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 the 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, the Arsenal Tower was seriously damaged, and the extensions to the Ivan the Great Bell Tower were also destroyed. 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 clumsy, 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 is located in the passage on the right hand of the gate - this is the Amusement Palace of the mid-17th century, restored by restorers only at the beginning of this century. On its roof stands a golden-domed house church; once it was surrounded by open gardens 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 strange 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, the Kremlin Palace is closed to public access, although theoretically excursions are held there, but with a very separate appointment and for a separate fee. 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 to the entire 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 a capital letter. 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 the official residence of the 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 with a 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.

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, wall height: from 5 to 19 meters, wall thickness - 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 wards. 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 a 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. (Detinets itself has existed on the territory of the modern Kremlin 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. The Kremlin houses the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral of the 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 Shiryai in 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 in 1608 it was captured by Polish troops. In 1610, the governor of Zaraysk was Prince D.M. Pozharsky. The brick Kremlin is 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” especially stands out, 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 Kremlin fortifications preserved 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.

For hundreds of years they stood guard over the Russian lands, cities grew up around them, there were more than 400 of them. The pride of the country and the guardians of its history are the Russian Kremlins. We talk about the most interesting and unusual ones.

The history of the word “Kremlin” goes back to the early Middle Ages, and today its origin is explained in different ways.

The name of the city fortification is associated with the words “krem” (part of the abatis where the best timber grows), “kremlin” - strong, durable (forest), “kremlevnik” - coniferous forest in a moss swamp. In this context, “Kremlin” is associated with the concept of “chopped wooden fortress” - this is what the first Kremlins were.

According to another version, “Kremlin” and “krom” are related to the word “krom” - extreme strip, boundary, border (edge ​​of water, edge of fabric). In this context, the word “kremlin” (“krom”) was used as a boundary or edge of a fortress. And “krom” also meant “warehouse” in the rear of a city, a fortified settlement, and in this case the concept of “krom” is revealed by the cognate words “secluded” and “bins”.

Tobolsk: the only Kremlin in Siberia

Beyond the Urals, where there was no need to defend against Tatar-Mongol raids, there are no powerful stone fortresses. And the complex in Tobolsk was built in an already existing city rather as an administrative and commercial center. The white stone miracle over the Irtysh was erected in the 17th and 18th centuries, so the Kremlin’s architecture combined the traditions of Baroque and Classicism, Old Russian architecture and the Italian Renaissance. On the high Trinity Cape, the St. Sophia Cathedral was first built - the oldest in Siberia, and later four-meter walls with round and square towers grew around it. Now the ensemble of the Tobolsk Kremlin includes 32 objects: Gostiny Dvor, temples, bell towers and several museums. At the Governor's Palace they will tell you everything about the history of Siberia and even treat you to Siberian gingerbread cookies made according to ancient recipes. And in the “House of Craftsmen” you can not only get acquainted with folk crafts, but also make something with your own hands.

Verkhoturye: the smallest Kremlin

The smallest Kremlin in Russia is nestled on the rocky bank of the Tura River, 300 km from Yekaterinburg. There were only two such structures in the Urals, but the wooden Cherdyn Kremlin did not survive, and in Verkhoturye a stone one was erected on the site of a burnt fortress. Behind the Kremlin wall with corner towers, on just 2 hectares of land, 300 years ago there was a bell tower of the Trinity Cathedral, executive chambers, the treasury, and the governor’s house. In the whirlpool of history, only the eastern wall and the five-domed cathedral connected to it, decorated with lace stucco molding and tiles, survived. In the 21st century, the only Ural Kremlin has undergone reconstruction - walls, towers and other buildings are being restored here. Now there is a suspended road leading to the Kremlin pedestrian bridge, and you can get inside through the arched front gate. From the bell tower of the Trinity Museum you can see the entire city, and its history is presented in detail in the local history museum - it is located in a wooden house built without a single nail.

Yoshkar-Ola: the newest Kremlin

For a long time it was believed that the construction of stone kremlins in Russia ended in the 18th century, but the authorities of the Mari El Republic broke this stereotype. In 2009, in the center of Yoshkar-Ola, on the site of a wooden fort, the Tsarevokokshay Kremlin was erected - the newest and most controversial. The only monument in Russia to Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, the founding father of Tsarevokokshaisk and other cities of the Volga region, was erected in the fortress. Not far from the Kremlin stands another remake - the Annunciation Tower with chimes, a copy of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin, and the Annunciation Cathedral is built on the model of St. Basil's Cathedral. And that’s not all: in the Mari capital there is the Bruges embankment with Flemish houses, a Venetian-style square and a small Eiffel Tower - the creative architecture mixes traditions of all times and peoples.

Astrakhan: the southernmost Kremlin

The outpost of the Russian state on the southeastern borders was an impregnable citadel. The southernmost Kremlin of Russia was surrounded on all sides by natural barriers: the Volga and its channels. During the peasant uprising, the Astrakhan Kremlin was held by the troops of Stepan Razin for almost a year and a half - the tsarist troops managed to occupy the fortress only after a long siege. Due to the complex terrain of the structure unusual shape: white stone walls with towers form a triangle. The monumental ensemble of the Kremlin has evolved over centuries, and now its territory is dominated by two cathedrals, built 100 years apart - Trinity and Assumption. The buildings of the Astrakhan garrison remind us of the military past of the fortress: an artillery yard with a reconstruction of siege weapons, an armory and barracks. Co observation deck“Red Gate” you can see old Astrakhan and the Volga expanses, and in the ethnographic museum you can learn about the life and traditions of peoples peacefully coexisting on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Kazan: a symbiosis of two cultures

The Kazan Kremlin is a unique structure at the junction of two cultures: the turquoise minarets of Kul-Sharif rise from behind the white stone walls erected by Pskov architects. The history of the fortress begins during the time of the Volga Bulgaria, and the stone Kremlin was built here after the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. Now Islam and Orthodoxy, East and West, old and new coexist on the territory of the Kremlin. The oldest building is the Annunciation Cathedral, built in the Pskov style 450 years ago. The youngest is the luxurious Kul-Sharif mosque, restored for the city’s millennium. Nearby rises the legend of old Kazan - the leaning tower of Syuyumbike, and in the former governor's palace is the main modern building of the Kremlin complex - the residence of the President of Tatarstan. Six Kremlin museums will show the history of the region from all sides: from fossil animals to religion and culture.

Zaraysk: stronghold of the militia

Compared to its powerful neighbors, the Zaraisky Kremlin looks like a toy: it is almost ten times smaller than Kolomenskoye, but it is the only completely preserved Kremlin in the Moscow region. A rectangular fortress with seven towers rises above small town at the confluence of two rivers. It was built in the same style of Italian castles, and in a small area there are two cathedrals, a Sunday school and a museum. There is a church garden right under the Kremlin wall, and private houses surround it outside. But once upon a time, the miniature fortress was a serious fortification structure, and during the Time of Troubles, events unfolded here that changed the course of Russian history. In the Zaraisk Kremlin, Prince Dmitry Pozharsky gathered a people's militia to march on Moscow and liberate it from the Poles. We celebrate this victory to this day - November 4th.

Kolomna: twin of the Moscow Kremlin

The younger brother and worthy rival of the Moscow Kremlin is Kolomensky. It was almost equal to the main symbol of Russia in power and scope. Moreover, the Kolomna Kremlin repeats the Moscow Kremlin in the most important details: multi-tiered towers, the shape of battlements and loopholes, and the laying of walls. It’s not surprising - it is believed that the two strongholds have the same author, the Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin, and he built the city fortification in Kolomna according to the capital’s model. The fortress defended the southern approaches to Moscow, its walls remember more than one battle, and the Assumption Cathedral was built here by order of Dmitry Donskoy after the victory on the Kulikovo Field - this temple is still in use today. The Kolomna Kremlin is a real time machine: here you can wear medieval armor, shoot from ancient weapons and look for Marina Mnishek’s treasure. According to legend, the wife of two False Dmitrys was imprisoned in one of the towers, and before that she managed to hide the royal treasures somewhere in the city so that they have not yet been found.

Veliky Novgorod: one of the most ancient Kremlins

According to the latest data, the wooden fortress was built in the middle of the 10th century, more than 1000 years ago. And the stone walls and towers of Detinets, which we see now, were rebuilt in the 15th century. The heart of the Kremlin and the symbol of Veliky Novgorod is St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest temple in Russia. It began to be built in 1045, and literally everything here breathes history: powerful stone walls, the mysterious Magdeburg Gate, ancient icons and frescoes. And in the 19th century, the glorious past was immortalized in bronze - the monument “Millennium of Russia” was erected opposite the St. Sophia Cathedral. This is a multi-figure composition with statues of kings and heroes - from Prince Rurik to Alexander II. There are several more churches and museums on the territory of the Kremlin, and from the fortress walls there is a view of the epic Volkhov and the Trade Side.

Pskov: the most powerful Kremlin

Another contender for the title of the most ancient Kremlin is Pskov Krom. It is believed that earthen fortifications surrounded Pskov at the beginning of the 10th century, and stone buildings appeared in the 13th century. The Kremlin stood in the center of the largest fortress in Europe, which consisted of five belts of defensive structures, each with its own walls and towers. Only the ruins of Dovmont's city and Krom have survived to this day. In the center of the Kremlin stands the Trinity Cathedral and its bell tower with the oldest sounding set of bells in Russia. All important decisions and laws of the Pskov Republic were made on the veche square in front of the cathedral. The Kremlin was not only a spiritual and administrative center, but also the most powerful Russian fortress: it withstood 26 sieges, protecting the city from Polish troops, knights of the Livonian Order, Swedes and Lithuanians.

Sviyazhsk: mobile Kremlin

Neither the walls nor the towers have survived from the wooden Sviyazhsk Kremlin, but it has left a trace in history. On the top of a mountain at the mouth of the Sviyaga River, Ivan the Terrible founded a fortified city, from which he set out on a campaign against Kazan and took it. It was impossible to build powerful walls right under the enemy’s nose, so the Kremlin was assembled in the Uglich forests. Then they dismantled, numbered each log, floated it down the Volga and reassembled the fortress in its current location - in just four weeks. The only surviving structure of wooden Sviyazhsk is the Trinity Church of the mid-16th century, from which the spread of Orthodoxy began in the Volga region. The spirit of the past is still alive: the “Lazy Market” is noisy, the blacksmith’s hammer is knocking, bread is baked in wood-burning ovens, tea is boiling in the samovar. And at the end of the island farthest from the entrance bridge you can swim in the Volga.

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 side of the State Historical Museum, the second is 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. Kalita in ancient Rus' called a money bag. 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.

The white stone Kremlin stood for more than 100 years. During this time, a lot has changed. Russian lands united into one strong state. Moscow became its capital. 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 to the Russian style. 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, and unofficially 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.

Over the centuries, the territory of what is now central Russia has been actively built up with defensive structures of various 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, and 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. It was not only of 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 more.

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. The 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. The architectural complex was 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 channels, 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. The Assumption Cathedral and the nearby 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 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 the 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 Tsarevich), and the building of the City Duma 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 “Sovereign Barns” museum 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 of the shopping arcades remained visible. Sights: St. Sophia Cathedral, 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. The main cathedral of 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. It is used as a recreated historical monument, and also as a site 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 of the 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, a 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.