The Moscow Kremlin is the main attraction of the city. Getting to it is easy enough. There are several metro stations, leaving which you can walk to the Kremlin. The Alexandrovsky Garden station will take you, as you can easily guess, straight to the Alexander Garden. There you will already see the Kutafya Tower, where they sell tickets to the Kremlin and the Armory. You can also go to the metro station. Library them. IN AND. Lenin. In this case, the Kutafya tower will be visible across the road. The stations Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Kitay-gorod will take you to Red Square, only from different directions. The first is from the side of the State Historical Museum, the second is from the side. You can also get off at Okhotny Ryad - if you want to take a walk along the shopping row of the same name. Just be prepared for unusual prices)).

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

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

History of the Moscow Kremlin.

The word "Kremlin" is very ancient. The Kremlin or citadel in Rus' was called the fortified part in the center of the city, in other words, the fortress. Times were different in the old days. It happened that Russian cities were attacked by countless enemy forces. It was then that the inhabitants of the city gathered under the protection of their Kremlin. Old and young hid behind its powerful walls, and those who could hold weapons in their hands defended themselves from enemies from the walls of the Kremlin.

The first settlement on the site of the Kremlin appeared about 4,000 years ago. This has been established by archaeologists. Fragments of clay pots, stone axes and flint arrowheads were found here. These things were once used by ancient settlers.

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

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

It is known that the first wooden walls on the site of the Kremlin were built in 1156 by order of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. These data are preserved in ancient chronicles. At the beginning of the 14th century, Ivan Kalita began to rule the city. Kalita in ancient Rus' was called a bag for money. The prince was so nicknamed because he accumulated great wealth and always carried a small bag of money with him. Prince Kalita decided to decorate and fortify his city. He ordered the Kremlin to build new walls. They were cut down from strong oak trunks, so thick that they could not be wrapped around with hands.

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

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

The white-stone Kremlin stood for more than 100 years. During this time, a lot has changed. Russian lands united into one strong state. Moscow became its capital. It happened under the Moscow Prince Ivan III. Since then, he began to be called the Grand Duke of All Rus', and historians call him "the collector of the Russian land."

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

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

built new Kremlin 10 years. The fortress was protected from two sides by rivers, and at the beginning of the 16th century. a wide ditch was dug on the third side of the Kremlin. He connected two rivers. Now the Kremlin was protected from all sides by water barriers. erected one after another, equipped with their diversion archers for greater defense. Along with the renewal of the fortress walls, the construction of such well-known ones as Uspensky, Arkhangelsk and Blagoveshchensky took place.

After the crowning of the Romanovs, the construction of the Kremlin went at an accelerated pace. The Filaret belfry was built next to the bell tower of Ivan the Great, Teremnaya, Poteshny palaces, the Patriarch's chambers and the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles. Under Peter I, the building of the Arsenal was erected. But after the transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg, they stopped building new buildings.

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

During the invasion of Napoleon, the Kremlin was inflicted huge damage. Churches were desecrated, looted, and part of the walls, towers and buildings were blown up during the retreat. In 1816-19. restoration work was carried out in the Kremlin. By 1917 There were 31 temples in the Kremlin.

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

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. new era, and the next - to the 8-3 centuries BC. The settlement of this time presumably had defensive fortifications, in particular, they could also serve as two ravines, 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 a 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 earlier the territory of the Kremlin was built up only with wooden structures, now buildings of white stone have been erected 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 the 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 - double-headed eagle- became the coat of arms of Rus', and Moscow and the Moscow prince acquired 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 calling card 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.

Kremlin during the reign of Ivan the Terrible

In the Assumption Cathedral, in 1547 Grand Duke 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 special meaning began to acquire ceremonial moments in the life of the ruler of the Russian state. 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 the new center Moscow public life- Red Square.

Return of the ancient Russian city of Polotsk during 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 the business and administrative center of 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 questions foreign policy 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 the most early plans Moscow and the Kremlin, for example, the document "Kremlenagrad" dating back to 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 due to the fact that the Northern War was going on and Charles XII was going to attack 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, the southeastern part of Borovitsky Hill was exposed, which was no longer built up.

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. The most famous architects of Russia set about restoring 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. a palace complex in the "Russian style" was built on the territory of the Kremlin. 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 place of activity of the highest bodies of state power, 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 values ​​​​were taken out of the Kremlin, and the architectural complex, fortunately, was practically not damaged. 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 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. All the museums that were located in the Kremlin were combined into the Moscow Kremlin State Historical and Cultural Reserve, which includes: the Armory, the Assumption, Archangel, 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 architectural ensemble of the bell tower of Ivan the Great.

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:


8th-3rd centuries BC - the first traces human activity on the territory of the Kremlin
Early 12th century - the emergence of the settlement-ancestor of Moscow
1156 - the construction of new fortress walls of the Kremlin by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky
1329 - the church of St. John of the Ladder appeared with a bell tower
1331 - the name Kremlin is mentioned for the first time in the Resurrection Chronicle
1333 - the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael was built on the territory of the Kremlin
1365 - The Kremlin suffered from a severe fire
Late 15th century – The Kremlin is a stone fortified fortress wall
1475-1479 - under the leadership of the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti, a new Assumption Cathedral was built
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
1505-1508 - the bell tower of Ivan the Great was built on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin
1563-1566 - by order of Ivan the Terrible, the Church of the Annunciation was rebuilt
1586 - Tsar Cannon was cast
1635-1636 Russian architects Bazhen Ogurtsov, Antip Konstantinov, Trefil Sharutin and Larion Ushakov built the Terem Palace on the territory of the Kremlin for Sovereign Mikhail Fedorovich
15th-17th centuries – completion of the formation of the complex of Kremlin towers
1733-1735 - the Tsar Bell is cast
1756-1764 - the building of the Gallery of the Armory was built
1736 - Arsenal completed
1776-1787 - the building of the Senate is being erected in the Kremlin
1812 - The Kremlin is significantly destroyed
1838-1851 - a palace complex in the Russian style is being built on the territory of the Kremlin
1918 - the government of the Soviet Republic is located in the Kremlin
1935 - double-headed eagles on the Kremlin towers were replaced with ruby ​​stars
1929 - Chudov and Ascension monasteries were destroyed, and the building of the Military School grew in their place
1961 - the Palace of Congresses was built
1917 - 1918 – large-scale reconstruction works are being carried out on the territory of the Kremlin
1991 - The Kremlin becomes the residence of the President of Russia
1997 - repair and restoration work is carried out in the Moscow Kremlin

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


Appolinary Vasnetsov. The heyday of the Kremlin at the end of the 17th century

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

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

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

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



First detailed plan Moscow Kremlin, 1601

The architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin includes 4 palaces and 4 cathedrals, the southern wall faces the Moscow River, the eastern one faces Red Square, and the northwestern one faces the Alexander Garden. Currently, the Kremlin is an independent administrative unit within Moscow and is included in the list of world natural and cultural heritage UNESCO.



Plan of the Moscow Kremlin presented on its official website

Listing all the events that took place over the course of more than 900 years of the history of the Moscow Kremlin is not an easy task. Interestingly, the first human settlements on Borovitsky Hill are dated by archaeologists to the 2nd millennium BC. At that time, the construction site of the future Kremlin was completely covered with dense forests, hence the name of the hill - Borovitsky.

Other archaeological finds found on the territory of the Kremlin date back to the period of the 8th-3rd centuries BC, scientists suggest that even then, on the site where the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin is now located, the first wooden fortifications. You can see items related to the everyday life of the ancient inhabitants of the Kremlin Mountain in the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral, where the exhibition "Archaeology of the Moscow Kremlin" operates.

From the 12th century until the first half of the 13th century, a border fortress was located on the site of the Moscow Kremlin, which became the beginning of the history of Moscow. Archaeologists managed to discover an ancient cemetery of the 12th century, which was located on the site of the Assumption Cathedral, presumably, there was also a wooden church nearby.



Border fortress on the site of the Moscow Kremlin, watercolor by G.V. Borisevich

The founder of Moscow, Vladimir-Suzdal Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, laid a fortress at the mouth of the Neglinnaya River, a little higher than the Yauza River. The new fortress united 2 fortified centers located on the Borovitsky hill into a single whole. The fortress, which stood on the site of the future Kremlin, occupied an irregular triangle between the current Trinity, Borovitsky and Tainitsky gates.



Monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow

During this period, Moscow and the Kremlin experienced numerous internecine wars of the Russian princes, a severe fire and looting overtook the city during the invasion of Batu Khan, so that the wooden structures of the old Kremlin were seriously damaged.

The first "high-ranking person" who settled in the Moscow Kremlin was Prince Daniel - the youngest son of Prince Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir, then the son of Moscow Prince Daniel - Ivan Kalita ruled in Moscow, who did a lot to make the city one of the largest and strongest in the world. Rus'. Ivan Kalita was also engaged in the arrangement of his residence, which, under him, in 1331 received its current name - the Moscow Kremlin and became a separate, main part of the city.

In 1326-1327, the Assumption Cathedral was erected - already at that time it became the main temple of the principality, and in 1329 the construction of the church and the bell tower of John of the Ladder was completed. IN next year in the Kremlin, the domes of the Cathedral of the Savior on Bor rose, and in 1333 the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael was built, in which Ivan Kalita himself, his children and grandchildren, were then buried. These first not wooden, but white-stone temples of Moscow later determined the spatial composition of the Kremlin center, in its main features it is still preserved today.

By the way, it was under Ivan Kalita, in the first half of the 14th century, that the treasury of the Moscow princes began to form, the place of storage of which, of course, became the Kremlin. One of the main items of the treasury was the “golden hat” — scientists identify it with the famous Monomakh’s hat, which served as a crown for all Moscow rulers.



Moscow Kremlin under Ivan Kalita, painting by A.M. Vasnetsov

In 1365, after another fire, Prince Dmitry (in 1380, after the victory over Mamai, he received the nickname Donskoy), who ruled at that time in Moscow, decided to build towers and fortifications of stone, for which they brought to Borovitsky Hill in the winter of 1367 sleigh limestone. In the spring of the same year, the construction of the first white-stone fortress of North-Eastern Rus' began.

Cathedral Square became the cult center of the Kremlin, on which the wooden princely chambers, the white-stone Annunciation Cathedral were located, Metropolitan Alexei founded the Chudov Monastery in the eastern part of the Kremlin, and the residence of the Metropolitan himself was located in the Kremlin.

In 1404, on a special tower of the Moscow Kremlin, the Athos monk Lazar, a Serb, installed a special city clock, which became the first in the territory of Rus'.

In the second half of the 15th century, a grandiose restructuring of the Moscow Kremlin began, after which it acquired modern features familiar to every Russian. Prince Ivan the Third, who married Sophia Paleolog, Byzantine princess, was able to complete the unification of the principalities of Rus' and Moscow acquired a new status - the capital of a large state. Naturally, the residence of the head of such a vast country needed alteration and expansion.

In 1475-1479, the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti erected a new Assumption Cathedral, which was the main temple of the Moscow principality under Ivan Kalita, and now has received the status of the main cathedral of the Russian state.



Assumption Cathedral on a postcard from the early 20th century

Another Italian architect, Aleviz Novy, was engaged in the construction of the grand-ducal temple-tomb - the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. On the western side of the square, the palace of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan the Third was erected, which included the Middle Golden Chamber, the Embankment Chamber and the Great Faceted Chamber, that is whole complex front buildings. Unfortunately, not all of them have survived to this day.



Moscow Kremlin at the end of the 15th century, painting by A.M. Vasnetsov

After the Italian masters erected new towers and walls of the Kremlin, many foreign guests began to call the building a castle, similar to which the battlements on the walls give the complex. The Moscow Kremlin was also compared with the Scaliger castle in Verona and the famous Sforza castle in Milan. However, unlike these buildings, the Kremlin became not only the residence of the ruler of the country, but also the center of the cultural, religious life of the entire state, here are the most famous temples of Rus', the residence of the metropolitan and monasteries.

Of course, the history of the Moscow Kremlin is inextricably linked with the history of the princes, tsars and emperors who ruled the Moscow principality, then the kingdom, and after - Russian Empire. So, Tsar Ivan the Fourth (better known as the Terrible), who came to the throne in 1547, also did a lot to form the Kremlin ensemble. Under him, the Church of the Annunciation was rebuilt, and orders were placed on Ivanovskaya Square, including the Ambassadorial Order, which was in charge of receiving foreign guests. Already then there was the Armory, also on the territory of the Kremlin there were royal stables, a sleeping chamber, storage facilities and workshops.



In 1652-1656, Patriarch Nikon was involved in the reconstruction of the patriarchal palace in the Kremlin, the treasures of the Patriarchal sacristy were stored in this building, and church councils met in the Cross Chamber and feasts were held for distinguished guests.

Only in 1712, after Peter the Great decided to move the capital to the newly built St. Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin lost the status of the permanent and only residence of the rulers of the state, in addition, early 18th century was marked for Moscow by a new devastating fire. When restoring the damaged parts of the Kremlin, it was decided to build an Arsenal between the Sobakina and Troitskaya towers.

In 1749-1753, the old chambers of the Sovereign's Court dating back to the 15th century were dismantled; on their foundations, the famous architect F.-B. Rastrelli erected a new stone Winter Palace in the Baroque style. The building faced on one side to the Moskva River, and on the other - to the Cathedral Square.

In 1756-1764, the architect D.V. Ukhtomsky erected a new building of the Armory Gallery between the Archangel and Annunciation Cathedrals, but then, in the course of planning a large-scale reconstruction of the Kremlin, this building was demolished. The idea of ​​V.I. Bazhenov to build a new palace was never realized, however, in the course of preparing for the start of this project, the Kremlin lost many ancient buildings.

In 1776-1787, the architect M. F. Kazakov, by decree of Catherine the Second, built the Senate building opposite the Arsenal, and only then Senate Square acquired its completed look.



In 1810, by decree of Emperor Alexander the First, the Armory was erected, architect I.V. Egotov managed to fit the new building into the ensemble of the Kremlin, as a result of the construction a new Kremlin square appeared - Troitskaya, formed between the new museum building, the Arsenal and the Trinity Tower.

The Kremlin was seriously damaged during the Napoleonic invasion; after the fire of 1812, many of the blown up and burnt buildings of the complex had to be restored.

In 1838-1851, in accordance with the decree of Emperor Nicholas I, a new palace complex was built in the Moscow Kremlin, designed in the “national Russian style”. It included the building of the Apartments, the Grand Kremlin Palace, erected on the site of the Winter Palace, and the more solemn building of the museum - the Moscow Armory. The architect Konstantin Ton carried out construction strictly within the boundaries of the ancient Sovereign's Court, took into account all the historical features, managed to combine in one composition both new buildings and architectural monuments of the 15th-17th centuries. At the same time, the reconstruction of old churches was also carried out. New buildings formed in the Moscow Kremlin and a new area - Imperial or Palace.

Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the Moscow Kremlin was considered a monument of history and architecture. Nicholas II intended to turn the Poteshny Palace into a museum dedicated to the Patriotic War of 1812, but 1917 crossed out all the plans of the emperor.

As you know, after the coup, the Bolshevik government moved from St. Petersburg to the Kremlin and until 1953, that is, until the death of Stalin, who occupied an office and an apartment in the Kremlin, the complex was closed to ordinary tourists and Muscovites.

In 1935, the Kremlin lost its double-headed eagles, and in 1937, luminous ruby ​​stars were installed in their place on the Spasskaya, Borovitskaya, Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Vodovzvodnaya towers.



On the site of the demolished Ascension and Chudov monasteries, the building of the Military School was erected, which greatly changed the appearance of the architectural complex.

Interestingly, during the Great Patriotic War, the Kremlin was practically not damaged, despite the massive bombardments that hit Moscow in 1941 and 1942. The authorities evacuated the treasures of the Armory, and in the event of the surrender of the capital to the German troops, a plan was provided for mining the main buildings of the complex.



In 1955, the Moscow Kremlin reopened its doors to ordinary visitors, the Museum of Applied Arts and Life of Russia of the 17th century, located in the Patriarchal Palace, began its work. The last large-scale construction on the territory of the Kremlin was the construction in 1961 of the Palace of Congresses, which many modern architects and ordinary Muscovites call “glass against the backdrop of the ancient Kremlin” and consider its construction to be another crime of the Soviet regime.

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

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

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

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

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

The archaeologist Shcherbatov also found a secret passage connecting the Nikolskaya tower with the Corner Arsenal, however, in 1920, all information, photographs taken by scientists and reports on the passages found were classified by the Bolsheviks and became a state secret. It is possible that the new authorities have decided to use the secret passages of the Kremlin for their own purposes.

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

By the way, the very name of the Tainitskaya tower clearly indicates that there was a hiding place under it, there are references to the construction of secret passages in the annals that recorded the process of building towers in the 15th century.


Tainitskaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin

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


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

There were remains of underground passages in various parts of the Moscow Kremlin more than once, almost during each reconstruction, but most often such dead ends, failures or vaults were simply walled up or even poured with concrete.

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

There are in the Moscow Kremlin, of course, and their ghosts. So, in the Commandant's Tower they saw a disheveled, pale woman with a revolver in her hand, in which they allegedly recognized Fanny Kaplan, who was shot by the then Kremlin commandant.

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

Flickers sometimes over the teeth of the Moscow Kremlin and the ghost of the Pretender - False Dmitry executed here. The Constantino-Eleninskaya Tower also enjoys a bad reputation - here, too, in the 17th century there was a torture chamber and a case was recorded of the appearance of drops of blood on the masonry, which then disappeared on their own.

Another ghostly inhabitant of the Moscow Kremlin, of course, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who was seen both in his office and in former apartment. Stalin's well-known comrade-in-arms, the head of the NKVD Yezhov, "visited" his former office ... But Iosif Vissarionovich himself was never noted in an appearance in the Kremlin after March 5, 1953.

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

Data

If we talk about the Moscow Kremlin only from the point of view of a large-scale complex of buildings, it is impossible not to mention all its structures.

So, the architectural complex of the Moscow Kremlin includes 20 towers: Tainitskaya, Beklemishevskaya, Blagoveshchenskaya, Vodovzvodnaya, Petrovskaya tower, Borovitskaya, First Nameless, Second Nameless, Konstantin-Eleninskaya, Nikolskaya, Spasskaya, Corner Arsenalnaya, Nabatnaya, Senatskaya, Middle Arsenalnaya, Armory, Komendantskaya, Troitskaya, Tsarskaya and Kutafya.

Each of the towers has its own history, purpose and a special architectural image. The most famous of them is, of course, the Spasskaya Tower with its famous clock, which appeared on the tower erected in 1491 in 1625 according to the project of Christopher Galoway and subsequently changed and improved several times.


The modern Kremlin chimes were made in 1852 by the Russian watchmakers brothers Budenop, in 1917 the clock suffered from a shell hit, and after repair in 1918, the “Internationale” began to play, the last restoration of the chimes was carried out in 1999.

The Kremlin complex also includes five squares: Troitskaya, Dvortsovaya, Senatskaya, Ivanovskaya and Sobornaya.

Located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin and 18 buildings: the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin on the Senyakh, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Assumption Cathedral, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral, the Faceted Chamber, the Ensemble of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, the Terem Palace, the Golden Tsarina's Chamber, the Upper Savior Cathedral and the Terem churches, the Arsenal, The Patriarchal Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the Senate, the Poteshny Palace, the Grand Kremlin Palace, the State Kremlin Palace, the Armory and the Military School named after the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

It is impossible not to mention such significant objects of the Kremlin, which attract millions of tourists, such as the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell.

The Tsar Bell is indeed the largest bell in the world, created back in 1733-1735 by order of Anna Ivanovna, and installed in the Kremlin as a monument to foundry craftsmanship. And the Tsar Cannon, with its caliber of 890 millimeters, is still the largest artillery piece on the planet. The cannon, weighing 40 tons, did not have to fire a single shot, but it became an excellent decoration for the museum composition of the Moscow Kremlin.

Yes, and the Moscow Kremlin itself is rightfully considered the largest in Europe, preserved, operating and currently used architectural and historical complex.



Currently, on the territory of the Kremlin there is the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin", numerous exhibitions, exhibits and relics of which are available to everyone who wants to see with their own eyes all the beauty and charm of the ancient building.

Not so long ago, Vladimir Kozhin, managing director of the President of the Russian Federation, said that even after the expansion of Moscow and the relocation of all departments and ministries to new locations, the presidential administration and the head of state himself would still remain in the Kremlin. Apparently, the country's leadership is well aware that best place to receive foreign guests and govern the state is difficult to find. And you can’t break the centuries-old traditions in any way ...

Anna Sedykh, rmnt.ru

The main sights of Russia are the Moscow Kremlin and the monuments located within it. These famous buildings attract thousands of tourists every day. For many centuries the Kremlin has been the center of social, political and religious life of Muscovites and residents of other Russian cities. It still remains the main asset of the country.

The Moscow Kremlin keeps many interesting stories. It is impossible to see all the sights of this ensemble in a day. Surprisingly, not every Russian today knows when this complex was built. Few are also able to answer the question of what does not apply to the sights of the Moscow Kremlin.

Acquaintance with the capital should start from the center. Here are concentrated historical monuments that will not leave anyone indifferent. They give a complete picture of the life of the Russian people, its history and cultural values.

History of the Kremlin

The sights of the Moscow Kremlin survived different times. Their history began in the 12th century, when a small wooden fortress was built on Borovitsky Hill, at the confluence of the Moscow River and the Neglinka. It was subsequently destroyed by the Tatar-Mongols. But later it was restored using a more durable material - stone. The fortress was called the Moscow Kremlin. So it became the official residence of the Russian princes.

The second half of the 15th century was not the best time for the Kremlin buildings. The buildings were dilapidated, which caused the construction of new chambers and churches, which are partially preserved to this day.

The Assumption, Annunciation Cathedral, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe were built in the city. New churches appeared at the monasteries. In addition, the Grand Duke's Palace and the Palace of Facets were erected. In the 15th century, the famous red brick walls and openwork towers along the entire perimeter appeared near the Kremlin. The construction was completed in the 17th century. During the reign of Peter I, the importance for political life the sights of the Moscow Kremlin have been lost. The capital moved to Petersburg. However, the Kremlin continued to build. At the same time, the building of the Arsenal was built, later - the Senate.

With the outbreak of the war of 1812, the Moscow Kremlin and its buildings were partially destroyed. The greatest destruction awaited historical monument during the Soviet era. Twenty-eight buildings were destroyed, monasteries and churches were blown up. It was then that red stars appeared on the Kremlin towers.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Germans failed to destroy the Kremlin, but it still required serious restoration work. In 1990 it was included in the UNESCO list. Today it is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Partially the entrance to the Kremlin is limited.

Attractions

The Moscow Kremlin and other attractions located near it make up a full-fledged ensemble. The length of its walls is more than two thousand meters, and the height reaches nineteen meters.

The walls of the Kremlin were erected in the form of an irregular triangle. Seventeen towers have a square section, and three are round, which allows them to be located in the corners of the walls. The Spasskaya Tower is the tallest in this ensemble - seventy-one meters. The architectural style of the Moscow Kremlin is unified. Only the Nikolskaya Tower differs, which was rebuilt in the 19th century under the Gothic style. The complete ensemble of Kremlin attractions consists of twenty towers, seven cathedrals, nine administrative buildings and museums, five squares and gardens, and two monuments.

Monuments

Most of the guests of the capital do not know what the sights of the Moscow Kremlin are. All ensembles located within its walls, including Red Square, are considered the main symbols of the Kremlin. The famous monuments of the ensemble include the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell.

The Tsar Cannon was cast in bronze in 1586. Its main purpose is to protect the Kremlin, but in its entire history the famous cannon has not fired a single shot. The weight of this gun is thirty-nine tons.

The Tsar Bell has also never been used for its intended purpose. Its weight is two hundred and two tons. In 1737, it fell during a fire, and a large piece broke off from it. The masters could not restore the bell.

The buildings

Today, the Moscow Kremlin is not only an open museum, but also the residence of the President of Russia. Some buildings are closed to tourists. The exception is the buildings that are located on its territory and represent a special huge historical and cultural value. So, tourists can visit the Grand Kremlin Palace only as part of a group tour. You must sign up for it in advance.

The State Kremlin Palace hosts concerts, festivals and other significant events. The sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are always open to tourist groups, foreign visitors who want to get acquainted with the history of the country.

Cathedrals and churches

Perhaps the most important sights of the Moscow Kremlin are churches and cathedrals. They are a symbol of the spiritual wealth of the Russian people and have great historical value. Most of the cathedrals were built in the 15th century.

The Assumption Cathedral occupies the main place on the Kremlin Square. This is the oldest building in the capital. Russian tsars were crowned within its walls. It was here that the most important decisions for the state were made. The Archangel Cathedral was built in 1508. It contains fifty-four burials. This is the tomb of the sovereigns of Moscow. Cathedral of the Annunciation, Church of the Position of the Robe Holy Mother of God and the Church of the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles in the Patriarchal Chambers also belong to the Kremlin sights.

Armouries

The Moscow Kremlin, Red Square are the sights of Russia, which should be visited by a foreign tourist. The Armory is the Kremlin treasury. Here you can see items of jewelry art, jewelry that belonged to Russian tsars and rulers of the XII-XX centuries.

Guests of the capital will be able to see in the Armory the Monomakh's hat, decorated with expensive gems, the throne, the Gospels, carriages, Russian and European weapons. In a word, everything that once belonged to the Moscow tsars. The Diamond Fund, located in a separate room, will surely appeal to visitors. It is here that precious stones in a single, unique copy and valuable jewelry are stored. The Armory also contains items of particular value. These are the scepter of the Empress, crowns, the Orlov diamond, the Shah diamond, the imperial orb, the sign and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, adorned with diamonds.

Towers and walls

The most frequently visited sights of Moscow by tourists are the Moscow Kremlin and its buildings. This is not surprising, because it is the center of the capital and all of Russia.

The peculiarity of the Kremlin is that it is surrounded by high and strong walls around the perimeter. They were built in the 15th century by architects from Italy. All twenty towers are not similar to each other. The most notable towers are Taynitskaya and Spasskaya. The name of the first comes from the word "secret", as a secret passage passed through it. The second tower is one of the most famous. It faces Red Square, its main entrance opens only at special occasions. The Spasskaya Tower is well-known to most because of the chimes installed in its facade. The ensemble of towers also includes the Nikolskaya Tower, Sredny Arsenalskaya, Troitskaya, Borovitskaya, Vodovzvodnaya, Kutafya and many others.

The Moscow Kremlin is a historical, cultural and religious complex in the center of Moscow, an ancient fortress with a unique ensemble of monuments, included in the UNESCO heritage list, as well as the official residence of the President of Russia.

The Kremlin is located on the left bank of the Moskva River, on Borovitsky Hill. IN state of the art the area of ​​the Kremlin in Moscow is 27.5 hectares.

The modern State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin" was organized in October 1991 on the basis of not only the Armory, but also created in Soviet years the Museum of Applied Arts, as well as the Kremlin cathedrals, which were already museum sites at that time.

Currently, the list of museums of the Moscow Kremlin includes:

  • Armouries;
  • Complex of the Patriarch's Chambers;
  • Assumption Cathedral;
  • Cathedral of the Archangel;
  • Blagoveshchensky cathedral;
  • Church of the Deposition of the Robe;
  • Ensemble of the bell tower "Ivan the Great".

Information about exhibitions is updated on the website of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin".

Please note: The Moscow Kremlin museums DO NOT include the Diamond Fund, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Lenin Mausoleum.

Concerts in the Kremlin in Moscow

The main concert venue on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin is the State Kremlin Palace, built in 1961, until 1992 it was called the Kremlin Palace of Congresses. From the first days of operation, the palace combines the functions of a theater and concert venue and a venue for socio-political forums.

Now the best symphony orchestras, jazz and vocal groups, individual performers are performing on the Kremlin stage; major music competitions are held. The building houses the Kremlin Ballet Theater with a regular program.

The poster of concerts in the Kremlin in 2019 is available on the website of the State Kremlin Palace.

Concert events within the framework of festivals and exhibitions are held in the museum premises of the Kremlin. Their poster is on the website of the museum-reserve.

Scheme of the Moscow Kremlin

Kremlin towers, squares, sights on the territory, museum ticket offices are marked and signed on maps.

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Prices in the Moscow Kremlin in 2019

Established prices in the museum-reserve:

  • The territory of the Kremlin and the exhibition - 500 rubles;
  • Two cathedrals - 500 rubles. for an adult, 250 rubles. — for students and pensioners;
  • Armory - 700 rubles. for an adult, 350 rubles. - for students and pensioners.

Free admission to the Kremlin museums for persons under 16 and special categories of citizens.

It is also recommended to check the cost of tickets on the website of the Kremlin Museums, tickets to the Armory are sold online.

Prices for visiting other exhibition sites in the Kremlin:

  • Diamond Fund - 500 rubles. full, 100 rubles. preferential.
  • The mausoleum is located outside the Kremlin, on Red Square. Entrance is free, but getting into the mausoleum is problematic due to the specific work schedule: these are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00.

Opening hours of the Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin Museum-Reserve operates according to the following schedule:

  • Museum opening hours - from 10:00 to 17:00;
  • Ticket offices are open from 9:30 to 16:30;
  • Day off is Thursday.

Separate schedule at the Armory: from 10:00 to 18:00, except Thursday. Attention - visiting only by sessions: 10:00, 12:00, 14:30, 16:30.

The Diamond Fund in the Armory building is available from 10:00 to 17:20, except Thursday. Sessions are every 20 minutes.

How to get to the Moscow Kremlin

Entrance to the territory of the Moscow Kremlin for most visitors is available only with tickets. Ticket offices are located in the Alexander Garden, a map of their location is on the website of the Kremlin museums.

Important point: with printouts of tickets purchased online, you also need to go to the box office to exchange them for entrance tickets. Similarly, for all citizens who have the right to free admission to the Kremlin: you need to go to the box office with supporting documents and get a ticket for free admission.

To avoid standing in queues for tickets, you can book a guided tour.

The entrance to the Armory and the Diamond Fund is through the Borovitsky Gate. Main entrance to the Kremlin - through the Kutafya Tower (ticket control and screening), connected by the Trinity Bridge with the Trinity Tower (actually, the entrance to the Kremlin for tourists).

Excursions to the Kremlin in Moscow

Cognitive excursions to the Moscow Kremlin are held for groups of adults and schoolchildren, individually. The sightseeing route covers the ensemble of the museum complex, as well as the most significant sights on its territory. The guides tell about the history of the Kremlin walls, towers, palaces and museums, about clocks, the Tsar Cannon and the treasures of Tsarist Russia.

You can order a tour of the Kremlin on the project by sending an application to the selected guide or company.

The virtual tour of the Kremlin in 2003-2005 has already become historic. All materials are available on the official website of the presidential administration.

How to get to the Kremlin in Moscow

Public transport to the historical center of Moscow - metro and buses. It is convenient to get from all stations of the capital, remote areas.

How to get to the Kremlin in Moscow by metro

The nearest metro stations to the Kremlin are Alexandrovsky Sad, Biblioteka im. Lenin", "Borovitskaya" form a single interchange hub together with the station "Arbatskaya", but the exit from it is to the side, it is better to follow the signs to the exit from the station "Alexandrovsky Sad" from the side of the Kutafya tower in the subway.

Walking distance to and from the junction of stations " Okhotny Ryad”, “Teatralnaya”, “Revolution Square”, but this option is more relevant for those who get along the Zamoskvoretskaya line to “Teatralnaya” and do not want to make a transfer for the sake of just one more station on the way.

Buses to the Moscow Kremlin

Bus stop next to the entrance to the Kremlin through the Kutafya tower - "Metro" Library named after Lenin "". Suitable flights are 144, K, m1, m2, m3, m6, H1, H2.

Panorama of the Moscow Kremlin from Google Maps. Start of the tour from Trinity Bridge

Video "Moscow Kremlin from a bird's eye view"