The Moscow Kremlin has 21 towers. They are all different, but we usually don't notice it. Each tower has a name, but we don't remember them. And somehow it turns out that 20 sisters remain in the shadow of the Spasskaya Tower. Let's correct this injustice!

I have collected answers to questions that probably worried you, but somehow it is not customary to ask them.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower(height - 57.7 meters to the star) was built in 1488 by the architect Anton Fryazin. The first water supply system was there. This mechanism cost the royal treasury several barrels of gold, but served faithfully until it burned down in 1737.

Annunciation Tower(height - 30.7 meters to the cross) was probably built in 1487-1488. It is easy to distinguish it from other Kremlin towers: the weather vane at the top is decorated not with a flag, but with a willow branch. The tower itself changed its purpose several times: it was a prison, a bell tower, and even a church chapel. And in the 16th century, the icon of the Annunciation was found here.

Taynitskaya(height - 34.8 meters to the weather vane) - the oldest of the Kremlin towers. It was built according to the design of Anton Fryazin in 1485. And until 1917, the Kremlin signal cannon was fired here every day at noon - similar to the shot of the Peter and Paul cannon in St. Petersburg. But in 1930-1933 the archer was dismantled.

First Nameless Tower(height - 34.15 meters) was built in the 1480s. In fact, she had a name. They could call it Porokhovaya, but they did not get used to this name, since the tower could fly into the air at any moment. And these expectations turned out to be true.

Second Nameless Tower(height - 30.2 meters) was built in the 1480s. And in 1771, the tower was dismantled due to the planned construction of a grandiose Kremlin palace. Ironically, this project remained only in plans, and the tower was soon restored.

Architect Petrovskaya Tower(height 27.15 meters) unknown. And they used it... for the household needs of Kremlin gardeners.

Beklemishevskaya tower(height - 46.2 meters) was built in 1487-1488 according to the design of Marco Ruffo. She had to be the first to take the attack from the water. But no one could have imagined that the tower would be used as a prison with a dungeon and a torture chamber.

Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower(height - 36.8 meters) was built according to the design of Pietro Antonio Solari in 1490 on the site of the Timofeevsky Gate of the white stone Kremlin of 1366-1368. Through them, Dmitry Donskoy and his squad went to the Battle of Kulikovo. But the dark period in the history of this place, when it was a torture chamber, is better known.

Alarm Tower(height - 38 meters) was built in the 1490s. In 1771, during the Plague Riot, the rebels called the people to the Kremlin by ringing the alarm bell on this tower. As punishment, Catherine II ordered his tongue to be torn out. The “silent” bell hung like that for more than 30 years. It is now kept in the Armory Chamber. The Alarm Tower can also be called “Moscow Pisa” - it deviates from the vertical by 1 meter.

Tsar's Tower- this very little tower on the Kremlin wall! Its height is 14.5 meters without a weather vane. And it was built in 1680 on the site of a wooden turret, from where, according to legend, Ivan IV watched the events on Red Square.

Spasskaya Tower is familiar to almost everyone, because it is its chimes that count down the new year.

The Spasskaya Tower (height - 71 meters with a star) was built in 1491 according to the design of Pietro Antonio Solari. This is reported by a memorial inscription in Latin - the first memorial plaque in Moscow. And the icon of the Savior of Smolensk, very revered in Moscow, hung above the gates of the tower. All religious processions from the Kremlin went through the gates of the Spasskaya Tower; all the rulers of Russia, starting with Mikhail Fedorovich, passed through them before their coronation. Until 2010, the gate icon of the Savior of Smolensk was considered lost, but turned out to be hidden.

Senate Tower(height - 34.3 meters) was built in the 1490s according to the design of Pietro Antonio Solari. It was intended to protect the Kremlin from Red Square. Perhaps that is why there is a deep well in it, the purpose of which has been the subject of legends.

Nikolskaya Tower(height - 67.1 meters to the star) was built according to the design of Pietro Antonio Solari in 1491. And it received its usual Gothic look after restoration by Osip Bove in 1816-1819.Above the gate of the tower there is an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In the battles of 1917 it was riddled with bullets.After this, a new image appeared in icon painting - St. Nicholas the Wounded, depicting a shelled icon.

Corner Arsenal Tower(height - 60.2 meters) was built in 1492 according to the design of Pietro Antonio Solari to protect the crossing of the Neglinnaya River. Moreover, there was a special well in the tower, which in the event of a siege the garrison of the fortress could use.

U Middle Arsenal Tower(height - 38.9 meters) there are three names (it is also called Granena and Grotskaya). But history has not preserved the name of the tower’s architect.

Predmostnaya Kutafya Tower- the lowest and widest tower of the Kremlin. Moreover, the height of the tower was reduced by 7 meters due to archaeological deposits and is only 13 of the former 20 meters. This is the only surviving archery tower.

Trinity Tower- the second most important tower, after Spasskaya. Firstly, this is the tallest tower of the Kremlin (the height with the star is 80 meters). Secondly, the presidential orchestra is now based there. And thirdly, ceremonial processions once passed through the Trinity Tower, and now it serves as a gateway to the Kremlin for many tourists.

Commandant's Tower(height - 41.25 meters) was built in 1493-1495 according to the design of Aleviz Fryazin. They say that next to her you can see a pale, disheveled woman with a pistol. This is the ghost of Fanny Kaplan, who attempted to assassinate Lenin. She was hastily shot by the Kremlin commandant Malkov. But there are many blank spots left in this story.

weapon tower(height - 38.9 meters) was built in 1493-1495 according to the design of the architect Aleviz Fryazin. Stone fragments can be seen nearby. According to legend, these are the same rubble bricks of the old masonry from which the white stone walls of the Moscow Kremlin were built. It is not surprising that sometimes these pebbles become souvenirs for tourists.

Borovitskaya Tower(height - 50.7 meters without a star) was built by the architect Pietro Antonio Solari in 1490. Moreover, the tower has a twin sister in Kazan - the legendary tower of the Tatar queen Syuyumbike. Previously, the Borovitskaya Tower was used for household needs - for access to Zhitny and Konyushenny courtyards. And now the President gets into the Kremlin through it. And if a foreign flag flies on a building near the Borovitsky Gate, it means a foreign president is “visiting” the Kremlin.

Publications in the Architecture section

Stone guards of the Kremlin

From wood to stone. Dmitry Donskoy also replaced the wooden walls of the Kremlin with white limestone. By decree of Ivan III, the fortress was built from more durable red brick. The work was supervised by masters from Italy. That is why Italian motifs can be traced in the architecture of the capital’s fortress. Twenty towers of the Kremlin wall. Like sisters: originally a single architectural style, and each has its own story. We invite you to find out the most interesting ones together with Natalya Letnikova.

1. Taynitskaya Tower. It was built first on the site of the Chushkov Gate, which existed during the time of Dmitry Donskoy. The work was supervised by an Italian - Antonio Gilardi, or Anton Fryazin. The tower got its name because of the secret underground passage leading to the Moscow River - in case of a siege. Until the 18th century, the king marched from the Tainitsky Gate to the Epiphany Jordan. And right up to the revolution, at exactly noon, a cannon fired from the archer of the Tainitskaya Tower - just like in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

2. Alarm tower served to notify Muscovites about more dramatic events than the routine approach of noon. In 1771, the Spassky bell, which was ordered to notify about a fire, called for a plague riot. By order of Catherine II, the bell was deprived of its tongue. For thirty years he hung on the tower, voiceless, and was exiled to the Arsenal, and then to the Armory, where he remains to this day. The Alarm Tower itself matches the Leaning Tower of Pisa: it tilted one meter. In the 70s of the last century, the foundation cracked, but metal hoops at the base of the tower stopped the tilt.

3. Nikolskaya Tower remembers Minin and Pozharsky. In 1612, through the Nikolsky Gate, the people's militia solemnly entered the Kremlin after the surrender of the Poles. Two centuries later, the tower along with the Arsenal was blown up by the French, but the gate icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisky remained untouched. Half a century later, the story about the event for the memorial plaque was written personally by Alexander I. In October 1917, the tower was damaged by a shell, the icon was riddled with bullets, but the face itself was not damaged. So a new image appeared in icon painting - St. Nicholas the Wounded, depicting the shelled icon of the St. Nicholas Tower.

4. Spasskaya Tower. Named in honor of the gate icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. Legend has it that in the 16th century, during the invasion of Khan Mengli-Girey, a blind nun of the Ascension Monastery had a vision of Moscow saints emerging from the gates. On the same day, the Tatars retreated from Moscow... Over the centuries, the tower was supplemented with 8 upper tiers. Over the years, the chimes at 12 and 6 o'clock have played various patriotic compositions: the guards march of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, “How Glorious is Our Lord in Zion,” the Internationale, “You have fallen as a victim,” and, finally, the Russian anthem.

5. Tsar's Tower. Below the others, but this does not affect the status. The stone tower was built at the end of the 17th century. At this place, according to legend, there was a wooden predecessor, with which Ivan the Terrible surveyed the Kremlin surroundings. The tower was built for completely peaceful purposes, which is why it is similar to the boyar mansions and is rich in architectural delights and white stone decorations. Instead of loopholes and powerful walls there are round columns. The Kremlin's most popular popular tower is crowned with a gilded weather vane, which gives it a resemblance to a fairy-tale tower.

6. Kutafya Tower. Bridgehead. It is assumed that she received her name for her not entirely elegant appearance (“kutafya” - that is, “ridiculously dressed”). Built at the beginning of the 16th century; This is the only surviving archery tower. Initially, it had a purely practical and impregnable appearance: it was surrounded by Neglinnaya and a high moat. With its gates, which in moments of danger were tightly closed with a drawbridge, the tower reminded that the Kremlin was a real fortress. Its only decoration, an openwork crown, appeared towards the end of the 17th century.

7. Trinity Tower. The highest is 80 meters. The main entrance for visitors to the Kremlin and the residence of the Russian Presidential Orchestra. It was called Epiphany, Rizopolozhenskaya, Znamenskaya, Karetnaya. Troitskaya became named after the Trinity courtyard of the Kremlin. The appearance of the tower changed from century to century. At the beginning of the 18th century - for strategic reasons: due to the threat of invasion by the Swedes, the loopholes were expanded for heavy guns. The change in power led to a change in the symbol at the top. For the next anniversary of the revolution, the double-headed eagle from 1870 was dismantled. The symbol of autocracy, held together with bolts, had to be dismantled right at the top and lowered down in parts.

8. Vodovzvodnaya tower. Once upon a time it was named after the boyar Sviblov, who lived across the wall. The facility was strategic and supplied water to the entire Kremlin. A special water-raising machine, installed by the English engineer Christopher Galovey, lifted water from the well from the bottom up into a giant tank. Prototype of a pressure water pipeline with a well and tanks. Lead pipes distributed the flows “to the sovereign’s Nourishing and Feeding Palaces,” and then to the gardens. Subsequently, the car was dismantled and taken to St. Petersburg for arrangement

10. Corner Arsenal Tower. It got its name because of the Arsenal located nearby. Considered the most powerful. The walls are four meters thick, the base is widened at the bottom for additional stability, and the foundation goes deep under the wall. In the dungeon there is a well that is about 500 years old. It was created as a backup source of water in the event of a siege by the enemy. In the first half of the 18th century, sexton Konon Osipov walked up and down the underground passage under the tower - in search of the mysterious library of Ivan the Terrible. “Liberea” haunts us to this day, and the underground passage is filled up.

There are 20 towers and they are all different, no two are alike. Each tower has its own name and its own history. Only two towers did not get names; they are called that First Nameless And Second Nameless. Behind them comes the Petrovskaya Tower, but the rightmost tower has two names at once. Nowadays it is called Moskvoretskaya and once upon a time they called Beklemishevskaya by the name of the person next to whose yard it was laid. Somehow it turned out that enemies most often attacked from the side of the Moscow River, and the Moskvoretskaya Tower had to be the first to defend itself. That is why it is so formidable and with so many loopholes. Its height is 46.2 m.

The first tower that was founded during the construction of the Kremlin was Tainitskaya. Taynitskaya Tower so named 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 m.

Vodovzvodnaya Tower– so named because of a car that was once here. She lifted water from a well located below to the very top of the tower into a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. This is how 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 another city - St. Petersburg. There it was used to construct fountains. The height of the Vodovzvodnaya tower with a star is 61.45 m.

At the Vodovzvodnaya Tower the Kremlin wall turns away from the river. Here on the corner there is another tower - Borovitskaya. This tower stands near Borovitsky Hill, on which a pine forest grew a long time ago. This is where its name comes from. The height of the tower with the star is 54.05 m.

Next after Borovitskaya is Weapon Tower. Once upon a time there were ancient weapons workshops 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 the wonderful museum located nearby behind the Kremlin wall -. 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 m.

Kutafya and Trinity towers of the Moscow Kremlin

If we walk a little further along the Kremlin walls, we will see the Trinity Bridge. It was thrown across the Neglinnaya River many centuries ago, even before it was hidden underground. Trinity Bridge leads to the gates of one of the tallest Kremlin towers - Trinity. The bridge connects the Trinity Tower with another low and wide tower. This . In the old days, this was the name given to a clumsily dressed woman. The tower was decorated already in the seventeenth century. Before this, Kutafya was very harsh, with drawbridges at the side gates and hinged loopholes. She guarded the entrance to the Trinity Bridge. Previously, there were more such bridgehead towers. But only one has survived to this day. The height of the Trinity Tower with a star is 80 m. This is the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. The Kutafya Tower is only 13.5 m high. It is the lowest tower in the Kremlin.

We go further along the Kremlin wall. She turns again. There is another tower here. From a distance it seems round, but if you get closer, it turns out to be not at all, because it has 16 sides. This corner Arsenal Tower. Once upon a time she was called Sobakina, after the name of a person who lived nearby. But in the 18th century, a tower was built next to it, and the tower was renamed. There is a well in the dungeon of the corner Arsenal Tower. It is more than 500 years old. It is filled from an ancient source and therefore it always has clean and fresh water. Previously, there was an underground passage from the Arsenal Tower to the Neglinnaya River. Tower height 60.2 m.

Middle Arsenal Tower. It was built in 1493-1495. After the construction of the Arsenal building, the tower got its name. A grotto was erected near the tower in 1812 - one of the attractions of the Alexander Garden. The height of the tower is 38.9 m.

Alarm tower. Once upon a time there were guards on duty here all the time. From above, they vigilantly watched to see if the enemy army was approaching the city. And if danger was approaching, the watchmen had to warn everyone and ring the alarm bell. Because of him, the tower was called Nabatnaya. But now there is no bell in the tower. One day at the end of the 18th century, at the sound of the Alarm Bell, a riot began in Moscow. And when order was restored in the city, the bell was punished for divulging bad news - they were deprived of their tongue. In those days it was a common practice, just remember the story. 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 Alarm Tower is 38 m.

To the right of the Alarm Tower is Tsar's Tower. It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns right on the wall, and on them there is a peaked roof. There are neither powerful walls nor narrow loopholes. But she doesn’t need them. Because the tower was not built for defense at all. According to legend, Tsar Ivan the Terrible loved to look at his city from this place. Later, the smallest tower of the Kremlin was built here and called it Tsarskaya. Its height is 16.7 m.

Konstantino - Eleninskaya Tower (Timofeevskaya). It was built in 1490 and was used for the passage of the population and troops to the Kremlin. Previously, when the Kremlin was made of white stone, there was another tower in this place. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy and his army went to the Kulikovo field. The new tower was built for the reason that there were no natural barriers on its side from the Kremlin. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful diversion gate and passage gates, which later, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were dismantled. 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 m.

Senate Tower At first it did not have a name, and received it only after the construction of the Senate building. After which they began to call her Senate. The tower was built in 1491, its height is 34.3 m.

Nikolskaya Tower. It was built in 1491. architect Pietro Antonio Solari to strengthen the north-eastern part of the Kremlin, not protected by natural barriers. There was a gate in it, it had a diversion arch with a drawbridge. Branch archer or a barbican was a tower outside the fortress walls that guarded the approaches to a gate or bridge. For example, the Kutafya Tower is a barbican. The name of the Nikolskaya Tower comes from the name of the icon of St. Nicholas, installed above the gates of her barbican. Controversial issues were resolved with this icon. In ancient times, a clock was also installed on the tower. Now they are not there, but the top of the tower is crowned with a red star. The height of the tower with the star is 70.4 m.

Petrovskaya Tower together with two unnamed ones, it was built to strengthen the southern wall, as it was most often attacked. Like the two nameless ones, the Petrovskaya Tower at first had no name. She received her name from the Church of Metropolitan Peter at the Ugreshsky Metochion in the Kremlin. In 1771 During the construction of the Kremlin Palace, the tower, the Church of Metropolitan Peter and the Ugreshsky courtyard were dismantled. In 1783 the tower was rebuilt, but in 1812. The French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818 The Petrovskaya Tower was restored again. Kremlin gardeners used it for their needs. Tower height 27.15m.

Commandant's Tower (Kolymazhnaya). It was built in 1495. It got its first name - Kolymazhna - from the Kolymazhny yard of the Kremlin. In the 19th century, when the commandant of Moscow began to live in the Kremlin, not far from it, it began to be called Komendantskaya. Tower height 41.25m.

Annunciation Tower. According to legend, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously kept in this tower, as well as in 1731. The Church of the Annunciation was added 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 Portomoyny. 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 m.

Spasskaya Tower (Frolovskaya) was erected on the site where the main gates of the Kremlin were located in ancient times. 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. No one rode through them on horseback or walked through them with their heads covered. The regiments setting out on a campaign passed through these gates; kings and ambassadors were met here. In the 17th century The coat of arms of Russia, a double-headed eagle, was placed on the tower; a little later, coats of arms were placed on other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658 the Kremlin towers were renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. It was named so in honor of the icon of the Savior of Smolensk, located above the passage 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 today. Kremlin chimes. Chimes are large clocks that have a musical mechanism. The bells play music at the Kremlin chimes. There are eleven of them. One large one, it marks the hours, and ten smaller ones, their melodious chime is heard every 15 minutes. The chimes contain a special device. It sets the hammer in motion, it hits the surface of the bells and the Kremlin chimes sound. The Kremlin chimes mechanism occupies three floors. Previously, chimes were wound manually, but now they do it using electricity. The Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with the star is 71 m.

The Vodovzvodnaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin is located at the intersection of the Kremlin embankment and the Alexander Garden. It has three main tiers. In terms of height, this is one of the tallest towers in the Kremlin - 61.25 m with a star and 57.7 m without a star.

The mighty walls of the structure are 2.2 m thick. Erected in 1488 by a talented engineer from Italy - Antonio Gilardi, also widely known as Anton Fryazin. Its purpose was to defend the ford near the Neglinnaya River. Initially it was equipped with a well and a secret tunnel to the river.

Name Vodovzvodnoy

The Vodovzvodnaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin did not immediately receive an interesting name. Until the 17th century, she was called Sviblova. They called her that because nearby was the courtyard of the boyar Sviblo, who monitored the progress of construction. In 1633, according to the design of the English architect Christopher Galovey, a water cocking machine was installed.

Thanks to this device, water was delivered from the Moscow River to the reservoir, which was located at the top of the structure. Next, the water entered the water supply tent (through lead pipes), located near the old Money Yard. Further distribution of water took place through underground pipes throughout the Kremlin. From that moment on, they began to call her Vodovzvodnoy.

Reconstruction of the tower

In 1672-1686. the tower was replenished with a stone tent. 1770 could have been fatal for it - the architect Bazhenov proposed demolishing it due to its dilapidated condition, but fortunately, he was refused. 35 years later, it was completely dismantled and reassembled. The reconstruction was led by engineer I. Egotov.

Architect Beauvais

Fleeing from Moscow, Napoleon ordered the destruction of the Vodovzvodnaya Tower. Unlike Spasskaya, Vodovzvodnaya was blown up. 5 years later it was restored under the strict guidance of the architect O. Beauvais. Since that time, it began to be decorated with classical and pseudo-Gothic details.

Ruby Star

With the Bolsheviks coming to power, the weather vane that crowned the top of the Vodovzvodnaya Tower was replaced with a red star. Initially, the star was made of precious metals, but after 2 years in 1937, it was replaced with a ruby ​​one, as the precious stones faded over time.

The Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers and they are all different, no two are alike. Each tower has its own name and its own history. And probably many people don’t know the names of all the towers. Shall we meet?

BEKLEMISHEVSKAYA (Moskvoretskaya) tower is located in the south-eastern corner of the Kremlin. It was built by the Italian architect Marco Fryazin in 1487-1488. The courtyard of boyar Beklemishev adjoined the tower, for which it received its name. Beklemishev's courtyard, together with the tower, served as a prison for disgraced boyars under Vasily III. The current name – “Moskvoretskaya” – is taken from the nearby Moskvoretsky Bridge. The tower was located at the junction of the Moscow River with a moat, so when the enemy attacked, it was the first to take the blow. The architectural design of the tower is also connected with this: the tall cylinder is placed on a beveled white stone plinth and separated from it by a semicircular ridge. The surface of the cylinder is cut through by narrow, sparsely spaced windows. The tower is completed by a machicolli with a battle platform, which was higher than the adjacent walls. In the basement of the tower there was a hidden rumor to prevent undermining. In 1680, the tower was decorated with an octagon carrying a tall narrow tent with two rows of dormitories, which softened its severity. In 1707, expecting a possible attack by the Swedes, Peter I ordered bastions to be built at its foot and the loopholes to be expanded to install more powerful guns. During Napoleon's invasion, the tower was damaged and then repaired. In 1917, the top of the tower was damaged during shelling, but it was restored by 1920. In 1949, during the restoration, the loopholes were restored to their previous form. This is one of the few Kremlin towers that has not been radically rebuilt. The height of the tower is 62.2 meters.

The KONSTANTINE-ELENINSKAYA tower owes its name to the Church of Constantine and Helena that stood here in ancient times. 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. Previously, when the Kremlin was made of white stone, there was another tower in this place. It was through her that Dmitry Donskoy and his army went to the Kulikovo field. The new tower was built for the reason that there were no natural barriers on its side from the Kremlin. It was equipped with a drawbridge, a powerful diversion gate and passage gates, which later, in the 18th and early 19th centuries. were dismantled. 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.

The Alarm Tower got its name from the large bell, the alarm, that hung above it. Once upon a time there were guards on duty here all the time. From above, they vigilantly watched to see if the enemy army was approaching the city. And if danger was approaching, the watchmen had to warn everyone and ring the alarm bell. Because of him, the tower was called Nabatnaya. But now there is no bell in the tower. One day at the end of the 18th century, at the sound of the Alarm Bell, a riot began in Moscow. And when order was restored in the city, the bell was punished for divulging bad news - they were deprived of their tongue. In those days it was a common practice to recall 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 Alarm Tower is 38 meters.

ROYAL Tower. It is not at all like other Kremlin towers. There are 4 columns right on the wall, and on them there is a peaked roof. There are neither powerful walls nor narrow loopholes. But she doesn’t need them. Because they were built two centuries later than the other towers and not for defense at all. Previously, there was a small wooden tower on this site, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched over Red Square. Previously, there was a small wooden tower on this site, from which, according to legend, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched over Red Square. Later, the smallest tower of the Kremlin was built here and called it Tsarskaya. Its height is 16.7 meters.

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 the main gates of the Kremlin were located in ancient times. 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. No one rode through them on horseback or walked through them with their heads covered. The regiments setting out on a campaign passed through these gates; kings and ambassadors were met here. In the 17th century, the coat of arms of Russia - a double-headed eagle - was installed on the tower; a little later, coats of arms were also installed on other high towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya. In 1658, the Kremlin towers were renamed. Frolovskaya turned into Spasskaya. It was named so in honor of the icon of the Savior of Smolensk, located above the passage 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 today. Kremlin chimes. Chimes are large clocks that have a musical mechanism. The bells play music at the Kremlin chimes. There are eleven of them. One large one, it marks the hours, and ten smaller ones, their melodious chime is heard every 15 minutes. The chimes contain a special device. It sets the hammer in motion, it hits the surface of the bells and the Kremlin chimes sound. The Kremlin chimes mechanism occupies three floors. Previously, chimes were wound manually, but now they do it using electricity. The Spasskaya Tower occupies 10 floors. Its height with the star is 71 meters.

The SENATE Tower was built in 1491 by Pietro Antonio Solari, rises behind the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin 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 north-eastern 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 Tower is located at the beginning of Red Square. In ancient times, there was a monastery of St. Nicholas the Old nearby, and above the gate of the tower there was an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The gate tower, built in 1491 by the architect Pietro Solari, was one of the main defensive redoubts of the eastern part of the Kremlin wall. The name of the tower comes from the Nikolsky Monastery, which was located nearby. Therefore, an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed above the passage gate of the strelnitsa. Like all towers with entrance gates, Nikolskaya had a drawbridge over the moat and protective grilles that were lowered during the battle. The Nikolskaya Tower went down in history in 1612, when militia troops led by Minin and Pozharsky burst 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 the pseudo-Gothic style. In 1917, the tower was damaged 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.

The CORNER ARSENAL tower was built in 1492 by Pietro Antonio Solari and is located further away, in the corner of the Kremlin. The first name was received 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 estate of the Sobakin boyars located nearby. There is a well in the dungeon of the corner Arsenal Tower. It is more than 500 years old. It is filled from an ancient source and therefore it always has clean and fresh water. Previously, there was an underground passage from the Arsenal Tower to the Neglinnaya River. The height of the tower is 60.2 meters.

The MIDDLE ARSENAL tower rises from the side of the Alexander Garden and is called so because there was a weapons depot right behind it. It was built in 1493-1495. After the construction of the Arsenal building, the tower got its name. A grotto was erected near the tower in 1812 - one of the attractions of the Alexander Garden. The height of the tower is 38.9 meters.

The TRINITY Tower is named after the church and the Trinity Compound, which were once located nearby on the territory of the Kremlin. Trinity Tower is the tallest tower of the Kremlin. The height of the tower currently, together with the star from the side of the Alexander Garden, is 80 meters. The Trinity Bridge, protected by the Kutafya Tower, leads to the gates of the Trinity Tower. The tower gate serves 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 Trinity courtyard of the Kremlin. In the 16th-17th centuries, the two-story base of the tower housed a prison. From 1585 to 1812 there was a clock on the tower. At the end of the 17th century, the tower received a multi-tiered hipped superstructure with white stone decorations. In 1707, due to the threat of a Swedish invasion, the loopholes of the Trinity Tower were expanded to accommodate heavy cannons. Until 1935, an imperial double-headed eagle was installed at the 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 other main towers of the Kremlin. The double-headed eagle of the Trinity Tower turned out to be the oldest - made in 1870 and prefabricated with bolts, so when dismantling it had to be dismantled at the top of the tower. In 1937, the faded gem star was replaced with a modern ruby ​​star.

KUTAFYA tower (connected by a bridge to Troitskaya). Its 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 direction of the Milanese architect Aleviz Fryazin. Low, surrounded by a moat and the Neglinnaya River, with a single gate, which in moments of danger was tightly closed by the lifting part of the bridge, the tower was a formidable barrier for those besieging the fortress. It had plantar loopholes and machicolations. In the 16th-17th centuries, the water level in the Neglinnaya River was raised high by dams, so that water surrounded the tower on all sides. Its original height above ground level was 18 meters. The only way to enter the tower from the city was via 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”, which meant a plump, clumsy woman. The Kutafya Tower has never had a covering. In 1685, it was crowned with an openwork “crown” with white stone details.

The COMMANDANT'S Tower got its name in the 19th century because 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. The main volume of the tower contains three tiers of rooms covered with barrel vaults; The completion tiers are also covered with vaults. In the 19th century, the tower received the name “Komendantskaya”, when the commandant of Moscow settled nearby in the Kremlin, in the Poteshny Palace of the 17th century. The height of the tower from the side of the Alexander Garden is 41.25 meters.

The ARMORY tower, which once stood on the banks of the Neglinnaya River, now enclosed in an underground pipe, received its name from the nearby Armory Chamber, the second comes from the nearby Stables Yard. Once upon a time there were ancient weapons workshops 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 the wonderful museum located nearby behind the Kremlin wall - the Armory Chamber. 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.

Built in 1490 by Pietro Antonio Solari. Travel card. The first name of the tower is the original one, it comes from Borovitsky Hill, on the slope of which the tower stands; The name of the hill apparently comes from an ancient pine forest that grew on this site. The second name, assigned by 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. Currently, it is the main passage for government motorcades. The height of the tower is 54 meters.

WATER TOWER - so named because of the machine that was once here. She lifted water from a well located below to the very top of the tower into a large tank. From there, water flowed through lead pipes to the royal palace in the Kremlin. This is how 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 to construct 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.

Annunciation 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 added 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 Portomoyny. They were founded in 1831, 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 Tower is the first tower founded 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 Taynitskaya tower is 38.4 meters.

Built in the 1480s. The tower ends with a simple tetrahedral pyramidal tent. The interior of the tower is formed by two tiers of vaulted rooms: the lower tier with a cross vault and the upper tier with a closed vault. The upper quadrangle is open into the cavity of the tent. One of the two towers that did not get a name. Height 34.15 meters.

Built in the 1480s. Above the upper quadrangle of the tower there is an octagonal tent with a weather vane; the upper quadrangle is open into the tent. The interior of the tower includes two levels of premises; the lower tier has a cylindrical vault, and the upper one is closed. Height 30.2 meters.

PETROVSKAYA tower, together with two unnamed ones, was built to strengthen the southern wall, as it was most often attacked. Like the two nameless ones, the Petrovskaya Tower at first had no name. She received her name from the Church of Metropolitan Peter at the Ugreshsky Metochion in the Kremlin. In 1771, during the construction of the Kremlin Palace, the tower, the Church of Metropolitan Peter and the Ugreshsky courtyard were dismantled. In 1783, the tower was rebuilt, but in 1812, the French destroyed it again during the occupation of Moscow. In 1818, the Petrovskaya Tower was restored again. Kremlin gardeners used it for their needs. The height of the tower is 27.15 meters.