Trinity tower for children. Trinity Tower - from a defensive structure to a presidential orchestra
Information about the Kremlin towers on the net is a dime a dozen. Most often, for a guide-interpreter and, more than aspirations, his client, dry historical data great interest do not represent. In this article, I will look at some of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin through the eyes of a guide striving for knowledge and his ward - a tourist who does not crave this knowledge at all, but simply admires the architectural surroundings of the main attraction of Moscow. So, in the lens - the Trinity Tower of the Moscow Kremlin.
Most often, acquaintance with the Moscow Kremlin begins with it. It is rare that a tourist did not stop at the Trinity Bridge and did not capture great view to the highest tower of our fortress.
But guides rarely draw the attention of customers to this beauty. More often, on the bridge we talk about the Kremlin in general. And if we mention the Trinity Tower, it is only in the context of the entrance gate to the Kremlin, they say, although this tower is beautiful, it never served as the main entrance. She has always been on the sidelines, after the main Spasskaya Tower.
But what if we carefully consider the Trinity Tower?
Troitskaya tower of the Kremlin from the north side
To better understand its architectural merits, let's look at it from the side of the upper Alexander Garden. Small details are hardly visible, they are hidden by an extension to the Kremlin wall. Let's take a quick look at the tower
and pay attention to how strikingly it differs from the neighboring Middle Arsenalnaya.
The modest Middle Arsenal Tower against the backdrop of the Trinity Tower looks slender, strict, and logical.
Trinity Tower from the south
We won't linger here. The morning sun will hardly allow you to admire our beauty.
The Trinity Tower is better viewed from the other side. Let's pass under the Trinity Bridge and, a little short of the Kremlin ticket office, look back.
From this point, almost its entire volume is best seen. To the left of the main quadrangle, a retractable archer is clearly visible. The high quadrangle bears an elegant octagonal completion. They are united by beautiful white stone arches, spiers and corner turrets. Later we will take a closer look at this peculiar crown.
On the southern wall of the tower there are small arched windows in several rows with deep niches in the thickness of the wall. The windows are broken unevenly, maybe they match interior layout towers.
Trinity tower. Architecture
If you come close to the wall and at the same time go further towards the Borovitskaya Tower, then the view of the Trinity Tower will be even more interesting. True, with close range the view will close the tree. But on the other hand, we will see the upper small quadrangle, it is completed by a parapet with a balustrade. The octagon is also clearly visible, which completes the structure and carries a tall, slender tent.
If you go even further, then in every detail of the tower you will feel the desire to go up. The tower from a greater distance looks slimmer, its tent seems thinner, the corner turrets and pinnacles seem to pull the main quadrangle to the sky. The impression is strengthened by the mighty Kremlin wall.
Now let's get closer to the tower in order to take a closer look at the details of the white stone crown of the lower quadrangle.
Two turrets with ensigns on the flanks are striking. Between them - lancet arches, in the center of each of them is placed a pinnacle.
The inner part of the arches is lined with protruding bricks and looks like teeth. Four arches rest on four redbrick pillars. Three central pillars, in turn, are crowned with two small pinnacles on the sides and a central carved decorative turret in the form of a herringbone.
When the frame approaches, it is clear that the central part of the supports between the arches has a niche, a small vault is laid out inside it, and either a window or a small niche is added in the upper part. The central support is flanked by two columns.
But it is very difficult to consider these details from below, let's leave this knowledge in the passive.
A small quadrangle is visible above the main volume of the tower from this point. There are turrets on its corners too. There is only one lancet arch, it occupies the entire central part small quadruple. Please note that the top of the arch is crowned with a stone bird. It is difficult to see it on the southern wall, but the same “bird” crowns the western wall and is very clearly visible on the left.
The chetverik is completed by a balustrade consisting of white stone columns with square capitals. It seems that these columns are also decorated with flutes.
The small quadrangle bears the octagon. In the lower part of the octagon there is an arcade-columnar belt made of red brick. In the upper part of the octagon there is an observation tower. It is also richly decorated with lancet jagged arches with cruciform pinnacles, the arches, in turn, are flanked by attached columns, the lower part of the observation tower is surrounded by an elegant balustrade. We saw exactly the same balustrade on the small quadrangle.
In the arched openings of the observation tower, you can see the stairs leading to the tent (?).
The tent itself and the star crowning it should be viewed from the territory of the Kremlin, for example, from the KDS GKD.
Trinity Tower from the west
The most advantageous view of the tower opens at the beginning of the Trinity Bridge. In my practice, I have not seen a single tourist who would not grab a camera or phone to capture the powerful and elegant Trinity Tower. We will come a little closer to it and we will consider it from the middle of the bridge. For example, right here.
From this position, all parts of its volume are remarkably visible: the main quadruple with an archer, above - a small quadrangle, an octagon with a watch platform and a green tent.
We have already considered the details of the crown - turrets, pinnacles, jagged arches. On the west side, they are slightly different. The western and eastern walls of the Trinity Tower are narrower than the southern and northern ones, so the elements of decoration are repeated not four times, but only three times. All four supports under the jagged arches are decorated with white columns and niches with windows, we have also already considered them.
For especially attentive readers, I will show the white stone animals on the western side of the Trinity Tower. We did not see them from the north or south.
Here is such a white-stone “zoo” located on the tower and laughing at us from above. 🙂 Did you see everyone?
Now let's look at the Kutafya tower.
We will not describe it in detail. In the crown of the Kutafya tower, more differences are found, the details are similar to its majestic neighbor. Let's pay attention only to the pinnacles and the balustrade - these details combine a squat plump woman with main tower western wall.
Trinity tower. Impression
Now let's get closer to the Trinity Tower. If you slowly walk along the Trinity Bridge and look at our heroine, it seems that she is approaching you.
Getting taller, closer, bigger. Now there are no decorations to be seen, one impregnable wall. One more step - and the tower literally swallows you with its giant mouth!
It's good that she has no teeth, otherwise she would have chewed and not choked. 🙂 I feel a little uncomfortable in the womb of our heroine. But I courageously show clients the huge gates.
I draw your attention to the massive thick vaults of the travel arch.
You pass the archer, you pass the tower itself, and it seems to “spit” you out.
Trinity Tower from the east side
From the entrance to the KDS GKD, you can again turn to the architecture of the Trinity Tower. On a sunny day (and overcast too), it is from here that our heroine appears in her most advantageous perspective. In all its glory.
With a crown and a tent.
Through powerful optics, you can see the fine details of the architectural decoration.
From here you can again clearly see the Kremlin “zoo” with bears and birds,
as well as arcade-columnar .., balustrade, jagged arches, pinnacles ....
Observation tower with stairs.
Finally, the symbol of communism.
Trinity tower. Comparisons
If you don't forget, you can once again look back at the Trinity Tower. Now to compare it with Spasskaya. It is best to do this from the corner of the GKD, from the point where the golden domes of the Verkhospassky Church are not yet visible. Here from here.
I did not bring it closer with a lens, from this point the Trinity Tower looks like this.
You can show differences from Nikolskaya. She is still “bandaged”, but we remember her in all her glory!
I took three shots. From one place, from the corner of the GKD, three gates are visible Kremlin towers. Here is Spasskaya. Do you see how similar the Trinity and Spasskaya towers are to each other?
From this position, one might think that the two main towers of the Kremlin are the same! The same two quarters topped with octals with observation towers and tents. Stars again.
The only difference with long distance- These are the chimes on the Spasskaya Tower. By the way, there were also chimes on Troitskaya. In 1812, their mechanism was badly damaged and they did not restore it.
We will consider the Spasskaya Tower in detail another time. I will show only one picture, where you can see that the decor of the main front tower is noticeably different from the Trinity one.
Trinity tower. Data
Now - the facts.
The main question is how the premises of the Trinity Tower are currently used? Intelligibly servants of the Kremlin did not answer me. But everyone agrees that the Kremlin orchestra uses the Trinity Tower. It is unlikely that there are rehearsal rooms. Most likely there is a toolbox.
The total height of the Trinity Tower together with the star is 80 meters, it is higher than the Spasskaya (with a star - 71 m) tower. Without it - a little more than 76 meters. It is not entirely ethical to compare the height of the tower, completed with the Soviet symbol, with the ancient bell tower of Ivan the Great, but for memory it can be noted that the tower was only one meter short of the bell tower.
Kremlin monasteries
Troitskaya, the only one of all the towers, has changed its name five times! At first it was called Bogoyavlenskaya main church not preserved monastery. There is very little information about this monastery. I will quote from the book by Alexander Voronov “Monasteries of the Moscow Kremlin” (published http://www.universalinternetlibrary.ru/book/68584/chitat_knigu.shtml
As is known, there were only three full-fledged monasteries in the Kremlin: Spaso-Preobrazhensky on Bor, Chudov and Voznesensky. At the same time, in addition to these objects that are indisputable in terms of their monastic status, the historical literature on the Kremlin mentions two more complexes of an indefinite (or, perhaps, double) status: “The Epiphany Monastery on the Trinity Compound”, sometimes called the Epiphany Trinity-Sergius Monastery, and "Afanasievsky monastery, which is the courtyard of the Kirillov monastery", often referred to simply as the Afanasievsky-Kirillovsky monastery.
Epiphany Trinity-Sergius Monastery
Epiphany Trinity-Sergiev monastery was located at the Trinity Gate of the Kremlin at the entrance from the city, on Troitskaya Street. According to historians, according to the church legend and according to the later testimony of the Stern Book of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, in the XIV century. Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy allocated in the Kremlin to St. Sergius of Radonezh a place near his palace for the construction of cells and a church in case of his stay in Moscow (24, No. 1436). Thus, the Epiphany Monastery was not originally an independent monastery, but only a courtyard of the Trinity-Sergius. However, among the numerous monastic courtyards of the Kremlin, along with the Afanasievsky-Kirillovsky courtyard, in historical sources it is often called a monastery, and in the second half of the 15th century. received the status of a monastery and was ruled by the abbot.
The second name of the tower is Rizopolozhenskaya after the house church of Russian metropolitans and patriarchs, which still exists today.
Then the tower was named Znamenskaya after the icon of the Mother of God of the Sign. The image was placed in an icon case above the gate.
Finally, the tower was called Kuretnaya. I did not find any information about the Kuretny Dvor. Kuretnye (Troitsky) and Kolymazhny (Commandant's Tower) gates are mentioned, but not the courtyard. The question is still open.
The name of the Trinity Tower was fixed in the middle of the 17th century, since 1658 our tower has been called Troitskaya.
P.S. architectural features I considered the Catholic Church in the article about. She also mentioned pinnacles.
Troitskaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin built in 1495. Architect - Aleviz Fryazin. The multi-tiered completion was erected at the end of the 17th century. The five-pointed ruby star was installed in 1937. The Trinity Gate today serves as the main entrance to the Kremlin.
Directions: metro " Okhotny Ryad"and" Revolution Square "
History of the Trinity Tower of the Moscow Kremlin
The tower received its modern name in 1658 from the courtyard in. The Trinity Gates were considered second in importance after. From the side of the Kremlin, the height of the Trinity Tower to the star is 65.65 m, with the star - 69.3 m. From the side, the height of the tower to the star is 76.35 m, with the star - 80 m.
The construction of fortifications on the northwestern side of the Moscow Kremlin, from the side of the Neglinnaya River (now the Alexander Garden) ended in 1495 with the construction of the Trinity Tower. From the outside, a diversion archer was attached to the tower with a passage to the Kremlin, called the "Trinity Gates", which are connected by a stone bridge with a guard. This bridge across the Neglinnaya River was built in 1516 and existed until the end of the 19th century. It is believed that the bridge was on the site of the first stone bridge in, built in the XIV century. WITH north side bridge, dams were built to raise the water level in Neglinnaya, from here water flowed into the ditch. When laying the Alexander Garden in 1821, gentle ramps were adapted to the bridge and ladders were arranged for access to the garden. In 1901, during repairs, the ramps with stairs were dismantled, and the bridge was restored to its former forms.
Initially, the Trinity Tower was topped with battlements and covered with a four-pitched wooden tent. According to historical documents, in 1585 it was attended by a clock.
In 1685, the tower was built on with a multi-tiered top with white stone decorations and a high brick tent, as on, and in 1686 a new clock was installed on it. Clock bells were located in the bells under the tent. During the fire of 1812, the clock burned down and was no longer restored. A high stone top, which was dismantled in the 18th century, was also built on the outlet archer.
The Trinity Tower has 6 floors and 2 floors of deep cellars discovered in 1851. Initially, the cellars served for military purposes, and in the 16th-17th centuries they were used as prison dungeons. All floors of the tower are connected by a system of stairs located along the perimeter.
IN different times the tower was called Bogoyavlenskaya, Znamenskaya, Kuretnaya, in 1658 by a special royal decree it was renamed Troitskaya. Through its gates they entered the court of the patriarch, the mansions of the queen, the clergy came out in solemn processions, meeting the tsars returning from campaigns and accompanying them to the main Spassky Gate. In 1612, through the Trinity Gate came out and surrendered to the militia
It consists of two basement and six above-ground tiers. Through the cellars you can go to the Kremlin and the Alexander Garden. The tower rises to a height of 65.65 m - without a star and 69.3 m - with a star. From the side of the Alexander Garden, the height to the star is 76.35 m, with the star - 80 m. Thus, it is the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. The length of the outer perimeter at the base is 85.7 m. The thickness of the walls is 5.7 and 6.4 m.
Troitskaya was built in 1495-1499. and changed more than one name: it was called the Epiphany (after the main church of the Trinity Compound), Rizpolozhenskaya (after the nearby Church of the Deposition of the Robe), Znamenskaya (after the gate image of the Sign of the Mother of God), Karetnaya. It received its name during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich in 1658.
Decoration
In 1685, the Trinity Tower of the Moscow Kremlin acquired a multi-tiered stone tent top, similar to the Spasskaya tent. The main quadrangle, enlarged by a small quadrangle, turning into an octahedron with a high tent, was decorated with multi-tiered icon cases trimmed with white stone and corner tents with weather vanes. The tent was taller than Spasskaya's, and the dimensions of the octagon on which it rested were almost half as large. This made her more strict and solid.
Throughout its history, the tower has had many names. The original - Epiphany. Subsequently, it became Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya - in honor of the cathedrals that are located on the territory of the Kremlin, and Karetnaya - in honor of the court of the same name. The current name was given to the tower in 1658. By his decree, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich named her after the courtyard of the Trinity Monastery, which was nearby.
Historical reference
The history of the Trinity Tower began in the fifteenth century. It was built according to the project of Aleviz Fryazin - famous architect from Italy. At the end of the seventeenth century, the tower was supplemented with a multi-tiered superstructure and decorated with elements of white stone. Later, the loopholes of the Trinity Tower were expanded in area to accommodate powerful cannons. This measure was necessary due to the threat of invasion by the Swedes.
The Trinity Tower completed the ensemble of the Kremlin wall. It had a square shape and consisted of five tiers and a platform from which shooting was carried out over the gate. It was an important defensive structure on the side of the Neglinnaya River. At the base, two underground floors with brick walls were arranged. The water level in the river was artificially raised with the help of dams, so the tower was surrounded by water from all sides.
Architectural features
The Trinity Tower of the Moscow Kremlin looks like an old six-story building. Two floors are occupied by deep cellars, an extensive staircase system allows you to move between the floors of the tower. Outside, the building is decorated with lancet arches and decorative turrets. The tower is crowned with a quadrangle with an octagon, on which Observation deck and an elongated tent. To view the Trinity Tower, you need to approach it from the side of the Alexander Garden.
For a long time, the building was decorated with a clock, which was then replaced with the icon of Our Lady of Kazan. Then a symbol appeared on the tower Russian Empire- double-headed eagle By the next anniversary of the October Revolution, the government decided to remove the eagle and put a red star in its place, but this was not easy to do.
Dismantling was carried out at the top of the tower. In 1937, the red star faded, and a ruby star took its place. Several hundred years ago, the most high tower The Kremlin looked more attractive, as its archer was decoratively decorated.
Purpose
Today, the Troitskaya Tower of the Kremlin is the base for the location of the Presidential Orchestra of Russia. But for this purpose it was not always used - for two centuries it was a prison. Then the tower became an archive belonging to the ministry of the royal court. All this also affected appearance buildings - the restoration of the Trinity Tower was carried out. The walls and the tent of the tower were strengthened, and in the course of the work, specialists gained a lot of new knowledge about the history of this architectural monument.
Today, in the Moscow Kremlin, this building is one of the most beautiful, and millions of tourists pass through its gates.
- The clock of the Trinity Tower burned down during a fire in 1812 and was never restored.
- In 1612, at the Trinity Tower, the boyar government, hiding in the Kremlin with the Poles, surrendered to the militia of Dmitry Donskoy.
- In 1812, Napoleon entered the Kremlin through the Trinity Tower.
- The Trinity Tower is the only one that still has a bridge across the moat.
The Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers and they are all different, no two are the same. Each tower has its own name and its own history. And for sure, many do not know the names of all the towers. Let's meet?
Most of the towers are made in a single architectural style given to them in the second half of the 17th century. The Nikolskaya Tower stands out from the general ensemble, which was rebuilt in the Gothic style at the beginning of the 19th century.
BEKLEMISHEVSKAYA (MOSKVORETSKAYA)
BEKLEMISHEVSKAYA (Moskvoretskaya) tower is located in southeast corner Kremlin. It was built by the Italian architect Marco Fryazin in 1487-1488. The courtyard of the boyar Beklemishev adjoined the tower, for which it got its name. Beklemishev's courtyard, together with the tower under Vasily III, served as a prison for disgraced boyars. The current name - "Moskvoretskaya" - is taken from the nearby Moskvoretsky Bridge. The tower was located at the junction of the Moskva River with the moat, so when the enemy attacked, it was the first to take the hit. The architectural solution of the tower is also connected with this: a high cylinder is placed on a beveled white stone plinth and separated from it by a semicircular roller. The surface of the cylinder is cut through by narrow, rarely spaced windows. The tower is completed by machicolas with a combat platform, which was higher than the adjoining walls. In the basement of the tower there was a hiding place-a rumor to prevent undermining. In 1680, the tower was decorated with an octagon, carrying a tall narrow tent with two rows of eaves, which softened its severity. In 1707, expecting a possible offensive by the Swedes, Peter I ordered to build bastions at its foot and expand the loopholes to install more powerful guns. During the Napoleonic invasion, the tower was damaged and then repaired. In 1917, during the shelling, the top of the tower was damaged, which was restored by 1920. In 1949, during the restoration, the loopholes were restored in their original form. This is one of the few Kremlin towers that has not been radically rebuilt. The height of the tower is 62.2 meters.
KONSTANTINO-ELENINSKAYA (TIMOFEEVSKAYA)
The KONSTANTINOV-ELENINSKAYA tower owes its name to the church of Constantine and Helena that stood here in antiquity. The tower was built in 1490 by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari and was used for the passage of the population and troops to the Kremlin. Earlier, when the Kremlin was made of white stone, another tower stood in this place. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy with the army went to the Kulikovo field. new tower built for the reason that on her part, not the Kremlin had no natural barriers. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful diversion archer and a passage gate, which after, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were disassembled. The tower got its name from the church of Constantine and Helena, which stood in the Kremlin. The height of the tower is 36.8 meters.
alarm
The alarm tower got its name from the large bell - the alarm that hung above it. Once upon a time, sentinels were constantly on duty here. From a height, they vigilantly watched - if the enemy army was coming to the city. And if danger was approaching, the sentinels had to warn everyone, strike the alarm bell. Because of him, the tower was called Nabatnaya. But now there is no bell in the tower. Once, at the end of the 18th century, a riot began in Moscow at the sound of the alarm bell. And when order was restored in the city, the bell was punished for disclosing bad news - they were deprived of the language. In those days it was a common practice to remember at least the history of the bell in Uglich. Since then, the alarm bell fell silent and remained idle for a long time until it was removed to the museum. The height of the Nabatnaya tower is 38 meters.
TSAR
TSAR tower. It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns directly on the wall, and on them there is a peaked roof. There are no powerful walls, no narrow loopholes. But they are of no use to her. Because they were built two centuries later than the rest of the towers and not at all for defense. Previously, there was a small wooden tower at this place, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the Red Square. Previously, there was a small wooden tower at this place, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the Red Square. Later, the smallest tower of the Kremlin was built here and called it the Tsarskaya. Its height is 16.7 meters.
SPASSKAYA (FROLOVSKAYA)
SPASSKAYA (Frolovskaya) tower. Built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari. This name comes from the 17th century, when an icon of the Savior was hung over the gates of this tower. It was erected on the spot where in ancient times the main gates of the Kremlin were located. It, like Nikolskaya, was built to protect the northeastern part of the Kremlin, which had no natural water barriers. The passage gates of the Spasskaya Tower, at that time still Frolovskaya, were considered “holy” by the people. They did not pass through them on horseback and did not pass with their heads covered. Regiments marching on the march passed through these gates, tsars and ambassadors were met here. In the 17th century, the coat of arms of Russia, the double-headed eagle, was hoisted on the tower, and a little later the coats of arms were hoisted on other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658 the Kremlin towers were renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. She was so named in honor of the icon of the Savior of Smolensk, located above the gate of the tower from the side of Red Square, and in honor of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, located above the gate from the Kremlin. In 1851-52. a clock was installed on the Spasskaya Tower, which we still see. Kremlin chimes. Called chimes big clock that have a musical mechanism. At the Kremlin chimes, bells play music. There are eleven of them. One large one, it marks the hours, and ten smaller ones, their melodious chime is heard every 15 minutes. There is a special device in the chimes. It sets the hammer in motion, it strikes the surface of the bells and the sound of the Kremlin chimes sounds. The mechanism of the Kremlin chimes occupies three floors. Previously, the chimes were wound by hand, but now they do it with the help of electricity. The Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with a star is 71 meters.
SENATE
The SENATE Tower was built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari, rises behind the Lenin Mausoleum and is named after the Senate, whose green dome rises above the fortress wall. The Senate Tower is one of the oldest in the Kremlin. Built in 1491 in the center of the northeastern part of the Kremlin wall, it performed only defensive functions - it protected the Kremlin from Red Square. The height of the tower is 34.3 meters.
NIKOLSKAYA
NIKOLSKAYA Tower is located at the beginning of Red Square. In ancient times, there was a monastery of St. Nicholas the Old nearby, and an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed above the gate of the tower. The gate tower, built in 1491 by the architect Pietro Solari, was one of the main defensive redoubts in the eastern part of the Kremlin wall. The name of the tower comes from the St. Nicholas Monastery, located nearby. Therefore, an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed over the travel gates of the archer. Like all towers with entrance gates, Nikolskaya had a drawbridge across the moat and protective bars that were lowered during the battle. The Nikolskaya Tower went down in history in 1612, when militia troops led by Minin and Pozharsky broke into the Kremlin through its gates, liberating Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. In 1812, the Nikolskaya Tower, along with many others, was blown up by Napoleon's troops retreating from Moscow. The upper part of the tower was especially damaged. In 1816, it was replaced by the architect O.I. Bove with a new needle-shaped dome in pseudo-Gothic style. In 1917 the tower suffered again. This time from artillery fire. In 1935, the dome of the tower was crowned with a five-pointed star. In the 20th century, the tower was restored in 1946-1950s and in 1973-1974s. Now the height of the tower is 70.5 meters.
CORNER ARSENAL (DOG)
CORNER ARSENAL tower built in 1492 by Pietro Antonio Solari and located further away, in the corner of the Kremlin. It received its first name at the beginning of the 18th century, after the construction of the Arsenal building on the territory of the Kremlin, the second comes from the nearby estate of the Sobakin boyars. There is a well in the dungeon of the corner Arsenal tower. He is over 500 years old. It is filled from an ancient source and therefore there is always clean and fresh water in it. Previously, there was an underground passage from the Arsenal Tower to the Neglinnaya River. The height of the tower is 60.2 meters.
AVERAGE ARSENAL (FACETED)
The MIDDLE ARSENAL tower rises from the side of the Alexander Garden and is called so because right behind it there was a warehouse of weapons. It was built in 1493-1495. After the construction of the Arsenal building, the tower got its name. Near the tower in 1812 a grotto was erected - one of the attractions of the Alexander Garden. The height of the tower is 38.9 meters.
TRINITY
The TROITSKAYA tower is named after the church and the Trinity Compound, which were once nearby on the territory of the Kremlin. Troitskaya Tower is the tallest tower in the Kremlin. The height of the tower at present, together with the star from the direction of the Alexander Garden, is 80 meters. The Trinity Bridge, protected by the Kutafya Tower, leads to the gates of the Trinity Tower. The gates of the tower serve as the main entrance for visitors to the Kremlin. Built in 1495-1499. Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin Milanets. The tower was called differently: Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya and Karetnaya. It received its current name in 1658 after the name of the Trinity Compound of the Kremlin. The two-storey base of the tower housed a prison in the 16th-17th centuries. From 1585 to 1812 there was a clock on the tower. At the end of the 17th century, the tower received a multi-tiered tent superstructure with white stone decorations. In 1707, due to the threat of a Swedish invasion, the loopholes of the Trinity Tower were expanded for heavy cannons. Until 1935, an imperial double-headed eagle was installed on top of the tower. By the next date of the October Revolution, it was decided to remove the eagle and install red stars on it and the rest of the main towers of the Kremlin. The double-headed eagle of the Trinity Tower turned out to be the oldest - manufactured in 1870 and prefabricated on bolts, therefore, when dismantled, it had to be dismantled at the top of the tower. In 1937, the faded semi-precious star was replaced with a modern ruby one.
KUTAFIA
KUTAFYA tower (connected by a bridge with Troitskaya). Her name is associated with this: in the old days, a casually dressed, clumsy woman was called a kutafya. Indeed, the Kutafya tower is not high, like the others, but squat and wide. The tower was built in 1516 under the leadership of the Milanese architect Aleviz Fryazin. Low, surrounded by a moat and the Neglinnaya River, with the only gate, which in moments of danger was tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge, the tower was a formidable barrier for the besiegers of the fortress. She had loopholes of the plantar battle and machicolations. In the XVI-XVII centuries, the water level in the Neglinnaya River was raised high by dams, so that the water surrounded the tower from all sides. Its initial height above ground level was 18 meters. It was possible to enter the tower from the side of the city only on an inclined bridge. There are two versions of the origin of the name "Kutafya": from the word "kut" - shelter, corner, or from the word "kutafya", denoting a full, clumsy woman. The Kutafya Tower has never been covered. In 1685, it was crowned with an openwork "crown" with white stone details.
KOMENDANTSKAYA (KOLYMAZHNAYA)
COMMENDANT'S TOWER got its name in the 19th century, since the commandant of Moscow was located in the building nearby. The tower was built in 1493-1495 on the northwestern side of the Kremlin wall, which today stretches along the Alexander Garden. It was formerly called Kolymazhnaya after the Kolymazhny yard located near it in the Kremlin. In 1676-1686 it was built on. The tower is made up of a massive quadrangle with machicolations (mounted loopholes) and a parapet and an open tetrahedron standing on it, completed with a pyramidal roof, an observation tower and an octagonal ball. In the main volume of the tower there are three tiers of rooms covered with barrel vaults; vaults are covered and tiers of completion. In the 19th century, the tower was called “Komendantskaya”, when the commandant of Moscow settled in the Poteshny Palace of the 17th century near the Kremlin. The height of the tower from the Alexander Garden is 41.25 meters.
ARMORY(STABLE)
The ARMORY tower, which once stood on the banks of the Neglinnaya River, now enclosed in an underground pipe, was named after the nearby Armory, the second comes from the nearby Stables Yard. Once upon a time, ancient weapons workshops were located next to it. They also made precious dishes and jewelry. The ancient workshops gave the name not only to the tower, but also to a wonderful museum located next to the Kremlin wall - the Armory. Many Kremlin treasures and simply very ancient things are collected here. For example, helmets and chain mail of ancient Russian warriors. The height of the Armory Tower is 32.65 meters.
BOROVITSKAYA (PREDTECHENSKAYA)
Built in 1490 by Pietro Antonio Solari. Travel card. The first name of the tower - the original, comes from the Borovitsky hill, on the slope of which the tower stands; the name of the hill apparently comes from ancient forest that grew up in this place. The second name, assigned by the royal decree of 1658, comes from the nearby Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist and the icon of St. John the Baptist, located above the gate. At present, it is the main passage for government motorcades. The height of the tower is 54 meters.
VODOVZVODNAYA (SVIBLOV)
WATER TOWER - so named because of the car that was here once. She raised water from a well, arranged at the bottom to the very top of the tower into a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes into royal palace in the Kremlin. Thus, in the old days, the Kremlin had its own water supply system. He worked for a long time, but then the car was dismantled and taken to St. Petersburg. There it was used for the device of fountains. The height of the Vodovzvodnaya tower with a star is 61.45 meters. The second name of the tower is associated with the boyar surname Sviblo, or the Sviblovs, who were responsible for its construction.
BLAGOVESCHENSKAYA
Blagoveshchenskaya tower. According to legend, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously kept in this tower, and in 1731 the Church of the Annunciation was attached to this tower. Most likely, the name of the tower is associated with one of these facts. In the 17th century, for the passage of laundresses to the Moscow River, a gate was made near the tower, called Portomoinny. In 1831 they were laid down, and in Soviet times the Church of the Annunciation was also dismantled. The height of the Annunciation Tower with a weather vane is 32.45 meters.
TAINITSKAYA
TAYNITSKAYA tower - the first tower laid down during the construction of the Kremlin. It was named so because a secret underground passage led from it to the river. It was intended to be able to take water in case the fortress was besieged by enemies. The height of the Tainitskaya tower is 38.4 meters.
PETROVSKAYA (UGRESHSKAYA)
The PETROVSKAYA tower, together with two nameless ones, was built to reinforce the southern wall, as it was the most frequently attacked. Like the two nameless ones, the Petrovsky Tower did not have a name at first. She received her name from the church of Metropolitan Peter at the Ugreshsky Compound in the Kremlin. In 1771 during construction Kremlin Palace the tower, the church of Metropolitan Peter and the Ugreshskoe metochion were dismantled. In 1783 the tower was rebuilt, but in 1812 the French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818, the Petrovsky Tower was restored again. It was used for their needs by the Kremlin gardeners. The height of the tower is 27.15 meters.
