The first stone Kremlin in Rus'. ​12 Kremlins of modern Russia. Most likely, until the 18th century, all the towers and walls of the Kremlin were literally “pierced” with numerous secret passages and tunnels

The Moscow Kremlin is the main attraction of the city. Getting there is quite easy. There are several metro stations, from which you can walk to the Kremlin. The Alexandrovsky Sad station will take you, as you can easily guess, straight to the Alexandrovsky Garden. The Kutafya Tower will already be visible there, where they sell tickets to the Kremlin and to the Armory Chamber. You can also go to the metro station. Library named after IN AND. Lenin. In this case, the Kutafya Tower will be visible across the road. The stations Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Kitai-Gorod will take you to Red Square, but from different sides. The first is from the State Historical Museum, the second - from the side. You can also get off at Okhotny Ryad - if you want to stroll along the shopping row of the same name. Just be prepared for unusual prices)).

About prices for the Kremlin museums. A visit to the Kremlin is not a cheap pleasure. An hour and a half visit to – will cost 700 rubles, – 500 rubles, a walk around with inspection – 500 rubles. For more information about museums and some nuances about visiting them that you should know, see the links.

The Kremlin is called not only the walls with towers, as some people think, but also everything that is located inside it. Outside the walls on the ground of the Moscow Kremlin there are cathedrals and squares, palaces and museums. This summer on Cathedral Square every Saturday at 12:00 the Kremlin regiment shows its skills. If I manage to escape to the Kremlin, I will write about it.

History of the Moscow Kremlin.

The word “Kremlin” is very ancient. The Kremlin or Detinets in Rus' was the name given to the fortified part in the center of the city, in other words, a fortress. In the old days, times were different. It happened that Russian cities were attacked by countless enemy forces. That’s when the city’s residents gathered under the protection of their Kremlin. The old and young took refuge behind its powerful walls, and those who could hold weapons in their hands defended themselves from enemies from the walls of the Kremlin.

The first settlement on the site of the Kremlin arose approximately 4,000 years ago. Archaeologists have established this. Shards of clay pots, stone axes and flint arrowheads were found here. These things were once used by ancient settlers.

The location for the construction of the Kremlin was not chosen by chance. The Kremlin was built on a high hill, surrounded on two sides by rivers: the Moskva River and the Neglinnaya. The high location of the Kremlin made it possible to spot enemies from a greater distance, and the rivers served as a natural barrier in their path.

Initially the Kremlin was wooden. An earthen rampart was built around its walls for greater reliability. The remains of these fortifications were discovered during construction work in our time.

It is known that the first wooden walls on the site of the Kremlin were built in 1156 by order of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. This data was preserved in ancient chronicles. At the beginning of the 14th century, Ivan Kalita began to rule the city. In ancient Rus', a bag for money was called a kalyta. The prince was so nicknamed because he accumulated great wealth and always carried a small bag of money with him. Prince Kalita decided to decorate and strengthen his city. He ordered the construction of new walls for the Kremlin. They were cut down from strong oak trunks, so thick that you couldn’t wrap your arms around them.

Under the next ruler of Moscow, Dmitry Donskoy, the Kremlin had other walls built - stone ones. Stone craftsmen from all over the area were gathered to Moscow. And in 1367 they got to work. People worked without interruption, and soon Borovitsky Hill was surrounded by a powerful stone wall, 2 or even 3 meters thick. It was built from limestone, which was mined in quarries near Moscow near the village of Myachkovo. The Kremlin so impressed its contemporaries with the beauty of its white walls that from then on Moscow began to be called white-stone.

Prince Dmitry was a very brave man. He always fought in the forefront and it was he who led the fight against the conquerors from the Golden Horde. In 1380, his army completely defeated the army of Khan Mamai on the Kulikovo field, not far from the Don River. This battle was nicknamed Kulikovskaya, and the prince has since received the nickname Donskoy.

Belo stone kremlin stood for more than 100 years. During this time, a lot has changed. Russian lands united into one strong state. Moscow became its capital. This happened under the Moscow Prince Ivan III. From that time on, he began to be called the Grand Duke of All Rus', and historians call him “the collector of the Russian land.”

Ivan III gathered the best Russian masters and invited Aristotle Fearovanti, Antonio Solario and other famous architects from distant Italy. And now, under the leadership of Italian architects, new construction began on Borovitsky Hill. In order not to leave the city without a fortress, the builders erected a new Kremlin in parts: they dismantled a section of the old white stone wall and quickly built a new one in its place - out of brick. There was quite a lot of clay suitable for its production in the vicinity of Moscow. However, clay is a soft material. To make the brick hard, it was fired in special kilns.

Over the years of construction, Russian masters stopped treating Italian architects as strangers, and even changed their names in the Russian way. So Antonio became Anton, and the complex Italian surname was replaced by the nickname Fryazin. Our ancestors called the overseas lands Fryazhsky, and those who came from there were called Fryazin.

It took 10 years to build the new Kremlin. The fortress was defended on both sides by rivers, and at the beginning of the 16th century. A wide ditch was dug on the third side of the Kremlin. He connected two rivers. Now the Kremlin was protected on all sides by water barriers. They were erected one after another, equipped with diversion archers for greater defensive capability. Along with the renovation of the fortress walls, the construction of such famous ones as Uspensky, Arkhangelsky and Blagoveshchensky took place.

After the crowning of the Romanov kingdom, the construction of the Kremlin began at an accelerated pace. The Filaret belfry was built next to the bell tower of Ivan the Great, Teremnaya, Poteshny Palaces, Patriarchal Chambers and the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles. Under Peter I, the Arsenal building was erected. But after the capital was moved to St. Petersburg, they stopped building new buildings.

During the reign of Catherine II, a number of ancient buildings and part of the southern wall were demolished for the construction of a new palace. But soon the work was canceled, according to the official version due to lack of funding, according to the unofficial version - due to negative public opinion. In 1776-87. the Senate building was built

During Napoleon's invasion, the Kremlin suffered enormous damage. Churches were desecrated and looted, and part of the walls, towers and buildings were blown up during the retreat. In 1816-19. Restoration work was carried out in the Kremlin. By 1917 There were 31 churches in the Kremlin.

During the October Revolution, the Kremlin was bombed. In 1918, the government of the RSFSR moved to the Senate building. Under Soviet rule, they built on the territory of the Kremlin Kremlin Palace congresses, they installed stars on the towers, put them on pedestals, and repeatedly restored the walls and structures of the Kremlin.

The Moscow Kremlin is located in the very center of Moscow, on the high bank of the Moscow River. Its powerful walls and towers, golden-domed temples, ancient towers and palaces rise above the Moscow River and form a beautiful architectural ensemble.

“Above Moscow there is the Kremlin, and above the Kremlin there is only sky,” says the old proverb. The Kremlin is the most ancient part of Moscow, currently the residence of the highest government bodies of Russia and one of the main historical and artistic complexes of the country.

In plan, the Kremlin is an irregular triangle. Its southern wall faces the Moscow River, to the north is Red Square, and to the north-west is the Alexander Garden. In the 14th century, cathedrals and monasteries were already built here, the Kremlin was the center of Russian Orthodox Church. Three gigantic cathedrals were built in the 15th and 16th centuries. There's a lot to see here! In the Annunciation Cathedral there are beautiful icons and an iconostasis; the bell tower of Ivan the Great with two golden domes is visible from a distance of 30 km, it rises next to the Assumption Cathedral, not far from the cathedral stands the largest bell of the Kremlin - the Tsar Bell; The Armory houses a wide variety of treasures, including royal crowns. In addition, here is the Amusement Palace, the Senate, in the premises of which the President’s office is located.

The most famous building on Red Square is St. Basil's Cathedral, its fabulous multi-colored domes are topped with golden crosses, and a gilded dome rises above the main tower. Near the Kremlin wall there is the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin, and people still line up to walk past his embalmed body. The space of Red Square, colorful churches and palaces, and the Kremlin walls will be remembered for a long time.

Initially, the Kremlin served as a fortification for the village that arose on Borovitsky Hill, a cape at the confluence of the Neglinnaya River with the Moscow River. Here was the oldest Moscow church - the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, or the Savior on Bor, built in 1330 for the millennium of Constantinople - “New Rome”. The temple was destroyed in 1933. Moscow princes and princesses were buried in it until the cathedral received the status of a court temple.

In 1812, Napoleon blew up the Vodovzvodnaya, Petrovskaya and First Nameless towers, seriously damaging Arsenal Tower, the extensions to the bell tower of Ivan the Great also collapsed. It took 20 years to restore. In the 30s of the 20th century, the double-headed eagles that crowned the main towers of the Kremlin: Spasskaya, Nikolskaya, Troitskaya, Borovitskaya and Vodovzvodnaya, were replaced with ruby ​​stars with a diameter of 3-4 m. In 1941-1942, 167 German aerial bombs fell on the Kremlin, but it almost unharmed. Since 1955, the Kremlin has been open to the public, becoming an open-air museum.

The entrance to the Kremlin is through the Kutafya Tower, which was built in 1516. The name is also associated with her short and initially nondescript appearance: “kutafya” in Dahl’s dictionary is a clumsily, ugly dressed woman.

Behind the bridge is the mighty Trinity Tower. Having passed through it, we find ourselves on a bridgehead open to all the winds, surrounded by the spacious buildings of the Arsenal, the Senate and the Palace of Congresses.

Previously, there was a highly complex medieval city with cramped, uneven streets, each quarter of which contained multiple temples and chambers, courtyards and passages. The only fragment of that incredible city located in the passage on the right hand from the gate - this is the Amusement Palace of the mid-17th century, restored by restorers only at the beginning of the current century. On its roof stands a golden-domed house church; it was once surrounded by open walkways and hanging apple orchards, laid out on high stone terraces - the entire female half of the Sovereign's courtyard, which occupied the site of the current Palace of Congresses, was arranged in approximately the same outlandish way.

The Patriarchal Palace, which also has its own house church and probably also had a roof garden. Through its arch you can get to Cathedral Square. From here, the square reveals itself in an ancient, bright and unexpected way: straight ahead - the bell tower of Ivan the Great, on the right - the Assumption Cathedral, one of the great Russian shrines, the main temple of Rus' from the 14th century until 1918, the tomb of ancient metropolitans and patriarchs. The current building was built in the 1470s by the Italian master Aristotle. The temple is small in size (in architecture textbooks there is a popular picture where the silhouette of the cathedral fits into the gigantic outlines of the Roman St. Peter, like a little doll), but at the same time incredibly strong and large-scale - both inside and outside: the Italians knew a lot about such illusions.

Also built by the Italians on the other side of the square, the Archangel Cathedral of 1505 produces a completely different impression - close to the Assumption Cathedral in size, on the outside it is much more playful and complex, but on the inside it is cramped and mysterious. Most of its floor is occupied by the tombstones of princes and kings who reigned from the 13th to the 18th centuries. All the tombstones are of the same type, only the carved canopy over the grave of Tsarevich Dimitri - one of the most tragic losses in Russian history - stands out.

On Cathedral Square, the nine-domed palace Annunciation Cathedral, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe with a small exhibition of ancient Russian wooden sculpture, and exhibition halls in the Assumption Belfry and the Patriarchal Palace are also open to the public. The archaeological exhibition in the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral and the lower tier of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower receive visitors for certain sessions.

The Armory Chamber and the Diamond Fund are located in another part of the Kremlin, at the Borovitsky Gate, and to view them you must buy separate tickets in advance. Unfortunately, closed for free access The Kremlin Palace, although theoretically excursions are held there, but with a very separate appointment and for separate money. The working population can be content with only an external view of the Faceted Chamber - the throne room of sovereigns from the end of the 15th century, as well as a fragment of the royal residential choir visible to the right, crowned with multi-domed house churches and a heavy bulk Grand Palace, built in the middle of the 19th century.

The Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell are also located on the territory. Many people, when mentioning the square, recall the saying “shout all over Ivanovskaya,” believing that it was here that the Tsar’s decrees were announced. However, there is another way to decipher this saying. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was the main Russian bell tower; it had forty bells, each with its own name. All bells were rung only on very special occasions. So the expression “to the fullest extent of Ivanovskaya” means that some task must be accomplished with all strength and completeness.

The famous monuments of foundry art - the Tsar Bell and the Tsar Cannon - are so huge that they have never been used for their intended purpose. But touching them with your hand is a good omen.

The ceremony of the horse and foot parade of the Presidential Regiment takes place on Saturdays at 12.00 on the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square and on the last Saturday of every month at 14.00 on Red Square.

And the most important thing: do not miss the first shrine of modern times, the mystical oak “Cosmos”, planted by Yuri Gagarin the day after the flight. Muscovites have long believed in its magical properties, remember: if someone goes around a tree three times, saying “Gagarin, Gagarin, fly with greetings, come back with an answer,” his children will certainly be born great cosmonauts.

By the way, the Moscow Kremlin, the main one of all Kremlins, is the only one written with capital letters. This is the largest active fortress in Europe. Its semi-regime status is explained by the fact that the entire complex is also a monument included in the World Heritage List. cultural heritage UNESCO, and official residence President of the Russian Federation.

Upon entering the Kremlin territory, visitors' personal belongings are searched. All unauthorized items will have to be handed over to the storage room located in the lower tier of the Kutafya Tower. Photography and videography, including amateur photography, is prohibited in cathedral museums. The Armory Chamber and the Diamond Fund.

History of construction

Since the time of Dmitry Donskoy, Moscow has been decorated white stone Kremlin (built 1368). Over the past century, its walls had become so worn out that foreigners, due to the abundance of gaping bald spots filled with logs, sometimes mistook them for wood. And this Kremlin was built in those years when they had not yet heard of Italian masters in Rus'. Having the master Aristotle Fioravanti at court, Ivan III could well have thought about how to remake the fortress so that no one would not only be able to take it, but would not even dare to approach it. However, the name of Aristotle Fioravanti never appeared anywhere among the builders of the Moscow Kremlin. However, many historians are inclined to consider Aristotle as the true creator of the master plan, who outlined the general line of the Kremlin walls, outlined the positions of the towers, laid out secret dungeons and labyrinths, and his compatriots worked on individual sections. Work on the Moscow Kremlin was carried out in a way that no other fortress had ever been built in Rus'. In an area with a radius of 100 fathoms, not a single building was left around. Even churches that had stood there for several centuries were demolished. The area beyond the Moscow River opposite the future Kremlin walls was also cleared of buildings. A similar approach to construction was required by the fortification rules of those times, which came from Europe.

N. P. Lerebur. View of the Moscow Kremlin. 1842

The Moscow Kremlin is the largest in the world medieval fortress- this is an indisputable historically proven fact.

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

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

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

Why is the Kremlin called the Kremlin?

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

Location

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

The architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin includes 4 palaces and 4 cathedrals, the southern wall faces the Moscow River, the eastern wall faces Red Square, and the northwestern wall faces the Alexander Garden. Currently, the Kremlin is an independent administrative unit within Moscow and is included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List.

Legends of the Moscow Kremlin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the eve of his coronation, the ghost of Ivan the Terrible was seen by Emperor Nicholas II himself, which he informed his wife Alexandra Feodorovna .

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

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

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

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

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

Facts about the Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin today is the largest fortress in the entire territory of Russia, as well as the largest surviving and operating fortress in Europe.

The secret of the absolutely accurate time of the Kremlin chimes now lies underground: the chimes are connected by cable to the control clock of the Sternberg Moscow Astronomical Institute.

The appearance of the teeth on the walls of the Kremlin is quite interesting. Their project, delivered from Spain, was ordered by the designer of the Moscow Kremlin, Pietro Antonio Solari. They are dovetail-shaped in appearance and in Italy they were used on the castles of the Italian Guelphs and Ghibellines.

During the Second World War, or more precisely, in 1941, the Kremlin began to be camouflaged: all the ancient buildings were stylized as ordinary houses, the green roofs were painted over, dark paint was applied to the gilded domes, the crosses were removed, and the stars on the towers were covered up. Windows and doors were painted on the Kremlin walls, and the battlements were covered with plywood, simulating the roofs of houses.

The Kremlin stars can withstand the maximum pressure of hurricane winds, each up to approximately 1200 kg. The weight of each star reaches one ton. During windy days the stars rotate several times a day, changing their position so that their side faces the wind. This greatly reduces the wind pressure on the star.

50 billion US dollars, or 1.5 trillion Russian rubles - this is the amount the Moscow Kremlin was valued at. The Uphill consulting group was involved in its assessment.

IN Ancient Rus' any Big City had a fortified territory - the Kremlin. Consequently, Kremlin is the name of city fortifications in Ancient Rus'. Currently, there are 12 Kremlins left in Russia, which have been well preserved over the centuries and have not changed their urban status.

The modern walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin were built in 1482 - 1495 by Italian architects from red brick, in place of white stone ones; they were completed in the 17th century. Number of surviving towers: 20, number of gates - 4, height of walls: from 5 to 19 meters, thickness of walls - from 3.5 to 6.5 meters. In the Moscow Kremlin there are the Assumption, Archangel, Annunciation Cathedrals, several churches, patriarchal chambers, Terem Palace, Pomegranate Chamber, Ivan the Great Bell Tower and other buildings. The Moscow Kremlin is an object World Heritage UNESCO since 1990.

2. Rostov Kremlin

The Kremlin complex was built by Rostov Metropolitan Jona Sysoevich as a bishop's house on the shores of Lake Nero in 1670-1683. The fortress walls have 11 surviving towers, including four entrance towers. The Kremlin contains the 5-domed Assumption Cathedral, built at the end of the 16th century, the cathedral belfry with the famous 13 Rostov bells, as well as several beautiful churches and chambers. The Kremlin is a unique architectural complex of the late 17th century. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

3. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

The Kremlin walls with 12 surviving towers (originally 13) were built in 1508 - 1515, probably by the Italian architect Pyotr Fryazin. The number of gates is 5, the height of the walls is from 12 to 22 meters, the thickness of the walls is from 3.5 to 4.5 meters. The Kremlin contains the Archangel Michael Cathedral, built in 1631 in honor of the victory of the militia in 1612, where Kuzma Minin is now buried, several civilian buildings, and a monument to Minin and Pozharsky.

4. Tula Kremlin

Brick walls and towers were built in 1514 - 1520 as defensive fortress on the southern borders of the country. Number of surviving towers: 9, number of gates - 4, height of walls: from 12.7 meters, thickness of walls - from 2.8 to 3.2 meters. The Kremlin withstood the siege of the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey in 1552, and in 1608 the rebels of I. Bolotnikov withstood the siege of the tsarist troops in the Kremlin for four months. The Kremlin houses the five-domed Assumption Cathedral, built in 1762 - 1764, the Epiphany Cathedral (1855 - 1863), and a monument to Peter 1.

5. Novgorod Kremlin

Modern fortress walls and towers were built in 1484 -1490 on the foundations of old walls from the beginning of the 14th century. (the kid himself is on the territory modern Kremlin existed since the 10th century). Nine of the towers have survived to this day, including the 30-meter Kokuy Tower, built at the end of the 17th century. The number of gates is 3, the height of the walls is from 8 to 15 meters, the thickness of the walls is from 3.6 to 6.55 meters. In the Kremlin are Novgorod Saint Sophia Cathedral mid-11th century, the oldest stone structure in Russia, the Chamber of Facets and other buildings. In 1862, the monument “Millennium of Russia” was inaugurated in the Kremlin. The Novgorod Kremlin has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

6. Kazan Kremlin

This Kremlin was built in the 10th-16th centuries by Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiray in the Pskov architectural style. Number of surviving towers: 8, number of gates - 2, height of walls - from 8 to 12 meters. The walls and towers were reconstructed in the 17th and 19th centuries. On the territory of the Kremlin there are the Annunciation Cathedral, built in 1562, the Syuyumbeki watchtower (buildings of unknown date), and also built in the 1990s. Kul Sharif Mosque. The Kremlin withstood the siege of Pugachev's troops in 1774. The Kazan Kremlin has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

7. Astrakhan Kremlin.

Located on a high hill on the banks of the Volga. It was built in 1562 - 1589 by Mikhail Velyaminov and Dey Gubasty. Number of surviving towers: 7, number of gates - 2, height of walls - from 3 to 8 meters, thickness of walls - from 5 to 12 meters. The white stone walls of the Kremlin include seven towers - three travel towers and four blind ones. On the territory of the Kremlin there are the Trinity and Assumption Cathedrals, the Cyril Chapel, and the bishop's house. The Prechistensky Gate is crowned with a tower with a bell tower and a clock (height 80 m).

8.Zaraisky Kremlin

Built in 1528 - 1531 by order of Vasily III. Number of surviving towers: 7, number of gates - 4. Being a border city, part of the line of fortifications on the southern border of the Russian state, Zaraysk was subjected to repeated attacks by the Horde, and was captured in 1608 Polish troops. In 1610, the governor of Zaraysk was Prince D.M. Pozharsky. Brick Kremlin lined with white stone on the outside. Of the 7 towers, three are travel. The Kremlin houses St. Nicholas Cathedral and the late Church of John the Baptist.

9. Tobolsk Kremlin

This is the only stone Kremlin in Siberia. Construction time: 1683-1799. Number of surviving towers: 7. Built by G. Sharypin and G. Tyurin: stone walls and towers so-called. Sophia Court and the five-domed Sophia-Assumption Cathedral (1681 - 1686) - the oldest stone structure in Siberia. In 1700 - 1717, Semyon Remezov built the secular part of the Kremlin - the Small or Voznesensky city. The cathedral bell tower (height 75 m) was built at the end of the 18th century, the Intercession Cathedral in the 1740s. Other structures of the Kremlin were built in the 18th - 19th centuries. Under Boris Godunov, the famous Uglich bell was “exiled” to Tobolsk, for which a special stone belfry was built in the Kremlin.

10. Kolomna Kremlin

Built in 1525 - 1531. under Vasily III on the site of a wooden Kremlin destroyed by the Tatars. The walls and towers have been partially preserved. Number of surviving towers: 7, number of gates - 6, height of walls - from 18 to 21 meters, thickness of walls - from 3 to 4.5 meters. Of the towers, the “Marinka Tower” stands out especially, in which, according to legend, Marina Mniszech was imprisoned. The Kremlin houses the Assumption Cathedral (late 17th century), Resurrection Church (rebuilt in the 18th century), Trinity Church (late 17th century) and other buildings.

11. Pskov Kremlin

The time of construction of this Kremlin: the end of the 11th - beginning of the 12th centuries. Towers - 7, Gates - 1 (through the zahab), wall height: from 6 to 8 meters, wall thickness - from 2.5 to 6 meters. The Pskov Kremlin is called “Krom”. It is located at the confluence of the Velikaya and Pskov rivers. The walls and towers were built in the 12th century. made of limestone and are the oldest surviving Kremlin fortifications in Russia. The five-domed Trinity Cathedral of the late 17th century is located on the territory of Krom. and a seven-sided bell tower of the same time, built at the beginning of the 19th century.

12. Ryazan Kremlin

This Kremlin was built in the 15th century. And at the end of the 17th century, the walls and towers of the Kremlin were demolished due to dilapidation and the lack of need to defend the borders. Only the rampart and ditch have survived. The Ryazan Kremlin is a complex of historical and architectural monuments located on the territory of the original Pereyaslavl-Ryazan fortress, located between the Trubezh and Lybid rivers. The structures are surrounded by an earthen defensive rampart of the 12th -17th centuries. On the territory of the Kremlin there is the Assumption Cathedral, built at the end of the 17th century. in the style of “Naryshkin baroque” by Y. Bukhvostov, a four-tiered bell tower (late 18th - early 19th centuries), the Nativity and Archangel (16th centuries) cathedrals, bishops' chambers (17th - 19th centuries) - the so-called. the chambers of Prince Oleg, other churches and civil buildings.

Over the centuries, the territory of what is now central Russia has been actively built up with defensive structures different types. This was due to the existence of separate principalities and the constant transfer of borders that needed to be protected. Some fortifications were erected in cities and were of key importance for the development of the area. They provided shelter for residents in case of attack, served as a location for troops and gradually turned into the heart of the city. In addition to the obligatory walls, towers, loopholes and other things related to military affairs, within the boundaries of each Kremlin there could be chambers, temples, outbuildings. Now all these beauties have become part of tourist routes. Most of them are well maintained and used as museums or for administrative purposes.

How many kremlins are there in total and in what cities are they located? Excursions, towers, museums and cathedrals! List with photographs, names and descriptions of the best places.

Moscow

Built at the end of the 15th century. Located on Borovitsky Hill on the river bank. Had not only strategic importance, but also declared Moscow’s ambitions as the “third Rome.” Nowadays it is the residence of the president of the country. The Kremlin and Senate palaces have been restored. Research and excavations are being carried out on the Kremlin Hill. The Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon, Assumption and other cathedrals are also located on the territory.

Kazansky

The current appearance was formed by the 16th century. The oldest part of the city. Initially it was a fortress and played an important role in the confrontation between the Bulgars and one of the principalities of the Golden Horde. Temples, a mosque, a palace, and an office were built inside the walls, which had 13 towers. Now it is the residence of the head of Tatarstan. There are also a number of municipal services, several museums and the Khazine Gallery.

Novgorod

Built in the 15th century on the banks of the Volkhov River. Also called Detinets. The reconstruction of the wooden predecessor of the Kremlin was started by Ivan III, who even invested his own funds. The walls are elongated into an uneven oval, there are towers along the entire perimeter, only three have not survived. On the territory there are three churches and St. Sophia Cathedral, as well as the monument “Millennium of Russia”, “ Eternal flame" And so on.

Kolomensky

Built in the first half of the 16th century. It was necessary to strengthen the borders in the confrontation with the Tatars. The fortress and its structures suffered more from time and vandals than from wars. 7 towers have been preserved and restored, although initially there were 16 of them, and partly the wall. On the territory of the Kremlin, which has an area of ​​24 hectares, there are several churches, two monasteries, and two cathedrals.

Pskovsky

Built at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries on the banks of the Velikaya River. Dovmontov town is part of the complex. It was added later for additional protection of the city and began with a new level of walls. During excavations, temple foundations and part of the wall paintings were found here. The territory, in addition, includes the Trinity Cathedral, the Order Chambers, powder magazines, a bell tower, 7 towers and more.

Rostovsky

Built in the middle of the 17th century. Originally it was the residence of the Metropolitan. Although it was built in the traditions of defensive architecture, it did not have defensive tasks, so there are deviations from the canons of the style in construction: wide gates, lack of loopholes, a different design of windows, etc. Architectural ensemble has changed somewhat over time. Now it includes the Assumption Cathedral, a garden, a palace and a cathedral square.

Nizhny Novgorod

Built at the beginning of the 16th century at the confluence of the Volga and Oka. The city was a border town, so there was a military outpost here, and there was a constant presence of troops. Subsequently, an area for entertainment events was created. The walls stretch for 2 km. 13 towers have been preserved and restored. Within the walls there is a cathedral where Kuzma Minin is buried. Now the Kremlin is the residence of high-ranking officials, including the governor and mayor.

Tula

Built at the beginning of the 16th century. The oldest building in the city. The Kremlin was needed to secure the path to Moscow. The area exceeds 6 hectares. The walls rise 13 m. The stone fortress has 9 towers, 4 have gates. There are 2 cathedrals inside the Kremlin. Architectural complex created using different styles, but looks like a single whole. Some details speak of the Italian school of architects.

Astrakhan

Built in the second half of the 16th century. Its emergence is associated with the transfer of the city and the construction of some kind of fort. The place was not chosen by chance: it was difficult to get to because of the waters of rivers and canals, and there was also an elevation - Hare Hill. Now it is a branch of the museum-reserve. The ensemble includes many objects: towers, a powder magazine, a torture chamber, barracks, a consistory, etc.

Tobolsk

Built in the 17th-18th centuries. The only stone Kremlin in Siberia. It did not have a pronounced defensive value. The construction was planted from the capital, from where the architects were sent. 7 towers have been preserved, the walls and all structures within the Kremlin are made of white stone. The complex includes: a courthouse, cathedrals, a bishop's house, a monastic building, a bell tower and more.

Ryazansky

In the 12th century, the first defensive rampart was built here. Assumption Cathedral and standing nearby The bell tower also had navigational significance: they were the only ones visible as landmarks when rafting along the Oka. None of the towers of the fortress walls have survived. Churches and temples date back to different centuries, but fit into the general style. Now the Kremlin has been converted into a museum-reserve. It is one of the oldest in Russia.

Zaraisky

Built in the first half of the 16th century. In the very first years it was attacked by the Golden Horde. He was besieged several times, but almost always prevailed in confrontations with the enemy. Walls with towers and gates, 2 cathedrals and a religious school have been preserved. Now the territory of the Kremlin is given over to the museum of the same name. It has been operating since 1918. The exhibition includes art objects from all over the world.

Dmitrovsky

Built in the 12th century. Originally the residence of the princely family. At different times, the fortress was under the command of the Lithuanians and Poles, but not for long. Converted into a museum-reserve in 1918. It has a picturesque and long rampart that replaced walls. Three roads pass through it. One is through the recreated Nikolsky Gate. The main attraction is the Assumption Cathedral.

Uglichsky

Built in the 15th century, but subsequently supplemented with new buildings and strengthened. Located on the banks of the Volga. The old defensive redoubts have been destroyed; their existence can only be judged by the remains of a ditch. The Transfiguration Cathedral dates back to the 17th century, at the same time the Church of Dmitry on Blood appeared (on the occasion of the death of the prince), and the building of the city council was erected in 1815.

Syzransky

Built in 1683 at the confluence of three rivers. Its construction is associated with the expansion of the country to the southeast. Of the five original towers, one has survived - Spasskaya. It was a gatehouse, but then it was modernized and a church appeared inside, now it houses a museum. There are alleys and flower beds nearby. There is also another church on the territory of the Kremlin, built in 1717.

Verkhotursky

Founded in 1698. The Kremlin acquired its current appearance already in the 18th century. It is the only building of its kind in the Middle Urals. Initially, it was a huge estate, which was surrounded by walls and towers. Now the Kremlin is a museum and historical complex. The museum “Sovereign Barns” is open; tourists have access to the bell tower. The main attraction is the Trinity Cathedral.

Vologda

Laid down in 1567. It had defensive functions; the Kremlin was especially in demand in the 17th century. The fortress was surrounded by a river and ditches. They were partially preserved, and one ditch later became a river. The foundations remain visible shopping arcades. Sights: St. Sophia Cathedral, the former palace temple - now a church, bell tower, complex of the Bishop's Court. The latter is sometimes mistakenly called the Kremlin.

Serpukhovsky

Built in 1374. The first option is made of oak. When strengthening the banks of the Oka, stone walls appeared and other structures were redone. Subject to raids by Crimeans. Only the foundations of some buildings, two separate fragments of the wall and the Trinity Cathedral have been preserved. Despite its current situation, the ruins constantly attract researchers and tourists. Ancient objects, such as coins and crosses, have been found here many times.

Gdovsky

The first mention is the XIV century. Located in the city of the same name. The first fortifications here were made of earth; the embankments were replaced by stone walls, and then by towers. The Kremlin went through sieges, devastation, destruction, etc., but each time it fought back and was restored. Main Cathedral The fortress was blown up during the Second World War. It was rebuilt in the 90s of the last century according to available images and drawings.

Mozhaisky

Construction was carried out in periods, the walls were constantly strengthened, and lasted a total of several centuries from the 12th to the 17th. Little has been preserved from the once important outpost: a gate with a section of a wall, fragments of a fence, earthen embankments, fragments of towers. Excavations were carried out repeatedly. The following items were found: a poker, a chess piece, a reliquary icon, a bone comb, etc.

Volokolamsky

Construction of individual parts began in the 15th century. It is located on the territory of the settlement of the same name. It differs from structures of a similar type: little has been preserved; it is not known for certain what exactly was here originally. During excavations, traces of a wooden fence of the Kremlin were discovered. Currently, the complex includes 2 cathedrals built in different centuries and a five-tier bell tower.

Tsarevokokshaisky

Construction was completed in 2009. Located in Yoshkar-Ola. Previously, there were defensive structures here, but only minor traces of them remained, found during excavations. The Kremlin has a rectangular shape, surrounded by red brick walls with towers. Used as recreated historical monument, and also as a platform for city entertainment events, agricultural exhibitions, etc.

Smolensk Kremlin

Built at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries. It had an important defensive value, so it was constantly strengthened. The architect used both old techniques in creating the fortress and new trends. The wall had a three-tier combat system. The fortress suffered especially during the retreat of Napoleonic troops, who almost completely destroyed it. 18 towers have survived, although there were twice as many originally.

Porkhov Fortress

Built in 1387. Located in the central part city ​​of the same name. The initial purpose is to strengthen the trade route. During its existence it experienced siege and decline. The current state of most facilities is depressing, close to emergency. There are 3 towers. Within the boundaries of the fortress there are museums of the Porkhov Post Office, local history museum and St. Nicholas Church.

Izborsk fortress

Built at the beginning of the 14th century. It became the basis for the city of the same name, which arose around the fortress. The original meaning is defensive. Reconstruction and construction of new redoubts were carried out, as the attacks were constant. IN this moment is being restored. The buildings most in need of restoration are the towers and the wall. St. Nicholas Cathedral and the battle passage have already regained their former appearance and are available for inspection.