Ancient towers. Ancient towers of the Moscow Kremlin. Old Town Clock, Prague, Czech Republic

Tourists arriving in Baku usually go first to get acquainted with the Maiden’s Tower, which is located in the Old City. However, in fact, this fortress is not at all one of a kind. So, in the vicinity of the city, on the Absheron Peninsula, other majestic monuments of the Middle Ages were preserved. These powerful strongholds have endured countless assaults and sieges, and, having stood the hardest trials, continue to rise above the Baku villages. Moscow-Baku offers a tour of the five unique architectural structures of Absheron.

Ramanin fortress
This tower has a magical look: it was as if copied from the pages of fairy tales about Aladdin, where Princess Budur lived in a beautiful castle. The Ramanin fortress was built by order of the Shirvanshahs in the middle of the XIV century on top of a sheer cliff. This arrangement allowed him to organically blend with the rocky landscape of Absheron. Unlike European castles, Absheron buildings were not adapted for long-term residence and served only as a temporary refuge for soldiers during attacks. The height of the quadrangular tower in the village of Ramana is 12 meters, it consists of four tiers. From floor to floor, access is only via a ladder. Narrow slit-like openings expanding inward in all tiers of the towers, except the first, served mainly for lighting and ventilation. By the way, the tower also has a primitive sewer line - risers and water wells. There is written evidence that in the Middle Ages there was an underground road from the Ramana fortress to the Maiden’s tower.

Gala Tower
This tower gave the name to the whole Absheron village - after all, Gala is translated from the Azerbaijani language as “tower, fortress”. The citadel built in the 14th century is similar to the quadrangular towers, which to this day rise in the villages of Mardakan and Ramana. However, unlike them, this citadel was in a dilapidated state for a long time. When they undertook its restoration, only a wall 2-3 meters high remained from it. Nevertheless, the fortress was completely restored and next to it in 2008 a whole ethnographic open-air museum was opened. The complex, created with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, also includes barrows, tombs, residential buildings, underground reservoirs, mosques and other historical monuments.

Fortress of light
This fortress was called Ishig Galasy (Fortress of Light), because it played a signal role - when the enemy approached, torches were lit at its top, and thus the population was notified of the imminent danger. That is why the tower was erected and close to the sea - just 500 meters from the coast of the Caspian. A building inscription carved in stone tells the date of its construction - 1232, and the name of the architect is Abdulmejid ibn Masoud. The tower is 16 meters high, located in the center of the square courtyard and surrounded by stone walls. Three internal tiers, covered with spherical domes, are interconnected by spiral stone stairs laid in the thickness of the wall.

Quadrangular fortress in Myardakyan
The round tower is connected by underground passages with a quadrangular castle - the largest building on Absheron. Its height is 22 meters, and consists of 5 tiers connected by spiral staircases. It is located inside the courtyard, surrounded by the fortress walls of 7-meter height. The rough surface of the castle walls is shaded by slit-like embrasures and a rich crown of teeth. The tower was erected in 1372, and more than once was attacked by enemies. The fortress suffered most during the seven-month siege by the Mongol-Tatar troops, as a result of which the part of the tower and the adjacent mosque were destroyed. In Soviet times, the tower was restored, but the restorers slightly changed its former appearance. So, the teeth of the crown of the walls, which had the shape of a crescent, were replaced by ordinary, round ones. In turn, historical finds are still being discovered on the territory of Myardakyan - tombstones, coins, battlements, tools, and even an old juicer in which grapes were decanted and made from it sorbet.

Nardaran Fortress
This tower, like other defenses of Absheron, served as a reliable stronghold of foreign invasions. Laconic inscriptions in Arabic made on the southern wall of the fortress tell that the architect Ali Mahmoud ibn Saad built this fortification in 1301 at the expense of the governor of the Arab caliphate, Khur Berke. By the way, this same master was the author of the old Bibi-Eybat mosque and the Mosque of Mall Ahmed in the Baku fortress. The height of the round tower is 12.5 m and, unlike others, it has a more spacious courtyard, and on the crown there are practically no step parapets with battlements.

Fortress of light
This fortress was called Ishig Galasy (Fortress of Light), since it played a signal role - when the enemy approached, torches were lit at its top, and thus the population was notified of the approaching danger. That is why the tower was erected and close to the sea - just 500 meters from the coast of the Caspian. A building inscription carved in stone tells the date of its construction - 1232, and the name of the architect is Abdulmejid ibn Masoud. The tower is 16 meters high, located in the center of the square courtyard and surrounded by stone walls. Three internal tiers, covered with spherical domes, are interconnected by spiral stone stairs laid in the thickness of the wall.

For me, every ancient city is associated with the Kremlin, and every Kremlin with the ancient Russian city. Many kremlins were not preserved at all, some were destroyed by time or fires, some were dismantled by people. But, nevertheless, in Russia there is still something to see, what to visit.

One of the most interesting, both historically and architecturally, is moscow Kremlin. The largest in area, with an incredible number of towers - there are twenty of them. And there are no two alike. Each of them has its own image, its own name and its own story.

Perhaps one of the most, in my opinion, unusual towers of the Moscow Kremlin is Kutafya. Relatively low, openwork, open - this is it now, after all kinds of restorations and after hundreds of years.

Kutafya, or as it was also called - Predmostnaya, the tower is unique also because it is the only tower-archer tower preserved in the Kremlin

It was built in 1516 year. Openwork parapet received in 1685 year, and an open area in the 18th century. Prior to this, the tower looked very harsh.

So where does such a strange name for the tower come from - Kutafya? And here there are several versions. I liked the one in which it comes from the word "kutafya" - a complete clumsy woman. Indeed, if you look closely, there are similarities!

Behind the Kutafya tower, connected with it by a long Trinity bridge, is the highest tower of the Kremlin - Trinity.

In those days, the Trinity Tower was the central passage tower, and now it passes through the crowds of tourists. Trinity Tower is a little older, located in front of Kutafia, consider the date of its construction 1495 year, although after which it was completed and rebuilt several times.

During its existence, as soon as they did not name the tower: the Epiphany, and the Deposition of the Robe, and the Znamenskaya, and Kuretnaya. But in 1658, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in his decree ordered to call her Trinity in honor of the nearby courtyard of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery.

Middle Arsenal Tower

If we go from the main entrance of the Kremlin to the right, then the next tower we saw will be Middle Arsenal Tower. Named previously a facet for its facade in the 13th century, this small tower (only 38 meters) received its current name in connection with the construction of the Arsenal building nearby. The date of construction of the tower is considered 1495 year.

Corner Arsenal Tower

The Kremlin’s most powerful tower completes the northwest wall. Corner Arsenal TowerShe is Sobakin’s tower. The Sobakina tower was called in the nearby courtyard of the Sobakin boyars. But in the XIII century, like her neighbor, was called the Arsenal. The 60-meter Arsenal Tower was once the tallest tower in the structure.

- one of those towers of the Kremlin that every traveler must have seen, because with one of its sides it goes onto Red Square. It was built in 1491 year. More than five hundred years ago, the Nikolskaya Tower, as well as the Troitskaya Tower, had a swing tower, a bridge, and a gate. By the name of the tower, everything is quite clear, it was given on behalf of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk, whose icon was installed above its gate.

Surely many noticed when walking along Red Square a low tower for lenin's mausoleum. This turret is called the Senate. In general, for a long time it was nameless, until 1787, when construction was completed. Senate Palace in the Kremlin.

In the summer of July 6999, graciousness was made to God by the commandment of John the Sovereign and autocrat of all Russia and the Grand Duke Volodimersky and Moscow and Novgorod and Pskov and Tver and Ugra and Vyatka and Perm and Bulgaria and others in his 30th summer, and Peter Anthony did Solarium from the city of Mediolan.

This inscription was found, perhaps, on the most famous tower of the Kremlin - Spasskaya. For many years now, every New Year's Eve, the Spasskaya Tower clock has been counting the last seconds until the New Year. By the way, modern chimes - 1852 years, before that since 1624 there were other watches on the tower.

The gates of the Spasskaya Tower were the main gate of the Kremlin. For a long time, the images of the Savior were written over them. Citizens were forbidden to ride through the Spassky Gate on horses, and men were supposed to take off their hats.

The passage gate, formerly called the Frolovsky (from the church of Frol and Lavra) on April 17, 1658, became by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Spassky, and then the whole tower inherited this name.

By the way, recently a mini copy of the Spasskaya Tower was built in the Mari city of Yoshkar-Ola.

Perhaps the smallest tower of the Kremlin - Royal. Initially, there was no tower at all on this site, but it was built only in 1680s years. And to be honest, this is just a small tent on the Kremlin wall.

Opposite the delicious St. Basil's Cathedral built. Already from the name it becomes clear that it was here that the alarm bell hung. There was a time when the Alarm Tower began to roll. The causes of the roll were eliminated, but even today the tower deviates from the vertical by a meter.

I really didn’t think that I would meet my name in the name of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. But here she is in front of me -.

She got her name after the construction of the Church of Constantine and Elena in the Kremlin. The church, unfortunately, has not survived to this day. Previously, the tower was called Timofeevskaya. Initially, the tower had a pair of branch towers and was a passage. The arrow-towers were demolished in the 13th century, the gate arch was laid, but if you look closely, you can see both the arch and the recess for the gate icon and a place for the levers of the drawbridge.

It is very curious that it was through the gates that were on the site of this tower in 1380 that Dmitry Donskoy went to the Battle of Kulikovo.

Gradually, past the towers, we reached the southeast corner of the Kremlin. Here the Kremlin wall turns and goes along the Moskva River. The corner tower bears the name Beklemishevskaya or Moskvoretskaya. Moskvoretskaya - because it is located near the Moskva River, Beklemishevskaya - on behalf of the boyar Ivan Beklemishev, who lived nearby. During wars and battles, the Beklemishevskaya Tower was the first to receive a blow, it so happened that the enemies were advancing from the side of the Moscow River.

One of the few, Moskvoretskaya toweris round and it is no accident. It had a defensive function, and its form strengthened the defense in case of a possible bilateral attack. For the same reason, the tower is remote, i.e. stands for the walls of the Kremlin.

Petrovskaya Tower

Near the Beklemishevskaya tower, very close to it, is located Petrovskaya Tower. She is much lower than her neighbor. In the old days, near the tower was the courtyard of the Ugreshsky monastery with the church of Peter the Metropolitan, hence the name. The Petrovskaya Tower is noteworthy in that in 1612 it was completely destroyed, and then restored again. The second time the tower was dismantled in 1770, and then in 1783 erected again. But the story does not end there. In 1812, the French blew up the Peter Tower, but already in 1818 the architect O.I. Bove restored it. Here is such a difficult story.

First and second nameless towers

There are a couple of unnamed towers in the Kremlin wall that are called the First Nameless and the Second Nameless Towers. The first nameless tower was previously called Porokhova and, like Petrovskaya, has a very rich history. In 1547, the tower was destroyed during a fire in Moscow. The situation was aggravated by the fact that a powder warehouse was arranged in it. In 1770, it, along with the Petrovskaya and the Second Nameless Tower, was again dismantled during the construction of the Palace. And in 1812 she suffered from the French.

The second Nameless Tower suffered a little less damage. Only in 1771 it was dismantled, and after it was rebuilt.

South Tower Central Tower - TainitskayaShe is the first tower of the Kremlin. The date of the tower is considered 1485 year but in 1781 it, like the neighbors, was dismantled, and re-built only in 1783. The Tainitskaya tower was nicknamed because it had a well-cache and a hidden passage to the Moscow River. Until 1932 an archer was attached to the Taynitskaya tower. It is curious that until 1917, a cannon shot was fired daily from here at noon. Only in St. Petersburg the tradition has been preserved to this day, but in Moscow there isn’t.

There is a very beautiful legend of the origin of the name of this tower. It says that at one moment the icon of the Annunciation appeared miraculously on the northern wall of the tower. Later, in 1731, the Annunciation Church was added to the tower. In 1932-33, the church was dismantled, and the tower was returned to its original form.

Another corner tower - Water intake. Similarly, the Constantine-Eleninsky tower has a cylindrical shape. In 1633, a water-lifting machine was installed in the tower, hence the name. The tower was rebuilt twice: in 1805 and 1817.

At Borovitsky hill rises the majestic Borovitskaya tower. They say that once a thick pine forest grew here, hence the name. It is difficult to believe in it now, when before the eyes now there is only glass and concrete of the metropolis.

Ancient weapons workshops, once located at its foot, gave the name to the tower. And not just the tower. Here, behind the Kremlin wall, there is an interesting museum: the Armory.

Previously known as the Kolymazhnaya Tower, located on the northwestern part of the Kremlin wall, the Commandant Tower was built in 1495. It got its current name in the 19th century, when the Moscow commandant settled in the Commemorative Palace of the Kremlin. Like other towers of the Moscow Kremlin, the tower was transformed in the 17th century, when it had a decorative tented top.

The curfew we closed the circle of the Kremlin wall. Great towers, great walls keeping history.

Bypassing the Kremlin, I primarily admired the architecture, intricate decorations of the tent towers, lancet arches of the loopholes. Later, after learning the history of each of the towers, I reviewed the photos from a different angle.

The 85-meter clock tower, made in the Venetian and Gothic styles. Located on campus in southern Mumbai, India. At one time it was the tallest building in the city. The construction of the Rajabai Tower began on March 1, 1869, according to the design of the English architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, and was completed in November 1878.

Old Joe

Old Joe or the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Tower is located at the University of Birmingham, in the suburbs of Edgbaston, UK. It is the world's tallest free-standing clock tower. Its height is 100 meters. It was built in 1908 and named after the first chancellor of the university, Joseph Chamberlain.

Peace Tower

In eighth place in the list of the most famous clock towers is the Peace Tower, officially the Victory and Peace Tower. Located in the heart of the parliament building in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. This 92.2-meter tower was built on the site of the old, 55-meter Victoria Tower, which burned down in 1916, along with most of the complex.

Citglogge

Zytglogge (Zytglogge) - a medieval-born clock tower with an astronomical clock, located in the historic city of Bern, Switzerland. It was supposedly built between 1218 and 1220 and was used at different times as a defensive tower, prison, and also as a clock tower, which served as the official determinant of the exact time for the city. Now, perhaps, it is considered the most popular attraction in Bern.

Spasskaya Tower (formerly Frolovskaya Tower) is one of the 20 towers of the Moscow Kremlin, which overlooks Red Square. The main gate of the Kremlin, Spassky, is located in it, and the famous clock, the chime, is installed in the tent. The 71-meter tower was built in 1491 by the Italian architect Antonio Pietro Solari, during the reign of Ivan III.

The Rathaus-Chock (Rathaus-Glockenspiel) is a popular tourist attraction located on the central square of Marienplatz, in the city of Munich, in the south of Germany. It was built in 1908 as part of the New Town Hall. Every day at 11 a.m. (as well as at noon and 5 p.m. in the summer), under the chiming clock, 32 figures in human height stage two stories that happened in the 16th century in Munich. The "show" lasts about 12-15 minutes.

The Old Town Hall, 56.59 meters high, is located in the historical district of the Czech capital of Prague. The complex was founded in 1338, and over time it was gradually completed and expanded. The clock of the Old Town Hall, first installed in 1410, is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world, as well as the oldest that still work.

Abraj al-Beit is a complex of high-rise buildings with a total area of \u200b\u200b1,500,000 square meters, located in the city of Mecca, in the west of Saudi Arabia. It is the largest in the world by mass, as well as the tallest building in Saudi Arabia. The highest skyscraper - the Royal Clock Tower Hotel is 601 meters high. The diameter of the watch is 43 meters.

Philadelphia City Hall is the 167-meter government seat of the US city of Philadelphia, PA. The building in the style of the "Second Empire" was built in the period from 1871 to 1901 by the architect of Scottish descent John MacArthur Jr.

Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower)

Big Ben is the unofficial name for the largest of the six bells of the Palace of Westminster in London. Often Big Ben is called a watch and even the tower itself, although the 96.3-meter giant is correctly named "Elizabeth Tower." It was built in 1858 and opened in May 1859. It is considered one of the most famous attractions in the world. The large Westminster watch with a dial diameter of 7 meters and a total weight of 5 tons is the world's largest four-way watch with a fight.

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