Who built the wooden Kremlin in Moscow. How the Moscow Kremlin was built

The Moscow Kremlin is the center of Russia and the citadel of power. For more than 5 centuries, these walls have been reliably hiding state secrets and protecting their main carriers. The Kremlin is shown on Russian and world channels several times a day. This is a medieval, unlike anything fortress, has long been a symbol of Russia.

Only now the frames are provided to us mostly the same. The Kremlin is a strictly guarded acting residence of the president of our country. There are no trifles in security, which is why all Kremlin shootings are so strictly regulated. By the way, do not forget to visit the excursion to the Kremlin.

To see another Kremlin, try to imagine its towers without tents, limit the height to only a wide, non-tapering part, and you will immediately see a completely different Moscow Kremlin - a powerful, squat, medieval, European fortress.

This was built at the end of the 15th century on the site of the old white-stone Kremlin by the Italians - Pietro Fryazin, Anton Fryazin and Alois Fryazin. All of them received the same surname, although they were not relatives. "Fryazin" means a foreigner in Old Slavonic.

They built the fortress in accordance with all the latest achievements of fortification and military science of that time. Along the battlements of the walls there is a combat platform with a width of 2 to 4.5 meters.

Each prong has a loophole that can only be reached by standing on something else. The view from here is limited. The height of each prong is 2-2.5 meters, the distance between them during the battle was covered with wooden shields. In total, there are 1145 teeth on the walls of the Moscow Kremlin.

The Moscow Kremlin is a great fortress located near the Moskva River, in the heart of Russia - in Moscow. The citadel is equipped with 20 towers, each with its own unique look and 5 travel gates. The Kremlin is like a ray of light, carried through the rich history of the formation of Russia.

These ancient walls are witnesses of all those numerous events that happened to the state, starting from the moment of its construction. The fortress begins its journey in 1331, although the word "Kremlin" was mentioned earlier.

Moscow Kremlin, infographic. Source: www.culture.rf. For a closer view, open the image in a new browser tab.

Moscow Kremlin under different rulers

Moscow Kremlin under Ivan Kalita

In 1339-1340. The Moscow prince Ivan Danilovich, nicknamed Kalita (“money bag”), built an impressive oak citadel on Borovitsky Hill, with walls from 2 to 6 m thick and not less than 7 m high. Ivan Kalita made a powerful fortress with a menacing look, but it stood less three decades and burned down during a terrible fire in the summer of 1365.

Moscow Kremlin under Dmitry Donskoy

The tasks of defending Moscow urgently required the creation of a more reliable fortress: the Moscow principality was in danger from the Golden Horde, Lithuania and the rival Russian principalities - Tver and Ryazan. The then reigning 16-year-old grandson of Ivan Kalita Dmitry (aka Dmitry Donskoy) decided to build a stone fortress - the Kremlin.

The construction of the stone fortress began in 1367, and the stone was mined nearby, in the village of Myachkovo. The construction was completed in a short time - in just one year. Dmitry Donskoy made the Kremlin a white-stone fortress, which the enemies tried to storm more than once, but they could not.

What does the word "Kremlin" mean?

One of the first mentions of the word “kremlin” is in the Resurrection Chronicle in a message about a fire in 1331. According to historians, it could have arisen from the Old Russian word “kremnik”, which meant a fortress built of oak. According to another point of view, it is based on the word "Krom" or "Krom", which means a frontier, a border.

The first victory of the Moscow Kremlin

Almost immediately after the construction of the Moscow Kremlin, Moscow was besieged by the Lithuanian prince Olgerd in 1368, and then in 1370. The Lithuanians stood at the white stone walls for three days and three nights, but the fortifications turned out to be impregnable. This instilled confidence in the young Moscow ruler and allowed him to later challenge the powerful Golden Horde Khan Mamai.

In 1380, feeling reliable rear lines behind them, the Russian army, under the leadership of Prince Dmitry, ventured into a decisive operation. Walking away from hometown far to the south, in the upper reaches of the Don, they met with the army of Mamai and defeated him on the Kulikovo field.

So for the first time, chrome became a stronghold not only of the Moscow principality, but of all of Rus'. And Dmitry received the nickname Donskoy. For 100 years after the Battle of Kulikovo, the white-stone citadel united the Russian lands, becoming the main center of Rus'.

Moscow Kremlin under Ivan 3

The current dark red appearance of the Moscow Kremlin owes its birth to Prince Ivan III Vasilyevich. Started by him in 1485-1495. grandiose construction was not a simple reconstruction of the dilapidated defensive fortifications of Dmitry Donskoy. The red brick fortress comes to replace the white stone fortress.

Outside the towers were put forward in order to fire along the walls. To quickly move the defenders, a system of secret underground passages was created. Completing the system of impregnable defense, the Kremlin was generally made an island. On both sides, it already had natural barriers - the Moscow and Neglinnaya rivers.

They also dug a moat from the third side, where Red Square is now, about 30-35 meters wide and 12 meters deep. Contemporaries called the Moscow Kremlin an outstanding military engineering structure. Moreover, the Kremlin is the only European fortress that has never been taken by storm.

The special role of the Moscow Kremlin as a new grand ducal residence and main fortress state determined the nature of its engineering and technical appearance. Built of red brick, it retained the features of the layout of the old Russian citadel, and in its outlines - the already established shape of an irregular triangle.

At the same time, the Italians made it extremely functional and very similar to many fortresses in Europe. What Muscovites came up with in the 17th century turned the Kremlin into a unique architectural monument. The Russians only built on stone tents, which turned the fortress into a light, skyward-looking structure, which has no equal in the world, and the corner towers took on the appearance that our ancestors knew that it was Russia that would send the first man into space.

Architects of the Moscow Kremlin

The curators of the construction were Italian architects. Memorial plaques installed on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin testify that it was built in the "30th summer" of the reign of Ivan Vasilyevich. With the construction of the most powerful entrance front tower, the Grand Duke celebrated the anniversary of his state activity. In particular, Spasskaya and Borovitskaya were designed by Pietro Solari.

In 1485, under the leadership of Antonio Gilardi, a powerful Tainitskaya tower was built. In 1487, another Italian architect, Marco Ruffo, began to build Beklemishevskaya, and later on opposite side Sviblova (Vodovzvodnaya) appeared. These three structures set the direction and rhythm for all subsequent construction.

The Italian origin of the main architects of the Moscow Kremlin is not accidental. At that time, it was Italy that came to the fore in the theory and practice of fortification construction. The design features testify to the acquaintance of its creators with the engineering ideas of such prominent representatives of the Italian Renaissance as Leonardo da Vinci, Leon Battista Alberti, Filippo Brunelleschi. In addition, it was the Italian architectural school that "gave" the Stalin skyscrapers in Moscow.

By the beginning of the 1490s, four more blind towers appeared (Annunciation, 1st and 2nd Unnamed and Petrovskaya). All of them, as a rule, repeated the line of the old fortifications. The work was carried out gradually, in such a way that there were no open areas in the fortress through which the enemy could suddenly attack.

In the 1490s, the construction was supervised by the Italian Pietro Solari (aka Pyotr Fryazin), with whom his compatriots Antonio Gilardi (aka Anton Fryazin) and Aloisio da Carcano (Aleviz Fryazin) worked. 1490-1495 The Moscow Kremlin was replenished with the following towers: Konstantin-Eleninskaya, Spasskaya, Nikolskaya, Senatskaya, Corner Arsenalnaya and Nabatnaya.

Secret passages in the Moscow Kremlin

In case of danger, the defenders of the Kremlin had the opportunity to quickly move through secret underground passages. In addition, internal passages were arranged in the walls, connecting all the towers. The defenders of the Kremlin could thus focus on dangerous area front or retreat in the event of a preponderance of enemy forces.

Long underground tunnels were also dug, thanks to which it was possible to observe the enemy in the event of a siege, as well as to make unexpected attacks on the enemy. Several underground tunnels went beyond the Kremlin.

Some towers had not only a protective function. For example, Taynitskaya hid secret passage from the fortress to the Moscow River. Wells were made in Beklemishevskaya, Vodovzvodnaya and Arsenalnaya, with the help of which it was possible to deliver water if the city was under siege. The well in Arsenalnaya has survived to this day.

Within two years, the Kolymazhnaya (Komendantskaya) and Granenaya (Middle Arsenalnaya) fortresses rose in a slender line, and in 1495 the construction of Troitskaya began. The construction was led by Aleviz Fryazin.

Chronology of events

All towers of the Moscow Kremlin

In contact with

The Kremlin wall is a brick wall surrounding the Moscow Kremlin.

The total length of the walls is 2235 m, the height is from 5 to 19 m, the thickness is from 3.5 to 6.5 m. In plan, the walls form an irregular triangle.

The top of the wall, according to the Lombard tradition, is decorated with battlements in the form of a dovetail, there are 1045 teeth in total along the top of the wall. Most of the battlements have slit-like loopholes. There are wide embrasures covered with arches in the walls.

From the outside, the walls are smooth, from the inside they are decorated with arched niches - a traditional technique designed to facilitate and strengthen the structure of the structure.

Construction

Under Ivan III and his successor Vasily III, the construction of the Kremlin walls was headed by architects Anton Fryazin, Marko Fryazin, Pietro Antonio Solari and Aleviz Fryazin Stary.

Brick walls were placed along the line of white stone, with a small digression out. Starting from the Spasskaya Tower, the territory of the Kremlin was enlarged in an easterly direction.

Approximately 20 years after the construction of the Kremlin wall, the Kitai-Gorod wall was added to it, embracing the entire Kitai-Gorod.

bricks

For the construction of walls and towers, large (30 × 14x17 cm or 31 × 15x9 cm) bricks weighing up to 8 kg each were used.

The front walls were laid out of brick, which were filled with white stone. The highest walls were erected along Red Square, where there was no natural water barrier.

Passages and caches

Initially, inside the wall through all the towers there was a through passage, covered with barrel vaults.

Most of the passage was eventually covered with construction debris, the section between the Konstantin-Eleninskaya and Nabatnaya towers has been preserved.

There were also caches and passages under the walls, in some cases going far beyond the line of fortifications.

Wall in the XVIII-XX centuries.

In 1702–36 for the construction of the arsenal building, part of the wall was dismantled, later restored.

In 1771–73 for construction Kremlin Palace according to the project of V.I. Bazhenov, a part of the southern wall between and Blagoveshchenskaya towers was also dismantled, which was later restored. Undermining the Kremlin by the French (1812) caused heavy damage to the walls, especially the walls along the Neglinnaya. Repair and restoration of fortifications were carried out from 1817 to 1822.

In 1866–70 The walls and towers of the Kremlin were restored by the architects N. A. Shokhin, P. A. Gerasimov, F. F. Richter, who sought to give the buildings their original appearance. However, many authentic details were then lost and replaced by inaccurate copies.

Examination and partial restoration of the walls was carried out in 1931–36. The next restoration of the walls and towers of the Kremlin took place in 1946–53. In its course, the walls were cleaned and repaired, loopholes and parapets were restored. The restoration commission included prominent scientists and restorers: I. E. Grabar, V. N. Lazarev, M. V. Alpatov, P. D. Korin, D. P. Sukhov and others.

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Moscow Kremlin

Kremlin wall towers

There are 20 along the walls. 3 towers, standing in the corners of the triangle, have a round section, the rest are square.

The most high tower- Troitskaya, it has a height of 79.3 m. Most of the towers are from the second half of the 17th century. maintained in the same architectural style.

Necropolis

The northeast section of the wall facing northern part Red Square, serves as a columbarium for urns with the ashes of leaders of the communist movement and the Soviet state. Many of them are also buried in the ground along this section of the wall.

In the post-Soviet period, the question of the need to transfer the necropolis to another place for political, religious and other reasons was repeatedly raised.

• The Kremlin wall between the Annunciation and Taynitskaya towers has a vertical ledge and a reduced pitch of two teeth, as if during construction from different sides they made a mistake in joining. This "mistake" divides the wall between the towers in an approximate ratio of 1 to 2, counting from Blagoveshchenskaya.

How to get to the Kremlin: Art. Metro Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya, Teatralnaya.

The first settlements on the territory of the Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin is located on Borovitsky Hill, which rises 25 meters above the adjacent territory, on the left bank of the Moscow River, at its confluence with the Neglinnaya River. In the old days, Borovitsky Hill was covered with forest, hence its name. The Kremlin in Moscow can be called both the progenitor and witness of the emergence of the city itself - it was on its territory that the first city buildings were located.

Scientists date the first traces of human presence on Borovitsky Hill to the end of the second millennium BC, and the next - to the 8-3 centuries BC. The settlement of that time presumably had defensive fortifications, in particular, two ravines could serve as them, one of which stretched to the Neglinnaya River in the area of ​​​​the Trinity Gates, and the second cut through the southern slope between the Petrovsky Tower and the 2nd Nameless Tower of the Kremlin.

A few centuries later, at the beginning of the 12th century, a settlement arose again on Borovitsky Hill, it was it that became the ancestor of the city of Moscow. The Vyatichi settlement occupied a large area and spread along Borovitsky Hill. Thus, two villages arose on the hill, each of which was protected by a ring fortification.

Kremlin in the period of Ancient Rus'

During this period, ancient Russian state consisted of several separate principalities. The most influential and extensive was the Rostov-Suzdal principality, whose capital from the second half of the 12th century was Vladimir. It was in the neighborhood of the western borders of this principality that the present city of Moscow began its existence.

The Ipatiev Chronicle says that in 1147 the Prince of Suzdal, Yuri Dolgoruky, invited the Novgorod-Seversky prince Svyatoslav, who was his ally, to Moscow. This was the first documentary mention of Moscow, and this date is considered the date of birth of Moscow as a city.

And according to the Tver Chronicle, the same Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1156 laid new fortress called Moscow at the mouth of the Neglinnaya River, a little higher than the Yauza River. This fortress united two old defensive rings into one fortification, it occupied the territory between the current Borovitsky, Tainitsky and Trinity gates.

The length of the fortifications was 1200 meters, additionally the fortress was protected by an earthen rampart and a moat. In addition, the fortress walls were quite well fortified at the base both from the inside and outside. Along the foot of the walls in several rows lay logs fastened with peculiar brackets - transverse short logs with hook branches that held the structure.

In the 13th century, Moscow, like many Russian cities, was subjected to devastating raids by the hordes of Batu Khan, but, nevertheless, after some time began to revive. At this time, the first princely dynasty appeared in Moscow, founded by the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniel. The Tatar-Mongol yoke, despite its devastating consequences, could not completely destroy the Russian state. Russian princes continued to rule the Russian lands, but for this they had to receive special labels (letters) from the Horde for the right to own their territories. In 1319, Yuri Danilovich, the eldest son of Prince Daniel, received such a label for a great reign in Novgorod from the khan. He moved to Novgorod, and left Moscow to his brother Ivan.

Having received this important letter, Ivan Kalita did not move, according to tradition, to Vladimir, but remained in Moscow - this is what played an important role in future fate Moscow and the Moscow Kremlin. Following the Grand Duke, the head of the Russian church, Metropolitan Peter, also moved to Moscow.

The transformation of the Kremlin into the residence of the great Russian princes

From that moment on, the Kremlin ceased to be a defensive and fortifying structure, but turned into the residence of the Grand Duke and Metropolitan. If formerly territory The Kremlin was built up only with wooden structures, but now they began to build buildings of white stone here. In particular, on Borovitsky Hill, at its most elevated point, the Assumption Cathedral was built, which became the main temple of the Moscow principality. In 1329, the Church of St. John of the Ladder with a bell tower appeared, and in 1333, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael was built. These first stone buildings determined the architectural concept of the Kremlin in Moscow, which has been preserved in its general form to this day. During the reign of Ivan Kalita, Moscow was actively growing, and the territory of the Kremlin began to play the role of a separate central part of the city. This name itself - the Kremlin, appeared for the first time in the Resurrection Chronicle of 1331, which means it is the central fortified part of the city.

Before his death, Prince Ivan Kalita compiled a spiritual charter in which he bequeathed all the Moscow lands and symbols of the power of Rus' (gold chains and belts, as well as precious dishes, princely clothes) to his sons. Among the bequeathed treasures was the royal cap, perhaps it is now known as the Cap of Monomakh. This testament marked the beginning of the princely treasury in the Kremlin.

After the wooden buildings of the Kremlin were once again damaged by fire in 1365, the young Moscow prince Dmitry Donskoy ordered the construction of stone fortifications on Borovitsky Hill. For this purpose, during the winter of 1367, limestone was brought to Moscow from the village of Myachkovo, located 30 miles from the city. In the spring, construction began, as a result of which a white-stone fortress grew in the center of Moscow - the first in the territory of North-Eastern Rus'. At the same time, the territory of the Kremlin was enlarged at the expense of the hill and its hem. By the end of the 15th century, the architecture of the Kremlin acquired features characteristic of capital city, and Moscow began to be perceived as the successor city of the ancient Russian cities: Kyiv and Vladimir.

When in 1453 the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople, was captured by the Turks, the role of the Orthodox capital passed to Moscow. In 1472, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, Sophia Paleolog, married the Great Moscow Prince Ivan III. Since then, the coat of arms of Byzantium - the double-headed eagle - has become the coat of arms of Rus', and Moscow and the Moscow prince have gained great authority in the eyes of European rulers. Thus, Ivan III began to be perceived as the successor of the Byzantine dynasties.

Moscow had to be brought into line with the new status, and Ivan III invited famous Russian master builders, as well as architects from Italy, to the capital in order to begin the restructuring of the Kremlin, the residence of the sovereign of all Rus'. Grandiose construction began on the territory of the Kremlin.

Formation of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin

In the period 1475-1479. under the leadership of the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti, a new Assumption Cathedral was built, which was considered the most important temple of the Russian state. Opposite the cathedral, at the other end of the square, the Italian Aleviz Novy erected the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael - the temple-tomb. In the western part of the Kremlin, the palace of the Grand Duke of Moscow was built, which included the Embankment Chamber, the Middle Golden Chamber, and the Great Faceted Chamber.

Somewhat later, in 1485-1489. on the southwestern side of the hill, the Annunciation Cathedral was built, and next to it, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe. These temples were built by an artel of Pskov craftsmen. Between the Archangel and Annunciation Cathedrals there is the Treasury - the main princely treasury.

The formation of the architectural ensemble of Cathedral Square was completed with the erection of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The bell tower was built somewhat later, in 1505-1508.

By tradition, all new churches were built on the site of their ancient predecessors, the very first churches that grew here during the time of Ivan Kalita and Dmitry Donskoy. The temples had the same names, all the relics and burials from the old temples were carefully transferred to them. The icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, the most revered Russian shrine at that time, was transported to the Assumption Cathedral from Vladimir.

The final touch of the restructuring of the Kremlin was the construction of new walls and towers. The renovation and reconstruction of the Kremlin towers was carried out in several stages. The first to be built was the Tainitskaya Tower, which had a secret passage to the Moscow River; its architect was the Italian Anton Fryazin. Marco Fryazin - another Italian, became the author of the Beklemishevskaya Tower (now Moskvoretskaya). Then they built the Sviblova tower, which also had a secret passage to the river. In 1633, a machine for lifting water was installed in the Sviblova tower, and the tower was renamed Vodovzvodnaya. The Annunciation Tower was built in 1488. After it, the 1st and 2nd Unnamed towers, the Petrovskaya, Borovitskaya, Konstantin-Eleninskaya and Nabatnaya towers were erected. In order to more securely reinforce eastern part Kremlin, built the Spasskaya Tower. This tower has a characteristic memorable silhouette and serves as a hallmark of the Moscow Kremlin. The tower was named after two icons: the Savior of Smolensk and the Savior Not Made by Hands. The Spassky entrance to the Kremlin was considered a holy gate. At the same time, the Nikolskaya Tower was built. Between Spasskaya and Nikolskaya, another one grew - a deaf tower, which later became known as the Senate. By the end of the 15th century, the Corner and Middle Arsenal towers were built, as well as the highest tower in the Kremlin - Troitskaya. In order to secure approaches to the Trinity Tower. The Kutafya tower is being built, and along the Neglinnaya river - the Commandant and Armory towers. The latest tower in the Kremlin appeared in 1680 - this is the Tsar's Tower.

Outwardly, the Kremlin fence began to resemble the Sforza castle in Milan or the Scaliger castle in Verona. Unlike these European castles, the Moscow Kremlin was designed not only to protect its masters and rulers. The Kremlin in Moscow, fortified in accordance with the latest achievements of fortification science of that time, was both a fortress that protected all the inhabitants of Moscow, and the spiritual center of the city and all of Rus'. Thus, the Kremlin began to be perceived by all Russian people as the center of state holiness. After all, it is on its territory that the most revered monasteries, temples, Orthodox shrines are located.

Kremlin during the reign of Ivan the Terrible

In the Assumption Cathedral, in 1547, the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan IV (the Terrible) was proclaimed the first Russian autocrat. Metropolitan Macarius - the head of the Russian church - put the cap of Monomakh on his head and officially declared him king. After this event, ceremonial moments in the life of the ruler of the Russian state began to acquire special significance. In order to give more authority to the Muscovite kingdom and justify its chosenness, they began to canonize in large quantities various Russian historical figures and ascetics, which gave rise to the idea to decorate the walls of cathedrals in the Kremlin with monumental paintings.

After the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates were conquered as a result of military campaigns, the authority of the Russian state and its ruler increased even more. It was to these significant events that the construction of the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Mother of God, also known as St. Basil's Cathedral, was dedicated. The cathedral was built during 1555-1562. outside the Kremlin - this emphasized its special significance. It was in this place, not far from the Spassky Gates, that a new center of Moscow public life was gradually formed - Red Square.

The return of the ancient Russian city of Polotsk during the Livonian War gave impetus to a number of architectural transformations on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. Ivan the Terrible gave the order to rebuild the Church of the Annunciation, which was his house church. In 1563-1566. four small churches (chapels) were built over the galleries of the Cathedral of the Annunciation.

Also, the period of the reign of Ivan the Terrible was marked by the appearance in the Kremlin of orders - governing bodies. The buildings of orders were located in the Kremlin on Ivanovskaya Square, which turned into a business and administrative center Moscow at that time. The Posolsky was considered the most important and important of the orders, who monitored the observance of the embassy ceremonies, and was also in charge of the foreign policy of the Russian state.

Transformations of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin during the formation of the Romanov dynasty

At the end of the 19th century, or rather, in 1586, during the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, the legendary Tsar Cannon was cast from bronze at the Cannon Yard, which is the largest howitzer ever cast, and which, for this reason, in our time was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Even today, visitors to the Kremlin can admire this monument of artillery foundry craftsmanship.

The following changes in the architecture of the Kremlin were made during the short reign of Boris Godunov, as evidenced by the earliest plans of Moscow and the Kremlin, such as the "Kremlenagrad" document dating from 1600.

As a result of the Great Troubles that followed the death of Boris Godunov, a long struggle for power began, which led to the enslavement of Moscow by the Poles. When in 1612 the militia led by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and the merchant Kuzma Minin liberated Moscow, a sad picture appeared before the liberators who entered the Kremlin: wooden buildings were dismantled or burned, the treasury was plundered, churches were devastated and desecrated.

Already at the beginning of 1613, the young Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, who at that time was 16 years old, was elected to the kingdom by the Zemsky Sobor. It was he who became the founder of the new royal dynasty that ruled Russia for three hundred years. This event somewhat later also influenced the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin. In 1635-1636. Russian architects Bazhen Ogurtsov, Antip Konstantinov, Trefil Sharutin and Larion Ushakov built the Terem Palace for Sovereign Mikhail Fedorovich, which became a new decoration of the Kremlin.

Many significant events in the life of the capital, as well as the change of rulers and persons close to them, entailed changes in the appearance of the Kremlin. So, during the reign of Alexei Nikolayevich, the son of Mikhail Romanov, Patriarch Nikon, in 1652-1656, rebuilt the patriarchal palace, located on the territory of the Kremlin. The palace was reconstructed by Russian craftsmen Ivan Semyonov and Aleksey Korolkov. As a result of the transformations, a luxurious Cross Chamber appeared in the palace.

Due to the growth and complexity of the apparatus state power during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, a new building of orders was built. It was two-storey, began at the Archangel Cathedral and reached almost to the Spasskaya Tower. In the same years, new buildings of the Chudov Monastery grew on the opposite side of Ivanovskaya Square, harmoniously complementing the appearance of the Kremlin from the side of the Moscow River.

Architectural transformations of the Kremlin in the 18th century

At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the Moscow Kremlin experienced a period of its highest prosperity. But in the very first year of the new century, the Kremlin suffered from a great fire, and instead of the burned-out part (the gap between the Trinity and Sobakin towers), on the orders of Tsar Peter I, the construction of the Arsenal (Tseikhgauz) was started and the walls of the Kremlin were strengthened. These transformations were carried out in connection with the fact that there was North War and Charles XII was about to advance on Moscow. The Arsenal was finally completed in 1736 under Empress Anna Ioannovna.

After the Russian capital was transferred from Moscow to St. Petersburg in 1712 by decree of Tsar Peter the Great, the Assumption Cathedral still continued to be the main temple of the state. It was in the Assumption Church that the highest state power was consecrated, but the Kremlin was no longer suitable for the lifestyle dictated by modern conditions, and they began to rebuild it. The ancient boyar chambers and monasteries began to be replaced by new palaces.

Among others, the chambers of the Sovereign's Court, built in the 15th century, were dismantled, and in their place, according to the project of the architect Rastrelli, a stone Baroque Winter Palace was built. One side of the palace overlooked the Moscow River, and the other looked at the Cathedral Square.

Another outstanding monument of Russian foundry art, which is still located on the territory of the Kremlin, is the Tsar Bell. This giant bell was cast at the Cannon Yard in 1733-1735 by decree of Empress Anna Ioannovna. The bell never had to serve its intended purpose. During the Trinity fire that engulfed the Kremlin in 1737, when extinguishing the wooden structures in which the bell was located, water fell on it, and a significant fragment broke off from it due to the temperature difference (the weight of the fragment was 11.5 tons, and the total mass of the bell was approximately 200 tons). For about a hundred years the bell remained in the casting pit, and in 1836 it was raised and placed on a pedestal.

The construction of the Kremlin was not always rational and justified. In 1756-1764. on the site where the ancient Treasury yard was once located (between the Annunciation and Archangel Cathedrals), according to the project of the architect Ukhtomsky, the building of the gallery of the Armory was built, in which the treasures of the royal treasury were to be stored. But a few years later, it was planned to carry out a large-scale reconstruction of the Kremlin according to the Bazhenov project, and the building of the Armory, along with many ancient buildings, was demolished. As a result, naked southeastern part Borovitsky hill, which was not built up in the future.

An important role in changing the appearance of the Moscow Kremlin was played by the architect M. F. Kazakov. Under his leadership, the Bishop's House was built. In addition, according to Kazakov's idea, all transformations were to carefully preserve historical monuments. One of the famous architectural brainchild of Kazakov is the building of the Senate, erected in 1776-1787. It was inscribed in the space between the Chudov Monastery and Nikolskaya Street. The Senate building was built in the form of an isosceles triangle, inside of which there was a courtyard. The building was located opposite the Arsenal and completed the architectural ensemble of the Senate Square.

In 1806, Alexander I issued a decree "On the rules for the management and preservation in order and integrity of the antiquities in the Workshop and the Armory", and on the site of the Tsareboris Yard and the Trinity Compound, it was decided to build a museum building in which all the valuables would be preserved. The project of the building was developed by the architect Egotov, construction continued from 1806 to 1810. As a result of the project, not only a new building appeared in the Kremlin, but also a small square between the Trinity Tower and the Arsenal, which was called Troitskaya.

The Kremlin during the Patriotic War of 1812 and beyond

The Patriotic War of 1812 disrupted plans for the further restructuring of the Kremlin. During the stay of the Napoleonic army in Moscow, the Kremlin, like the whole of Moscow, suffered greatly from fires and looting. The Vodovzvodnaya, 1st Nameless, Petrovskaya towers were blown up, the tent of the Borovitskaya tower was in a dilapidated state, almost nothing remained of Nikolskaya.

Destroyed, but unconquered Moscow aroused the most sincere patriotic feelings in people, which were embodied in the desire to revive the city in its former beauty and grandeur. Most famous architects Russia began to restore the Kremlin. The blown-up towers and walls of the Kremlin, the Arsenal, the Assumption Bell Tower and many other buildings were rebuilt.

On site Winter Palace by order of Emperor Nicholas I in 1838-1851. on the territory of the Kremlin was built palace complex in Russian style. The complex included the Grand Kremlin Palace, the new building of the Armory, and the Apartments. The construction was headed by the architect K.A. Tone, which managed to organically combine new buildings and preserved ancient architectural monuments. For the first time, the restoration of architectural monuments of the 15th-17th centuries was carried out. The complex of new buildings has created a unique ensemble of Palace Square. The square was opened from the side of the Moskva River and smoothly passed into Borovitskaya Street.

The space of the Cathedral Square has remained open since the demolition of the buildings of orders. Here, in the 19th century, reviews of troops were held, and the square was called the Dragoon parade ground. In 1989, a monument to Alexander II was solemnly opened in this place, which was a complex architectural structure, and played the role of a three-dimensional accent of this section of the Kremlin.

The Kremlin is a historical, cultural and architectural monument

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Moscow Kremlin was increasingly perceived as a historical, cultural and architectural monument. Treasures from the Armory and the Patriarchal Sacristy were often shown at various all-Russian and international exhibitions, in 1912, it was decided to transfer the Arsenal to the disposal of the committee for the creation of the Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812. Already in the 19th century, the Armory was a palace imperial museum, and its history began much earlier. The first mention of the Armory Order dates back to 1547 - then weapons were stored here. Then the Armory was called the great treasury, and its current name appeared in the 1560s. The museum presents unique historical exhibits, such as the Cap of Monomakh, the thrones of Russian emperors, ancient precious fabrics, weapons and much more.

In 1913, all of Russia solemnly celebrated the tercentenary of the liberation of Moscow and the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty. In honor of this double date, a grandiose exhibition of ancient monuments was organized in the Kremlin, which were collected from many parts of Russia. The exhibition was such a success that it was decided to turn the entire Kremlin into an "Acropolis of Art and Antiquity", but the events of the First World War, and then the October Revolution of 1917, took the history of the Kremlin in a completely different direction.

In March 1918, the government of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic moved from Petrograd to Moscow and settled in the Kremlin, which became the seat of activity supreme bodies government, and the residence of some of its leaders. In particular, V.I. Lenin, and then, I.V. Stalin. Thus, the Kremlin was closed for free visiting.

The active anti-religious propaganda planted by the Soviet government in the 30s of the 20th century led to the fact that huge and irreparable damage was inflicted on many monasteries and churches throughout the country. The Moscow Kremlin also did not escape this sad fate. Here, in 1929, the ancient Orthodox shrines - Chudov and the Ascension monasteries - were destroyed, and the building of the Military School grew in their place.

The eagles that crowned the Spasskaya, Nikolskaya, Borovitskaya and Troitskaya towers were removed in 1935. Instead of eagles, luminous ruby ​​stars ranging in size from 3 to 3.75 meters were installed on these four towers and on the Vodovzvodnaya Tower.

During the Great Patriotic War, the main valuables were taken out of the Kremlin, and architectural complex Luckily, he was practically unharmed. Already in 1955, the Moscow Kremlin was opened for inspection, Soviet citizens and foreigners had the opportunity to get acquainted with the exhibits of the Armory, with the ancient Kremlin churches.

In 1961, next to the Trinity Gates, in the place where the building of the first Armory once stood, the Palace of Congresses was built, in which large-scale government and state events were held, as well as congresses of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

In the period from 1970 to 1980, large-scale repair and restoration work was carried out on the territory of the Kremlin. And in 1990, the Moscow Kremlin entered the List world heritage UNESCO. All museums that were located in the Kremlin were merged into the State historical and cultural reserve"Moscow Kremlin", which includes: the Armory, Assumption, Arkhangelsk, Annunciation Cathedrals, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Museum of Applied Art and Life of Russia of the 17th century, as well as the architectural ensemble of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower.

After the USSR ceased to exist in 1991, Moscow became the capital of Russia, and the Kremlin became the residence of the President of Russia.

For the 850th anniversary, which Moscow celebrated in 1997, the Moscow Kremlin was restored again. In the course of the work, the Red Porch of the Faceted Chamber was restored, the Senate building was restored, and much more. Now in the days of big Orthodox holidays solemn services are held in the Kremlin cathedrals, and excursions are conducted around the territory of the Kremlin.

The area of ​​the Kremlin in Moscow today is 27.5 hectares, the total length of the Kremlin walls is 2,235 meters. In total, the Kremlin has 20 towers, the height of the towers is up to 80 meters. The height of the Kremlin walls varies from 5 to 15 meters, and the thickness - from 3.5 to 6.5 meters.

Historical reference:

The Moscow Kremlin is located. The history of our Motherland is reflected in each of its buildings. These are ancient cannons and bells, cathedrals and palaces, museums and the residence of the President of Russia. High walls and loopholes tell us that this powerful and majestic building is a fortress. At the same time, this building also reflects the spiritual life of Russia. The Kremlin in Moscow is an all-Russian national shrine, a symbol of Russia.

The ensemble of the Kremlin in Moscow includes the fortress itself with its powerful walls and towers, as well as temples and chambers, majestic palaces and front office buildings. These are ensembles of squares - Cathedral and Ivanovskaya, Senate and Palace, Trinity, as well as streets - Spasskaya, Borovitskaya and Palace.

Moscow Kremlin towers

The walls of the Moscow Kremlin have 20 towers, among which there are no identical ones. The history of Moscow began at the Borovitsky Gates. Here is one of the southwestern towers of the Kremlin wall - Borovitskaya. It goes to the Alexander Garden and Borovitskaya Square. According to legend, her name comes from the forest that covered one of the seven hills on which Moscow stands.

Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin

The architectural ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin includes eight cathedrals. One of the main temples of the Russian state - Uspensky. It hosted the coronation of emperors, the crowning of the kingdom, the election of the heads of the Russian Orthodox Church and the burial of metropolitans and patriarchs. Now here you can see the prayer place of Ivan the Terrible, especially valuable icons, a necropolis and a majestic iconostasis.

Blagoveshchensky cathedral served as the personal temple of the Grand Dukes and Tsars of Moscow. It is believed that some of the icons of the temple were created by Andrei Rublev, as well as Theophan the Greek.

Cathedral of the Archangel was the ancestral tomb of the great princes and kings. It has 47 tombstones and 2 shrines. Grand Dukes Ivan Kalita and Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan III and Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry and Tsars Mikhail and Alexei Romanovs are buried here. The image of "Archangel Michael with deeds" created during the Battle of Kulikovo can be seen in the iconostasis of the temple.

The house church of Russian metropolitans and patriarchs is a small Church of the Deposition of the Robe. In it, in a single ensemble, a four-tiered iconostasis in a silver frame and wall paintings are presented.

To the north of the Assumption Church and the bell tower of Ivan the Great are Patriarchal Chambers and small five-domed temple of the Twelve Apostles, built by Russian masters Antip Konstantinov and Bazhen Ogurtsov.

ten-headed St. Basil's Cathedral been in danger of demolition many times. Napoleon in 1812 dreamed of taking him to Paris, and later wanted to blow him up. In Soviet times, the cathedral interfered with the passage of demonstrations and they also wanted to destroy it.

To the east of the Terem Palace are four house churches: St. Catherine and Verkhospassky Cathedral, the Church of the Crucifixion of Christ and the Church of the Resurrection of the Word.

Moscow Kremlin - history and architecture

The first mention of Moscow is found in the annals and refers to 1147. In 1156, the first wooden walls were built on the banks of the Moskva River and the mouth of the Neglinnaya River. Rus' at that time was divided into separate principalities, therefore, in 1238, it could not resist the invasion of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Moscow was devastated and the Kremlin burned.

During the reign of Ivan Kalita, the Moscow principality was strengthened and the Kremlin was rebuilt. Stone churches, cathedrals and strong oak walls were built. By decree of Prince Dmitry Donskoy, the grandson of Ivan Kalita, in 1367 white-stone walls and towers were erected. Moscow began to be called white-stone. Under Grand Duke Ivan III, the territory of the Kremlin expanded, a moat was dug around the walls. Together with foreign architects, the Assumption and Annunciation churches, the Faceted Chamber and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (watch tower) are being built. The Archangel Temple was founded. With the flourishing of culture and architecture in the 17th century, the buildings of the Kremlin were also transformed. High brick tents with tile coverings and gilded weathercocks appeared on the Kremlin towers.

At the beginning of the 18th century, by decree of Peter I, the building of the Arsenal was laid. With the transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg, the Kremlin remained in an abandoned state. Almost all wooden buildings were destroyed by fires and were not restored.

Its construction began only in the second half of the 18th century. According to the project of the architect M. F. Kazakov, the building of the Senate is being built. Under the leadership of the architect Ivan Egotov, the first building for the Armory was built. During the War of 1812, Napoleon decided to blow up the Kremlin during his retreat. Only thanks to the courage of the Muscovites, he was miraculously saved. Soon all the damaged buildings were restored.

In 1917, the capture of the Kremlin completed the revolution in Moscow. In March 1918, the Soviet government moved here from Petrograd. Today, the residence of the President of Russia is located here.

On the territory of the Kremlin of Moscow, the State museum complex, which includes the Armory and churches (Uspensky, Arkhangelsk and Annunciation), the Church of the Deposition of the Robe and the Patriarch's Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the ensemble of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, as well as collections of artillery pieces and bells. The complex of the Kremlin and Red Square in 1990 were included in the list of the world cultural heritage UNESCO as one of the outstanding historical monuments planets.

The Moscow Kremlin is the main attraction of the capital of Russia, which has great historical, architectural, socio-political value.

The Kremlin is located in the very center of the city on the high Borovitsky Hill near the Moscow River. On one side of it is Red Square, on the other - Alexander Garden.

Read about how to get to the Moscow Kremlin, what Kremlin sights to see first, how to buy entrance tickets, about working hours, excursions and much more in this article.

History of the Moscow Kremlin

The Finno-Ugric tribes were the first to settle on the territory of the modern Kremlin back in Bronze Age. In the tenth century, Borovitsky Hill, located at the intersection of important trade routes, occupied Vyatichi, and in 1156, by the will of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, a typical Russian fortress was built here with defensive fortifications - earthen ramparts with palisades, surrounded by a deep moat.

Until the middle of the 14th century, the Moscow Kremlin was wooden. Under the Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy, its walls and towers were replaced with white stone ones, which served until the end of the 15th century.

Under the guidance of Italian masters in 1485-1516, new powerful fortifications made of burnt bricks were erected - towers and battlements with a thickness of three to six and a half meters, which we have the opportunity to admire even today.

Architectural ensemble

The architectural ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin is made up of the golden-domed Annunciation, Archangel and Assumption Cathedrals, the Patriarch's Chambers, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Chamber of Facets, and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. In the 17th century, the Terem Palace was erected, around the same time the Kremlin towers acquired a modern look. In the 18th century, the Arsenal, the Senate, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Armory appeared.

Unfortunately not preserved ancient cathedral Savior on Bor, built in 1330 and destroyed in 1933, the Chudov Monastery, founded in 1365 and demolished in 1929, the Ascension Monastery, the Small Nicholas Palace and many other buildings. In total, during the years of Soviet power, out of 54 Kremlin buildings, only 26 remained “alive”.

However, in 1990 the Kremlin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Photo - tour of the territory

The entrance to the territory is through the Kutafya tower topped with a beautiful openwork "crown".

Before you get to the Kremlin, you need to buy tickets in the dark glass pavilion, which is located nearby in the Alexander Garden, go through the "frame" of the metal detector and the procedure for screening personal belongings. Large bags, suitcases and backpacks will have to be left in the luggage room.

The Kutafya Tower, previously surrounded by a river and a moat, protected the approaches to the Trinity Tower.

Having passed along the Trinity Bridge, we will look at the multi-tiered Trinity Tower from the other side. Its height is 80 meters, it is the highest tower of the Kremlin.

On the right in the photo is the Arsenal, built by order of Peter the Great. It was assumed that the building would be used as a military warehouse and trophy storage. Nowadays, the administrative services of the Kremlin Commandant's Office and the barracks of the Presidential Regiment are stationed here.

On the left is the State Kremlin Palace (formerly the Palace of Congresses), built in 1961. The main New Year tree of the country is held here, concerts and ballet performances are held.

Near the walls of the Arsenal there are historical weapons - collections of old Russian and foreign cannons, military trophies of the Patriotic War of 1812.

Now let's go to the Senate Square.

The Senate building, designed by architect M.F. Kazakov, has the shape of a triangle. In the Soviet years, V.I. Lenin, working rooms of I.V. Stalin, L.I. Brezhnev, M.S. Gorbachev. Today, the Senate is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

View from about the same point in the opposite direction - to Trinity Square and the Kremlin cathedrals.

The Tsar Cannon, which is a must-see, stands near Trinity Square and the Patriarch's Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles.

A powerful tool was made in 1586. This is the largest cannon in the world, an outstanding example of Russian weapons art. Its caliber is 890 mm, weight is 40 tons.

At the foot of the bell tower there is another giant - the Tsar Bell, cast in the 18th century. Its weight is 202 tons, diameter is 6.6 meters. The Tsar Bell was cast right there, on the territory of Ivanovskaya Square. A piece of the bell broke off during a big fire in the Kremlin.

WITH south side Ivanovskaya Square adjoins the Big Kremlin Square and the Tainitsky Garden.

Unfortunately, you can’t walk around the entire garden - this is a secure facility. But you can still see something interesting: for example, an aviary for peregrine falcons, goshawks and an eagle owl, which are kept specifically to chase crows and doves. Or here - a helipad for the president and prime minister, equipped not so long ago.

View from the square on the ensemble of the bell tower Ivan the Great. by the most tall building Moscow, the Kremlin bell tower became under Boris Godunov, who ordered to build it in 1600 to a height of 81 m. summer time by purchasing a separate ticket.

From April to October, on Saturdays at 12-00 on the Cathedral Square, the ceremony of equestrian and foot divorce of the Presidential Regiment takes place. Viewing the ceremonial is included in the price of a single ticket to visit the territory of the Kremlin and the cathedral-museums of Cathedral Square.

The Assumption Cathedral, designed by the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti, was the main temple of Russia for four centuries - Ivan the Terrible and other tsars were crowned here, emperors were crowned. Many patriarchs and metropolitans are buried in the Assumption Cathedral.

In the photo - the Archangel Cathedral, erected in 1505-1508 in honor of the Archangel Michael by the Venetian Aleviz Novy.

Entrance to the Archangel Cathedral. In the temple-royal tomb there are 54 burials of saints, princes, tsars and their wives, including the holy prince Dmitry Uglichsky, Moscow princes Vasily the Dark, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan Kalita, tsars Ivan the Terrible and Alexei Mikhailovich.

The Cathedral of the Annunciation, one of the oldest on the Kremlin territory, was built by Pskov craftsmen in 1484-1489. The temple, small in size, was used as a home church of Russian sovereigns.

In the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral there is an interesting exhibition "Treasures and Antiquities of the Moscow Kremlin".

The Faceted Chamber, one of the oldest civil buildings in Moscow, tsarist times served as the main ceremonial reception hall, a place for meetings of the Boyar Duma, meetings of the Zemsky Sobors. Now it is the representative hall of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

The chamber is called the Faceted Chamber because it is lined with blocks having 4 faces.

In the corner of Cathedral Square are the Verkhospassky Cathedral - part of the ancient Terem Palace, the eastern facade of the Golden Tsarina's Chamber and the Church of the Deposition of the Robe - the home church of Moscow metropolitans and patriarchs.

From Cathedral Square we move to the Grand Kremlin Palace, built in the 19th century. The ensemble of the palace includes about 700 rooms, including St. George, Vladimir, Andreevsky, Alexander and Catherine's halls, the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber, the Malachite Foyer, the Study and Bedroom of the Emperors, nine churches and the Terem Palace.

Since the Grand Kremlin Palace is the main residence of the President of the Russian Federation, you can get there only as part of a group from an organization on a preliminary application submitted a month in advance.

Next to the BKD is the Armory - a museum with innumerable riches: ancient gold and silver jewelry and other items, weapons, armor, state regalia, a collection of carriages. Here you can see Monomakh's cap, scepters, orbs, thrones, coronation dresses and ceremonial royal clothes.

The same building houses the Diamond Fund - the national treasury of Russia, a repository of precious stones and nuggets, ceremonial jewelry of Russian tsars and emperors. It is here that the Great Imperial Crown, made on the occasion of the coronation of Catherine II, is located. The crown is adorned with 5000 diamonds, 75 large pearls and a very large rare dark red gem spinel.

View from the Armory to the Vodovzvodnaya, Borovitskaya towers and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

Amusing Palace - the chambers of the boyar Miloslavsky are best seen from the Alexander Garden, it is located near the Kremlin wall between Troitskaya and Commandant towers. In 1672, fun was organized here - performances for the amusement of the kings, which gave the name to the palace. Under Peter the Great, the Poteshny Palace housed the Police Order, and today the services of the Commandant's Office.

How to get to the Kremlin

By public transport: the nearest metro stations are the Lenin Library, Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya and Arbatskaya on the blue Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line. The Kremlin is also within easy walking distance from many central stations: Okhotny Ryad, Revolution Square, Theater Square and others.

Opening hours

The territory of the Kremlin and cathedral-museums of Cathedral Square:

• from May 16 to September 30 - daily, except Thursday, from 9-30 to 18-00 (the box office is open from 9-00 to 16-30)
• from October 1 to May 15 - daily, except Thursday, from 10-00 to 17-00 (the box office is open from 9-30 to 16-00)

The Armory is open from 10:00 to 18:00 every day except Thursday. The beginning of the sessions - 10-00, 12-00, 14-30, 16-30

Diamond Fund - daily, except Thursday, from 10-00 to 17-20 for sessions. Break - from 13-00 to 14-00. The duration of the session is 40 minutes. Sale of tickets for the morning sessions starts at 9-00, for the evening - at 13-00. Morning sessions: 10-00, 10-20, 10-40, 11-00, 11-20, 12-00, 12-20. Evening sessions: 14-00, 15-00, 15-20, 16-00, 16-20, 16-40, 17-00, 17-20.

The Diamond Fund is closed on holidays. More details about the working hours - on the official website: gokhran.ru/ru/diamond-fund/contacts.phtml

Rarely, but it happens that access to the Kremlin is closed in connection with solemn events, meetings of heads of foreign states, receptions on the occasion public holidays and other events.

Ticket price

Single ticket (territory, cathedrals, exhibitions)– visiting the territory of the Kremlin, the cathedral-museums of the Cathedral Square, the exhibition halls of the Patriarchal Chambers, the exposition “Treasures and Antiquities of the Moscow Kremlin” in the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral, the exhibition of wooden sculpture in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the exposition in the annex of the Archangel Cathedral:

• adults - 500 rubles
• Russian students and pensioners - 250 rubles, without the possibility of visiting museums (territory only) - free of charge
• children under 16, members of large families, disabled people of the 1st and 2nd groups and others preferential categories citizens - free of charge
• for persons under the age of 18, the second Tuesday of each month - free of charge
• on Cultural Heritage Days single ticket free for everyone

Single tickets are sold online on the official website of the Moscow Kremlin kreml.ru (except for free and reduced tickets) and at the box office in the Alexander Garden on the day of the visit.

- the visit is carried out on a separate ticket, the price includes an audio guide:

• adults — 700 rubles
• Russian students and pensioners - 350 rubles
• children under 16, members of large families, disabled people of the 1st and 2nd groups and other privileged categories of citizens - free of charge

Entrance tickets to the Armory are sold on the day of the visit if tickets are available at the box office in the Alexander Garden and via the Internet on the official website of the Moscow Kremlin kreml.ru (except for free and discounted tickets).

Attention! Purchasing tickets Online for a particular session does not guarantee additional free or reduced-price tickets for the same session on the day of your visit to the museum. Free and concession tickets are issued only if they are available at the box office, in the order of the general queue. The museum's capacity does not allow allocating an unlimited number of tickets for each session.

Diamond fund- you can buy tickets at the box office No. 4 and No. 5 in the Alexander Garden on the day of your visit for a certain session. The ticket price includes an excursion.

• adults - 500 rubles
• schoolchildren, students, pensioners, members of large families - 100 rubles
• disabled children, non-working disabled people of groups 1 and 2 and other preferential categories of citizens - free of charge

The number of tickets for each session is limited.

If you want to visit only the Armory and / or the Diamond Fund, the entrance is possible through the Borovitskaya Tower.

The line at the box office and at the entrance is the least in the cold season on weekdays, most of all - in the warm season in good weather on weekends, especially on Saturday in the morning - because of the opportunity to watch the ceremony of setting the guard on Cathedral Square.

Excursions

The Kremlin excursion center offers sightseeing and thematic excursions on the territory of the Kremlin, the Armory, cathedral-museums and museum expositions For organized groups and individual visitors as part of a combined group.

Prices for excursions around the Moscow Kremlin, the order of registration and payment for excursions, see the official website: kreml.ru

Free mobile guide around the Kremlin - izi.travel/ru/7cce-moskva-kreml/ru

Photography

Amateur photo and video filming in cathedral-museums, the Armory and Diamond Fund prohibited.