Bazhenov was over, it was decided to work on the construction again. As a result, the beauty of the Kremlin was complemented by another object, the exact height of which is 34.15 m.

SECOND UNNAMELESS TOWER

The tower was built in the 1480s as an intermediate tower on the south side of the Kremlin.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the gates were later laid in the tower. Like many other towers of the south wall, the Second Nameless Tower was demolished in 1771 during the preparation for the construction of the Bazhenovsky Grand Kremlin Palace and after the construction of the palace was stopped, it was rebuilt.

20 towers and they are all different, there are no two identical. Each tower has its own name and its own story. Only two towers did not get names, they are called so First Nameless and Second Nameless. Behind them comes the Peter Tower, but at the very rightmost tower there are two names at once. Nowadays they call her Moskvoretskayaand once called Beklemishevskaya by the name of the person near whose yard it was laid. Somehow it turned out that the enemies most often attacked from the side of the Moskva River, and the Moskvoretskaya Tower had to be the first to defend. Therefore, it is so formidable and with so many loopholes. Its height is 46.2 m.

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

Water tower - named after the car that was here once. She lifted water from a well, located down to the very top of the tower in a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. Thus, in the old days, the Kremlin organized its own water supply system. He worked for a long time, but then the car was dismantled and taken to another city - St. Petersburg. There it was used to make fountains. The height of the Water Tower with a star is 61.45 m.

At the Vodovzvodnaya tower, the Kremlin wall turns from the river. There’s another tower on the corner - Borovitskaya. This tower stands at Borovitsky hill, on which a long time ago there was a pine forest. From him came her name. The height of the tower with the star is 54.05 m.

Following Borovitskaya goes Gun tower. Once upon a time, ancient weapons workshops were located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. Ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to the wonderful museum located next to the Kremlin wall. Many Kremlin treasures and simply very ancient things are collected here. For example, helmets and chain mail of Old Russian warriors. The height of the Armory Tower is 32.65 m.

Kutafia and Trinity towers of the Moscow Kremlin

If we go a little further along the walls of the Kremlin, then we will see the Trinity Bridge. He was thrown across the Neglinnaya River many centuries ago, even before it was hidden underground. Trinity Bridge leads to the gates of one of the tallest Kremlin towers - Trinity. The bridge connects the Trinity Tower with another - low and wide tower. It . In olden times, this was the name of a clumsy dressed woman. The tower was dressed up already in the seventeenth century. Before that, Kutafya was very severe, with drawbridges at the side gates and mounted loopholes. She guarded the entrance to the Trinity Bridge. There were more such bridge towers before. But to this day only one has survived. The height of the Trinity Tower with a star is 80 m. It is the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. Kutafya tower is only 13.5 m high. It is the lowest tower of the Kremlin.

We go further along the Kremlin wall. She turns again. Here stands another tower. From afar, it seems round, but if you come closer, it turns out to be not at all like that, because it has 16 faces. it corner arsenal tower. Once she was called Sobakina, by the name of a person who lived nearby. But in the 18th century, it was erected next door, and the tower was renamed. There is a well in the dungeon of the corner Arsenal tower. He is over 500 years old. It is filled from an ancient spring and therefore it always has clean and fresh water. Previously, from the Arsenal tower there was an underground passage to the Neglinnaya River. The height of the tower is 60.2 m.

Middle Arsenal Tower.It was built in 1493-1495. After the construction of the Arsenal building, the tower got its name. In 1812, a grotto was erected near the tower - one of the attractions of the Alexander Garden. The height of the tower is 38.9 m.

Alarm tower. Once upon a time, sentinels were constantly on duty here. From a height they vigilantly watched whether the enemy was not coming to the city. And if danger was approaching, the sentinels should have warned everyone, hit 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 strike of the Alarm Bell. And when order was restored in the city, they were punished for disclosing the evil bell, and they deprived them of their language. In those days, it was a common practice to recall at least a story. Since then, the Alarm Bell has been silent and remained idle for a long time until it was removed to the museum. The height of the Alarm Tower is 38 m.

To the right of the Alarm Tower is Royal tower. It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns right on the wall, and on them is a pointed roof. There are no powerful walls, nor narrow loopholes. But they do not need her. Because the tower was not built for defense at all. According to legend, Tsar Ivan the Terrible loved to look at his city from this place. Later, they built the smallest tower of the Kremlin and called it the Tsar’s. Its height is 16.7 m.

Konstantino - Eleninsky Tower (Timofeevskaya).It was built in 1490 and used to pass the population and troops into the Kremlin. Previously, when the Kremlin was white-stone, another tower stood on this site. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy with the army went to Kulikovo field. The new tower was built for the reason that on its part, the Kremlin did not have natural barriers. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful retractable archery and a travel gate, which later, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were disassembled. The tower got its name from the church of Konstantin and Elena, who stood in the Kremlin. The height of the tower is 36.8 m.

Senate Towerat first it had no name, and received it only after the construction of the Senate building. After which she was called the Senate. The tower was built in 1491, its height is 34.3 m.

Nikolskaya tower.It was built in 1491. architect Pietro Antonio Solari to strengthen the north-eastern part of the Kremlin, not protected by natural barriers. There were gates in it, it had a retractable archery with a drawbridge. Retractor or a barbican was called a tower outside the walls of the fortress, guarding the approaches to the gate or bridge. For example, the Barbican is Kutafya Tower. The name of the Nikolskaya tower came from the name of the icon of St. Nicholas mounted above the gates of her Barbican. This icon solved controversial issues. In antiquity, a clock was also installed on the tower. Now they are not there, but the red star crowns the tower top. The height of the tower with a star is 70.4 m.

Petrovskaya Towertogether with two nameless was built to strengthen the southern wall, as the most frequently attacked. Like the two nameless Petrovskaya Tower, at first it did not have a name. 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 Ugreshsky Compound were dismantled. In 1783 the tower was rebuilt anew, but in 1812 the French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818 The Peter Tower was restored again. Kremlin gardeners used it for their needs. The height of the tower is 27.15 m.

The curfew tower (Kolymazhnaya).It was built in 1495. Its first name - Kolymazhna - received from the Kolymazhny yard of the Kremlin. In the 19th century, when the commandant of Moscow began to live in the Kremlin, not far from her, they began to call her the Commandant. The height of the tower is 41.25m.

Annunciation tower.According to legend, this tower used to store the miraculous icon of the Annunciation, as well as 1731. The Annunciation Church 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 the laundries to the Moscow River near the tower, gates were called Portomoyny. In 1831 they were laid, and in Soviet times the Annunciation Church was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation tower with a weather vane is 32.45 m.

Spasskaya Tower (Frolovskaya)was erected at the place where in ancient times the main gate of the Kremlin was located. It, like Nikolskaya, was built to protect the north-eastern part of the Kremlin, which did not have natural water barriers. The passage gates of the Spasskaya Tower, at that time still Frolovskaya, were popularly considered “saints”. They did not pass through horses and did not pass with their heads covered. Through these gates passed the shelves, protruding on a campaign; here they met kings and ambassadors. In the 17th century the emblem of Russia, a two-headed eagle, was hoisted on the tower, a little later the emblems were hoisted on the other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658 Kremlin towers renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. It was named after the icon of the Savior Smolensky, 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, which was located above the gate from the side of the Kremlin.

In the years 1851-52. on the Spasskaya Tower, the clock that we see so far has been installed. Kremlin chimes. Chimes are called large clocks that have a musical mechanism. At the Kremlin chimes, bells perform music. There are eleven of them. One big one, he marks the clock, and ten smaller ones, their melodic chime is heard every 15 minutes. There is a special device in the chimes. It sets in motion a hammer, it strikes the surface of the bells and sounds the battle of the Kremlin chimes. The mechanism of the Kremlin chimes occupies three floors. Previously, chimes were wound manually, but now they do it with the help of electricity. Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with a star is 71 m.