What decorated the Kremlin in the 16th century. Architecture of the Moscow Kremlin. History of creation and description of the Moscow Kremlin. “The earth, as we know, begins from the Kremlin”

The Moscow Kremlin is the main attraction of the city. Getting there is quite easy. There are several metro stations, from which you can walk to the Kremlin. The Alexandrovsky Sad station will take you, as you can easily guess, straight to the Alexandrovsky Garden. The Kutafya Tower will already be visible there, where they sell tickets to the Kremlin and to the Armory Chamber. You can also go to the metro station. Library named after IN AND. Lenin. In this case, the Kutafya Tower will be visible across the road. The stations Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Kitai-Gorod will take you to Red Square, but from different sides. The first is from the side of the State Historical Museum, the second is from the side. You can also get off at Okhotny Ryad - if you want to stroll along the shopping row of the same name. Just be prepared for unusual prices)).

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

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

History of the Moscow Kremlin.

The word “Kremlin” is very ancient. The Kremlin or Detinets in Rus' was the name given to the fortified part in the center of the city, in other words, a fortress. In the old days, times were different. It happened that Russian cities were attacked by countless enemy forces. That’s when the city’s residents gathered under the protection of their Kremlin. The old and young took refuge behind its powerful walls, and those who could hold weapons in their hands defended themselves from enemies from the walls of the Kremlin.

The first settlement on the site of the Kremlin arose approximately 4,000 years ago. Archaeologists have established this. Shards of clay pots, stone axes and flint arrowheads were found here. These things were once used by ancient settlers.

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

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

It is known that the first wooden walls on the site of the Kremlin were built in 1156 by order of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. This data was preserved in ancient chronicles. At the beginning of the 14th century, Ivan Kalita began to rule the city. In ancient Rus', a kalyta was a money bag. The prince was so nicknamed because he accumulated great wealth and always carried a small bag of money with him. Prince Kalita decided to decorate and strengthen his city. He ordered the construction of new walls for the Kremlin. They were cut down from strong oak trunks, so thick that you couldn’t wrap your arms around them.

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

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

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

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

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

It took 10 years to build the new Kremlin. The fortress was defended on both sides by rivers, and at the beginning of the 16th century. A wide ditch was dug on the third side of the Kremlin. He connected two rivers. Now the Kremlin was protected on all sides by water barriers. they were erected one after another, equipped with diversion archers for greater defensive capability. Along with the renovation of the fortress walls, the construction of such famous ones as Uspensky, Arkhangelsky and Blagoveshchensky took place.

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

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

During Napoleon's invasion, the Kremlin suffered enormous damage. Churches were desecrated and looted, and part of the walls, towers and buildings were blown up during the retreat. In 1816-19. Restoration work was carried out in the Kremlin. By 1917 There were 31 churches in the Kremlin.

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

To the question: what is the significance of the Moscow Kremlin? How did its appearance change in the 16th century? given by the author Neurosis the best answer is The Moscow Kremlin is the oldest part of Moscow, the main socio-political, spiritual, religious and historical-art complex of the city, the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Located on the high left bank of the Moscow River - Borovitsky Hill, at the confluence of the river. Neglinnaya.
Moscow Kremlin at the beginning of the 16th century. V. Sigorsky and N. Smolyak
Initially, the Kremlin served as a fortification for the Slavic village on Borovitsky Hill.
In 1156, the first fortifications were built on the territory of the modern Kremlin.
In 1339, oak walls and towers were built.
In 1367, the wooden walls of the Kremlin were replaced by walls and towers made of white stone.
In the second half of the 15th century. The Moscow Kremlin is being rebuilt from red brick.

“Kremlengrad”: The first accurate map of the Moscow Kremlin, 1601.
In 1508-16. On the site of modern Red Square, a ditch was dug, into which water came from the Neglinnaya River. The Kremlin becomes an impregnable fortress, surrounded by water on all sides.
In the 16th century The center of the Moscow Kremlin became Cathedral Square with the Assumption Cathedral, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Faceted Chamber, the Archangel Cathedral (the tomb of Russian princes and tsars) and the bell tower of Ivan the Great located on it.
Source:

Answer from Lena)))[newbie]
By the time of the reign of Ivan III, the country was liberated from the Horde yoke, Novgorod, Tver, Pskov were annexed, the internal political situation was stabilized, the princely power and the power of the Russian state as the center of world Orthodoxy increased.
The new understanding of the image of power and statehood had to correspond to the royal grandeur of the capital city of Moscow, its symbol - the Kremlin.
New architectural structures had to be understandable not only to Russia, but also to Europe. Which leads to the first innovation - Italian masters are invited to Moscow.
The start date of construction of the new Kremlin is considered to be July 19, 1485.
The second innovation was the use of proportional brick - a material that is cheap, durable and easy to work with.
The Italians built a first-class fortress in Moscow for those times. Its walls stretch for more than two kilometers. A wide combat platform ran along the upper edge of the wall, and a through passage was made in the thickness of the wall, along which it was possible to walk around the entire Kremlin; this became another important feature of the construction.
At the beginning of the 16th century. From the side of Red Square, a ditch was dug along the Kremlin wall, which connected the Moscow River with the Neglinnaya River and turned the Kremlin into an island.

The city center has long been located on a high hill at the confluence of the Neglinnaya and Moscow Rivers. However, the appearance of the fortress wall did not correspond to the power of the state. By the end of the 15th century, the walls made of white stone (limestone) had become dilapidated, and the appearance of artillery required a fundamentally new system - fortification. The invited Italians began to build new fortifications ( Mark Fryazin...). The new Kremlin wall is more than 2 km long, has 18 towers, and forms an irregular triangle in plan. At the corners of the walls, 3 round towers were placed; hiding places were built in them - wells; in places where important roads approached, 6 quadrangular passage towers with gates were erected; in front of them were towers - archers with rising gratings; bridges across the ditch were lowered from the gates of the archers on chains. The remaining towers were blind, that is, not passable. The towers were topped with wooden tents with watchtowers, some towers housed bells or alarms, along the perimeter the wall was decorated with battlements, the height of which reached 2.5 m, the height of the walls was about 19 m, and the thickness was 6.5 m, there were underground passages. The tower was made of red brick, and the base of the walls remained white stone. In terms of beauty and inaccessibility, the Kremlin was among the best fortresses of its era.

In the 17th century, the monumental style was replaced by a picturesque decorative style, the shapes of buildings became more complex, the walls were covered with multi-colored ornaments, carvings, and brick patterns. After the liberation of Moscow from Polish invaders in 1612, the Kremlin was restored. A stone tent covered with tiles rose above the Frolovskaya Tower (now the Spasskaya Tower - the main entrance to the Kremlin). The Spasskaya Tower has a lower quadrangle (square in plan), which is completed by a belt of arches with a white stone pattern; in the arches there are statues (blockheads) above the arcature belt - turrets, pyramids, sculptures of strange animals. At the corners of the quadrangle
gilded weather vanes, on the lower quadrangle there is another two-tiered smaller clock on it - a chime (English watchmaker Christopher Galovey). The second quadrangle turns into an octagon, which ends with a stone gazebo with keeled arches (currant pattern). There are chimes in the gazebos. The architecture of this tower combines features of Western European Gothic and Russian Middle Ages. The tower was renamed in 1658, thanks to the inscription above the gate, the image of Christ.

Temples of the Moscow Kremlin

Assumption Cathedral 1472 The main temple of the Kremlin, because it was where kings were crowned. The cathedral was supposed to be larger in size than all existing churches in Rus'. 2 years after the start of work, the northern wall collapsed. Construction was continued by Alberti Fioravanti, a master from Bologna, (region of Italy), nicknamed Aristotle in Rus'. The master connected the blocks of white stone (limestone) with iron clamps. After 4 years, construction was completed.

Characteristics of the cathedral: smooth walls are dissected by wide blades (flat protrusions), the belt on the facade consists of columns and arches, narrow slit-like windows, the entrances are decorated with picturesque portals, 5 altar apses, the walls are crowned with zakomaras (to emphasize the national character), five domes. The cathedral was built in the likeness of the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral.

Annunciation Cathedral (Golden-Domed). Also called the prince's house church. Here, artistic techniques of various architectural schools are used - Vladimir, Pskov, Novgorod.

Characteristics of the temple: high basement (lower floor), the cathedral has the shape of a cube, 3 apses, keel-shaped zakomaras, 9 domes, the roof repeats the outlines of the gilded zakomaras.

Cathedral of the Archangel. Family tomb of the family of the Grand Dukes. Master – Aleviz Novy (Italian). He built the temple in the traditions of Russian architecture in the Italian style.

Characteristics of the cathedral: a six-pillar temple crowned with 5 domes, the facade is divided by a cornice into 2 horizontal parts, and Russian blades are replaced with pilasters ending in capitals, the zakomari are separated by another cornice, and shells are placed inside them.

The Faceted Chamber is the throne room. The word chamber comes from the Italian palazzo, and the name comes from the decoration of the facade with cut stone.

The plan is a square with one column in the center, on which 4 arches rest. In ancient times it had a hipped roof.

Ivanovo Bell Tower. The bell tower received its name from the Church of St. John located at its base. The bell tower is a pillar of two octahedrons placed one on top of the other and a chapter crowning them. Each tier ends with arched openings through which the bells are visible. The bell tower unites the entire architectural ensemble of the Kremlin.

At the turn of the 16th – 17th centuries, another tier was added, and the total height of the bell tower was 81 m. Later, a quadrangular belfry with a powerful dome for heavy bells and a Filaret extension with a tent and pyramids were added to the bell tower.

Tent architecture 16th century

The reign of Vasily 3. The temple became a monument associated with the birth of the heir of John 4 (Ivan the Terrible) Ascension in Kolomenskoye. The symbolism of the temple speaks of two events: 1 – heavenly, the ascension of the Son of God to the Father; 2 – earthly, the birth of the heir to the Moscow throne. The powerful foundation of the temple grows from an intricacy of galleries. The multifaceted pointed base ends with triple pointed kokoshniks. And above them rises a tent. The edges of the tent are intertwined with garlands that look like strings of pearls. Its top is covered with a small cupola with a gilded cross.

St. Basil's Cathedral (Pokrovsky). 1555 – 1561 Named after the famous Moscow holy fool, buried in 1552 near the walls of the Trinity Church, which originally stood on this site. The idea of ​​building a temple was born in memory of the capture of Kazan in 1552. According to one version, the temple was built by masters Barma and Postnik. The distinctive feature of this temple is its multi-side chapel. ( Side chapel- this is an extension to the church where worship can take place). The composition of the temple: around the central, highest pillar, on the cardinal points, there are 4 large temples, and 4 small ones diagonally. Tower-shaped volumes start from the ground itself and are perceived as independent volumes, at the same time they form a complex pyramidal composition, which is distinguished by artistic unity and dynamism. Most researchers see in this temple the embodiment of the symbolic image of Jerusalem. The interiors are like dark labyrinths, and the viewer’s main attention is focused on its external monumental appearance. In addition to the complexity of the silhouette, the volumes are decorated machismos(mounted bainitsa, attributes of fortress architecture). The facades are decorated panels(frame, recess), lucarnes(window openings) and multi-tiered kokoshniks. The original color scheme was more restrained. In the 17th century, the cathedral was decorated: individual architectural details were painted, complex patterns and multicolors appeared, the walls of the cathedral (inside and outside) were painted with ornaments. The architecture of the cathedral acquired the image of a marvelous garden, a fantasy of paradise.

This design of temples with a high silhouette but small internal space was very suitable for the construction of monument temples. In the 17th century, architecture became more and more elegant. From the main floor, the tent turns into a decorative detail.

Merchant architecture

The 17th century began with a terrible famine, cholera, then robberies and robberies, turmoil began: the invasion of the Poles and Swedes, the death of Boris Godunov, the murder of False Dmitry and the emergence of new impostors. Therefore, until the 20s of the 17th century there was no construction. The builders have lost their art.

In the 30s of the 17th century, architects took a new path. Moscow became an example of new architecture Trinity Church in Nikitki, placed in the courtyard of the merchant Nikitnikov.

The church is small in size, elegant: against the red background of brick walls, white stone details (platbands, columns, rows of kokoshniks, etc.) stand out. Compared to ancient temples, the church is striking in its liveliness and diversity; one gets the feeling that it is growing and developing like a tree. The church is not symmetrical, which creates a feeling of dynamics. They went there to pray not to the God they feared, but to the one who helped man in his earthly affairs. The architecture is joyful, does not elevate a person, but does not frighten him either.

Patriarch Nikon saw in the pattern an inappropriate deviation from the original samples. Nikon forbade the construction of tented churches. All buildings of this time were distinguished by severity and severity, reaching the point of asceticism. However, the tsar was dissatisfied with the patriarch's claims to the supreme power of the state. The gap between them led to exile and the deposition of the patriarch. Patterned architecture continued its march across the country.