In the historical center of the capital is the most recognizable architectural structure of Russia - Moscow Kremlin. The main feature of the architectural ensemble is its firming complex consisting of walls in the form of a triangle with twenty towers.
The complex was built in the period from 1485 to 1499 and well preserved to this day. He served several times a model for such fortresses, which appeared in other cities of Russia - Kazan, Tula, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, etc. In the walls of the Kremlin there are numerous religious and secular buildings - cathedrals, palaces and administrative buildings of different eras. The Kremlin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990. Together with the adjacent Red Square, which is part of this list, the Kremlin is usually considered the main attraction of Moscow. 
Cathedrals of Moscow Kremlin
The architectural ensemble form three temples, in the center is located. The history of the cathedral began in 1475. It is the oldest fully preserved building among all the Kremlin buildings. 
Initially, construction took place in 1326-1327 under the leadership of Ivan I. After completing the construction, the cathedral served as the home church of Metropolitan of Moscow, who settled in the predecessor of the current Patriarchal Palace. 
By 1472, now the collapsed cathedral was destroyed, and then a new building was built in his place. However, it collapsed in May 1474, possibly due to an earthquake or due to errors in construction. A new attempt to revive the Grand Duke Ivan III. It was in this cathedral that the prayers served in front of important campaigns, crowned the kings and were erected in San Patriarchs. 
Dedicated to Archangel Mikhail, the patron of Russian rulers, was built in 1505 on the site of the 1333 church of the same name. It is built by the Italian architect Aloizio Lamberty da Montignan. Architectural style combines traditional old Russian religious architecture and elements of Italian revival. 
Located on the southwest corner of the square. In 1291, a wooden church was built here, but later the century burned down and was replaced by the stone church. The cathedral of white stone on the facades has nine onion domes and is intended for family ceremonies. 
Cathedral time: 10:00 to 17:00 (day off - Thursday). A single ticket for visits will cost 500 rubles for adults and 250 rubles for children.
Palaces and Square of the Moscow Kremlin
- - These are several representative secular buildings created in different centuries and served as a house for Russian great princes and kings, and in our time for the presidents.
- - five-story building decorated with rich carved decorative frames, as well as a tiled roof.
- - Building of the 17th century, retained the rare architectural features of civil architecture of that time. The museum presents jewelry work, exquisite dishes, painting, objects of royal hunting. The magnificent iconostasis destroyed in 1929 of the Ascension Monastery was preserved.
- - Three-storey construction made in an early neoclassical style. Initially, the palace was supposed to serve as a residence of Senate, but in our time there is a central working office of the President of Russia.
Among popular seats in the Moscow Kremlin should be noted the following areas:
Towers of Moscow Kremlin
The length of the walls is 2235 meters, their maximum height is 19 meters, and the thickness reaches 6.5 meters. 
There are 20 similar in the architectural stylist of defensive towers. Three angular towers have a cylindrical base, the remaining 17 are quadrangular. 
Trojitsa Tower It is the highest, towering up 80 meters. 
Lowest - tower Kutafia (13.5 meters), located outside the wall. 
Four towers have a travel gate:
The vertices of these 4-time towers, which are considered particularly beautiful, are decorated with symbolic red ruby \u200b\u200bstars of the Soviet era. 
The clock on the Spasskaya Tower first appeared in the 15th century, but burned in 1656. On December 9, 1706, the capital first heard the fight of the Kurats, who announced a new hour. Since then, many events have occurred: war was carried out, the cities were renamed, the capital changed, but the famous chimes of the Moscow Kremlin remain the main chronometer of Russia. 
Bell tower (height 81 meters) is the highest building in the Kremlin ensemble. It was built between 1505 and 1508 and still performs its function for three cathedrals, which do not have their own bells - Arkhangelsk, Assumption and Blagoveshchensky.
Nearby there is a small church of St. John, from where the name of the bell tower and the square appeared. It existed before the beginning of the XVI century, then collapsed and since then it was significantly dilapidated. 
The Granovy Chamber is the main banquet hall of the Moscow Tsarevichi, this is the oldest preserved secular building in the city. Currently, this is the official ceremonial hall for the President of Russia, so it is closed for excursions. 
Weapon Chamber and Diamond Fund
The Chamber was built by the decree of Peter I so that weapons mined in wars were kept. Construction has been delayed, starting in 1702 and ending only in 1736 due to financial difficulties. In 1812, the Chamber was blown up in the war against Napoleon, was reconstructed only in 1828. Now the Armory is a museum, to visit that can be on any day of the week from 10:00 to 18:00, with the exception of Thursday. The price of a ticket for adults is 700 rubles, for children - free. 
There are not only arms fishery exhibits, but also a diamond foundation. The permanent exhibition of the state diamond fund was first opened in the Moscow Kremlin in 1967. Unique jewelry and precious stones are especially valuable here, most of them were confiscated after the October Revolution. Work time - from 10:00 to 17:20 any day, except Thursday. For a ticket for adults will have to give 500 rubles, the children's costs 100 rubles. 
The two diamond exhibited deserves separate attention, as they belong to the most famous samples in the world of this gemstone:
- This is not only the largest medieval fortress in Russia, but also the greatest active fortress throughout Europe. Of course, there were more such structures, but the Moscow Kremlin is the only one that is still used.
- Kremlin walls were white. Walls "purchased" their red brick at the end of the XIX century. To see the White Kremlin, seek the work of the artists of the 18th or 19th century, such as Peter Vereshchagin or Alexey Savrasov.
- Red square has nothing to do with red. The name comes from the ancient Russian word "red", which means beautiful, and in no way connected with the color of buildings, which, as we now know, were white until the end of the 19th century.
- The stars of the Moscow Kremlin were eagles. In the days of Tsarist Russia, four Kremlin towers were crowned with blohemic eagles, which from the XV century were the Russian coat of arms. In 1935, the Soviet government replaced the eagles that were melted and replaced by five-pointed stars that we see today. The fifth star on the water tower added later.
- The Kremlin towers have names. Of the 20 Kremlin towers, only two do not have their own names.
- The Kremlin is tightly built up. Behind the 2235-meter Kremlin walls are 5 squares and 18 buildings, including the most popular Spasskaya Tower, the bell tower of Ivan the Great, Assumption Cathedral, the Trinity Tower and the Terem Palace.
- The Moscow Kremlin practically did not suffer in World War II. During the war, the Kremlin was carefully disguised to look like a residential building block. The dome of the church and the famous green towers were painted in gray and brown colors, respectively, fake doors and windows were coming to the walls of the Kremlin, and the Red Square was burdened with wooden structures.
- The Kremlin is in the Guinness Book of Records. In the Moscow Kremlin, you can see the largest bell in the world and the largest gun in the world. In 1735, a 6.14 meter bell was made of metal casting, the king gun weighing 39,312 tons was lost in 1586 and was never used in the war.
- The stars of the Kremlin are always shine. For 80 years of existence, the lighting of the Kremlin stars was disabled only twice. The first time during the Second World War, when the Kremlin was disguised to hide him from bombers. For the second time they were disabled for the film. Oscar-axis director Nikita Mikhalkov removed the scene for the Siberian Mutter.
- Kremlin clocks have a deep mystery. The secret of the accuracy of the Kremlin clock literally lies under our legs. The clock is connected to the clock of the control in the Astronomical Institute of Sternberg through the cable.
Moscow Kremlin is located on Borovitsky Hill. Its southern part comes out to Moscow, Eastern - borders with the Red Square, and the Alexandrovsky Park is closely adjacent to the north-western. Currently, he is a president's residence and an important political center of the whole country. It is believed that the construction of a modern architectural and historical complex was started in 1482, and completed in 1495. The exact year of the foundation of the prince of Yuri is unknown by the Dolgoruky, but already in 1156, wooden fortifications discouraged in the Kremlin were built on the territory of the Kremlin. To find out who built the Moscow Kremlin, you need to refer to the story.
On the territory of the Kremlin, in the second millennium BC. e. People already lived. Not far from the Arkhangelsk Cathedral, the settlement of Finno-Ugric peoples was opened, which dates back to the second half of the Millennium BC. e. Archaeologists found silicon tips for arrows, axes from stone and shards remaining from clay dishes. The buildings were protected by two ravines, which significantly increased defense at the distant time.
In the 10th century, the Slavs began to settle the land located between the pools of the Moscow River and Oci basins. It is assumed that Mergoti built two fortified center on the Borovitsky hill. They were protected by a frequency ring and strengthened with a moat and high shaft died around it. These facilities were attached two ravines, the depth of which was brought to 9 m, and the width to 3.8 m. The rapid development of the settlement was facilitated by the lively trade routes between the East and the West, running through the Moscow River, and two large land roads. One of them led to Novgorod, and the other joined Kiev, Smolensk and northeastern lands.
Moscow is first mentioned in the annals in 1147. And in 1156, by order of Yuri, long-term fortifications, residential and economic buildings were already erected at the place of the modern Kremlin. The area occupied by them was supposedly equal to 3 hectares. In 1264, the Kremlin became the residence of the Moscow specific princes.
In the XIV century, five monasteries were built on the territory of the Kremlin. The oldest of them is considered the Savior-Preobrazhensky Monastery on Bor, who was erected in 1330, in the year of the Millennium of Constantinople. However, he was destroyed in 1933. Miracles The monastery founded Metropolitan Alexy in 1365. The name was given in honor of the Church of the Miracle of Archangel Mikhail in Honheh. In 1929, all the buildings, which were included in the monastery complex were demolished.
Artploying of the White Kremlin
In the second half of the XIV century during the rule of the Grand Dmitry Dmitry Don Kremlin wooden walls begin to replace the stone, the thickness of which exceeded two, or even three meters. From the local white stone, the most important sectors and areas that the main attacking forces of the enemy might have been sent. For a more powerful reflection of enemy attacks, the walls began to strengthen the towers. New walls were at a distance of 60 m from the former, built of oak, so the area of \u200b\u200bthe whole Kremlin becomes almost equal to the modern one. Over the years, buildings from stone began to demand repairs. Under the leadership of V.D. Yermolina, Moscow merchant, head of construction work of the Russian state, in 1462 the Kremlin walls were repaired from Sviblovaya Strelnik to the most Borovitsky gates.
Under Moscow Prince Ivan III, the long-awaited association of all Russian lands and principalities in one state occurred. By this time, a significant restructuring of the Moscow Kremlin took place. The construction of a new Assumption Cathedral in 1471 was entrusted with Russian Zodkim - Krivtsov and Myshkin. But the building collapsed with an earthquake.
Then Ivan III invited in 1475 an architect from Italy Ridolfo Aristotle Fioravanti. In four years, he built a building, a model for which the Assumption Cathedral was served in Vladimir. Fioremanati was also a good engineer and, remaining in Russia, participated in several military campaigns as the head of artillery. Later, Masters from Pskov was erected by the Rickened Church, and then the new Annunciation Cathedral.
The newly invited Italian architects conducted a great job and built several religious buildings in full compliance with the basic principles of Russian architecture. Since 1485, they have been built by the construction of Kremlin walls from the burned brick, which weighed 8 kg (halfway). It was also called two-handed, since it was impossible to raise one hand.
The walls of the Kremlin are very high and sometimes reach the height of the six-storey house. They have a move, whose width is about two meters. It is not interrupted anywhere, which allows us to bypass the entire Kremlin around the perimeter. Outside the building is closed with 1,045 by proglons typical of Italian fortresses. They are also called "swallow tail". The height of the teeth reaches 2.5 m, and the thickness comes to 70 cm. 600 bricks were required for the construction of one tooth, and the loopholes were built in almost every of them. Just around the walls are 20 towers. Of these, the highest - Troitskaya, its height is 79.3 m.
During the Board of Peter I, the Moscow Kremlin stopped being a tsarist residence, since the emperor, together with the courtyard, moved to the built St. Petersburg (until 1720 - St. Peter-Buru). In 1701, a strongest fire occurred in the Kremlin, as a result of which many wooden buildings were destroyed. In 1704, Peter I issued a decree, which forbade any structures from the tree inside the Kremlin. In 1702, the construction of a two-story Arsenal building began, which continued until 1736. With Elizabeth, Petrovna was built the building of the Winter Palace, according to the project of the Italian architect V.V. Rastrelli.
In 1812, the Moscow Kremlin was occupied by the French army. During the retreat, it was minted and blown up by the personal order of Napoleon. Not all charges exploded, but the damage was very significant. Several towers were destroyed, arsenal, an extension to the bell tower of Ivan the Great, the building of the Senate was damaged. Recovery work were charged with architect F.K. Sokolov 
In 1917, during the October Armed Uprising in the Kremlin, walls, towers and a number of buildings were partially destroyed. Later under the leadership of architect N.V. Markovnikov held restoration work and repair of damaged objects.
The Moscow Kremlin has been repeatedly rebuilt throughout his long history and restored. In the construction of churches and public buildings, prominent architects, masters both from and from Italy took an active part. To say exactly who built Moscow Kremlin is almost impossible. But you should always remember that this complex defended the capital of our state for many centuries and is now the center of the political life of the Russian Federation.
Located Moscow Kremlin. The history of our homeland is reflected in each of its structure. These are old guns and bells, cathedrals and palaces, museums and residence of the President of Russia. High walls and loopholes tell us that this powerful and majestic structure is a fortress. At the same time, this structure reflects the spiritual life of Russia. The Kremlin in Moscow - the communional national shrine, the symbol of Russia.
The Kremlin ensemble in Moscow includes the fortress itself with its powerful walls and towers, as well as temples and chambers, majestic palaces and parade administrative buildings. It is an ensembles of the squares - the Cathedral and Ivanovo, Senate and Palace, Troitskaya, as well as the streets - Spasskaya, Borovitskaya and Palace.
Towers of Moscow Kremlin
The walls of the Moscow Kremlin have 20 towers, among which are not the same. The history of Moscow began at Borhimitsky gates. Here is one of the southwestern towers of the Kremlin Wall - Borovitskaya. She comes out to the Alexandrovsky Garden and Borovitsky Square. According to the legend, her name happened from Bohr, who covered one of the seven hills, on which Moscow is.
Cathedrals of Moscow Kremlin
The architectural ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin includes eight cathedrals. One of the main temples of the Russian state - Assumption . It took place the coronation of emperors, wedding to the kingdom, the election of the heads of the Russian Orthodox Church and the burial of Metropolitan and Patriarchs. Now here you can see the pious place of Ivan the Terrible, especially valuable icons, necropolis and majestic iconostasis.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral He served as the personal temple of the great princes and the kings of Moscow. It is believed that part of the Icons of the Temple was created by Andrei Rublev, as well as Feofan Greek.
Cathedral of the Archangel He was the tribal tomb of the Grand Princes and Kings. In it 47 tombstones and 2 crayfish. Here the great princes of Ivan Kalita and Dmitry Donskaya, Ivan III and Ivan Grozny, Tsarevich Dmitry and Tsari Mikhail and Alexey Romanov. Created during the Kulikovsky battle The image of Archangel Michael with Acts can be seen in the iconostasis of the temple.
Home Temple of Russian Metropolitans and Patriarchs - Small church of the counting . In it in a single ensemble, four-tier iconostasis in the silver salary and wall painting are presented.
North of the Assumption Temple and Bell Tower Ivan the Great are located Patriarchal Chambers and small the five-page temple of the twelve apostles , built by Russian masters Antipa Konstantinov and Bazhennaya Cucumber.
Decade st. Basil's Cathedral Many times was driving a demolition. Napoleon in 1812 he dreamed of to lead him to Paris, and later wanted to blow up. In Soviet times the cathedral interfered with the passage of demonstrations and also wanted to destroy.
East of the Terman Palace are four houses Church: St. Catherine and the Veroshospassky Cathedral, Church of the Crucifixion of Christ and the Church of the Surrender of the Slobol.
Moscow Kremlin - history and architecture
The first mention of Moscow is found in the chronicle and refers to 1147. In 1156, the first wooden walls were built on the shore of the river and the mouth of the River River, the first wooden walls were built. Rus at that time was separated into separate principalities, so it was not able to resist the invasion of the Tatar-Mongolian yoke in 1238. Moscow was ruined, and the Kremlin burned.
During the reign of Ivan Kalita, the Moscow Principality was strengthened and the Kremlin rebuilt. Stone churches, cathedrals and strong oak walls are constructed. By decree of the prince Dimitri Donskoy, the grandson of Ivan Kalita, in 1367, the white-name walls and towers are erected. Moscow began to call a white-named. With Grand Duza, Ivan III expands the territory of the Kremlin, it was dug around the walls. Together with foreign architects, the Uspensky and the Blagoveshchensky temples are being built, the Granovy Chamber and the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great (Potor Tower). The Arkhangelsk Temple was laid. With the flourishing of culture and architecture in the 17th century, the buildings of the Kremlin are transformed. At the Kremlin towers there were high brick tents with tiled coatings and gilded floors.
At the beginning of the 18th century, by the decree of Peter I, the Arsenal building laid. With the transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg, the Kremlin remained in an abandoned state. Almost all wooden buildings were destroyed by fires and were not restored.
Only from the 2nd half of the 18th century his construction began. According to the project of the architect M. F. Kazakov, the building of the Senate is built. Under the leadership of the architect Ivan Echotova, the first building for the Armory Chamber was built. During the war of 1812, Napoleon decided to blow up the Kremlin during the retreat. Only thanks to the courage of Muscovites, he was miracle saved. Soon all damaged to its buildings were restored.
In 1917, the revolution in Moscow was completed by the Kremlin. In March 1918, the Soviet government moved from Petrograd. Nowadays, the residence of the President of Russia is located here.
On the territory of the Kremlin of Moscow, the State Museum Complex has been created, which includes the Armory Chamber and Temples (Assumption, Arkhangelsky and Blagoveshchensky), the church of the county and the patriarchal chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the ensemble of the Ivan's Great Bell Tower, as well as the collection of artillery guns and bells. The Kremlin and Red Square complex in 1990 were included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the outstanding historical monuments of the planet.
Moscow Kremlin is the main attraction of the city. It is easy to get to it. There are several metro stations, coming out of which you can walk to the Kremlin. Station Aleksandrovsky Garden will withdraw you how easy it is possible to guess, straight into the Alexandrovsky Garden. There will be already visible by Kutafya Tower, where they sell tickets to the territory of the Kremlin and in the Armory Chamber. You can also go to Art. Library to them. IN AND. Lenin. In this case, Kutafia Tower will be visible across the road. Stations of the Revolution Square and China City will bring you to the Red Square, only from different sides. The first - on the part of the State Historical Museum, the second - from the side. You can still go to the Okhotny Row - if there is a desire to walk along the same trading row. Just be prepared for unusual prices)).
About prices in the museums of the Kremlin. A visit to the Kremlin - the pleasure is not cheap. One and a half hours of visit to - will cost 700 rubles., - 500 rubles, take a walk with inspection - 500 rubles. Read more about museums and some nuances about their visiting, which should be known for see links.
The Kremlin is called not only the walls with the towers, as some think, but all that is located inside it. Behind the walls on the land of the Moscow Kremlin there are cathedrals and squares, palaces and museums. This summer at the Cathedral Square, every Saturday at 12:00 shows his skill of the Kremlin regiment. If you get a break in the Kremlin, I will write about it.
The history of the Moscow Kremlin.
The word "Kremlin" is very old. Kremlin or Decints in Russia called the fortified part in the city center, in other words, the fortress. In the old days there were different times. It happened that inconspicuous enemy forces were attacked on Russian cities. Then then the inhabitants of the city were going to protect their Kremlin. Old and small fenced behind his powerful walls, and those who could keep the weapon in their hands, defended from the walls of the Kremlin.
The first settlement on the site of the Kremlin arose about 4,000 years ago. It was installed archaeologists. Here were found fragments of clay pots, stone axes and flint tips of arrows. These things once used the ancient settlers.
The construction site of the Kremlin was not chosen by chance. The Kremlin is built on a high hill, from two sides of the rivers surrounded by the rivers: Moscow-River and Neglinnaya. The high location of the Kremlin allowed to notice enemies from a larger distance, and the rivers served as a natural obstacle on their way.
Initially, the Kremlin was wooden. Around its walls was embarrassed by an earthen shaft for greater reliability. The remains of these fortifications were found during the construction work now 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 the ancient chronicles. In early 14th century, Ivan Kalita began to edit the city. Kalita in ancient Russia called a bag for money. The prince was so nicknamed because he had accumulated great wealth and always wore a small bag with money. Prince Kalita decided to decorate and strengthen his city. He commanded to build the Kremlin new walls. They were cut down from strong oak trunks, such thick, as they do not grab their hands.
In the next ruler of Moscow - Dmitry Donskoy Kremlin built other walls - stone. From all over the county collected in Moscow the masters of the Stonework. And in 1367 They began to work. People worked without a break, and soon the Borovitsky hill was looked by a powerful stone wall, 2, and then 3 meters. She was built from limestone, which was mined in a quarry near Moscow from the village of Mechkovo. The Kremlin struck the contemporaries by the beauty of his white walls, which since then the Moscow began to call white.
Prince Dmitry was a very bold man. He always fought in the first rows and it was he who headed the struggle against the conquerors from the Golden Horde. In 1380, his army broke the army of Khan Mamai on the Kulikov field, which is not far from the Don River. This battle was nicknamed Kulikovskaya, and the prince since then received the nickname Don.
The White Kremlin stood over 100 years. During this time, much has changed. Russian lands united into one strong state. Moscow became its capital. It happened under Moscow Prince Ivan III. Since then, he became the name of the Grand Duke of All Russia, and historians call him the "collector of the land of Russian."
Ivan III gathered the best Russian masters and invited Aristotle Few from the distant Italy, Antonio Solaryo and other famous architects. And under the leadership of Italian architects on Borovitsky hill, new construction began. In order not to leave the city without a fortress, the builders were erected by a new Kremlin in parts: disassembled the section of the old white-name wall and in its place quickly built a new one - from bricks. Suitable for its manufacture of clay in the vicinity of Moscow was quite a lot. However, clay - the material is soft. So that the brick become hard, it was burned in special furnaces.
Over the years of construction, Russian masters stopped treating Italian architects as strangers, and even their names were redesigned to the Russian way. So Antonio became Anton, and the sophisticated Italian surname replaced the nickname Fryazin. Overseas lands Our ancestors were called Fryazhsky, and out of there - fryazinam.
Built a new Kremlin for 10 years. The fortress from two sides was protected by the river, and at the beginning of the 16th century. From the third party, the Kremlin dug wide ditch. He connected two rivers. Now the Kremlin has been protected by water obstacles from all sides. They were erected one after the other, equipped with their rejected archers for consuming defense capability. Together with the update of the fortress wall, the construction of such famous as Asspensky, Arkhangelsky and Blagoveshchensky took place.
After the wedding on the kingdom of Romanov, the construction of the Kremlin went in reinforced pace. Philaretovov was built near the bell tower of Ivan the Great, Teremnaya, the fun palaces, the Patriarchal Chambers and the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles. In Peter I, an arsenal building is erected. But after the transfer of the capital to Petersburg, the new buildings stopped erected.
During the Board of Catherine II, a number of ancient buildings and part of the southern wall under the construction of a new palace are demolished. But soon work was canceled, according to the official version, due to the lack of financing, according to the unofficial - due to the negative opinion of the public. In 1776-87. The building of the Senate was built
During the invasion of Napoleon, the Kremlin was enormous damage. They were desecrated, the churches were looted, a part of the walls, towers and buildings blew up during the retreat. In 1816-19. Restoration work was held in the Kremlin. By 1917 In the Kremlin was 31 temple.
During the October Revolution, the Kremlin is subjected to bombardment. In 1918, the Government of the RSFSR moves to the Senate Building. In the Soviet power in the Kremlin, the Kremlin Palace of Congresses is built, set stars on the towers, put the walls and structures of the Kremlin repeatedly restored.
- Today's facilities were built mostly in 1485-1495 The years is not a place of dilapidated white-stone walls, erected in 1366.
- Fortress with twenty towersconnected by walls, has a triangular shape.
- Three angular towers Have a round shape for conducting a circular shelling, the rest are square, very different from one another.
- Kremlin Wall Length 2335 m, The height is 8-19 m, and its thickness is 3.5-6.5 m.
- Towers are inherent in the details characteristic of italian architecture The time that is not surprising, as they built their Italian architects.
- AT task names Reflects their history and history of the place.
The towers of the Moscow Kremlin with isochi tents and walls with teeth in the form of "swallow tails" are indispensable elements of the panorama of the capital. In place where the Kremlin stands, the settlement was from ancient times. This location is very profitable: on a high Borovitsky hill, in the confluence of two rivers - Moscow-River and Neglinnaya. The first fortifications that appeared here were wooden. And in 1366-1368, Prince Dmitry Donskaya built the first white-mounted Moscow Kremlin. The walls and towers that appear before us now are the basis of its fortification structures built in 1485-1495. Italian architects on the site of the former, dilapidated white-stone walls.
Kremlin Construction Technique and Fortress Plan
Twenty-Kremlin towers connected by the walls, form an irregular triangle with an area of \u200b\u200b27.5 hectares. Strengthening were built with the most modern military technologies of the XV century. The towers are behind the walls of the walls so that the warriors can not only lead the shelling, but also control the situation in close proximity to the walls. At the corners, round towers (waterway, Moskvoretskaya and Arsenal) were erected - such a form was chosen both due to their greater strength and to keep a circular shelling. In them, it was possible to arrange hidden wells with water. Most towers are squares at the base, but they differ quite very much from each other, depending on their purpose. Travel towers (Spasskaya, Borovitskaya, Trinity and others), erected on the axes leading to the Kremlin roads were the most powerful and well fortified. The towers were endowed with the symbolic meaning of protection, the protection of the Kremlin from penetrating the evil, unclean forces. Therefore, over the gates of some towers and today you can see icons.
Most towers were attached groovers - fortification structures, which were taken out for the fortress walls or for the ditch for additional defense. This type of fortification quite responded to the requirements of the end of the XV century. One-Kutafya was preserved from the Trenznitz towers, covering the Trinity and in our time, which serves as the main entrance for tourists to the Kremlin. With the construction of the fortifications, different measures were provided against the attack of the enemy. This, for example, a device of secret underground strokes that are out of the walls to protect the city from the subcoops. Inside the walls, a through tunnel was built for the rapid movement of defenders.
The length of the walls of the Moscow Kremlin is 2235 meters, the wall thickness ranges from 3.5 to 6.5 meters, and the height is from 8 to 19 meters. The highest walls are located from the Red Square, where there was no natural 
Oh water barrier. The walls were not based immediately, their construction began with the southeastern part (by the Moscow River), continued to the east and the West was completed in 1516. From the south side, the oldest Kremlin Tower was erected - Tainitskaya.
Interesting and self-construction technique itself. The walls were built on the foundation of the former, white-named, the material was a large red brick, which was laid out the front walls, and the gaps were pushed by the residues of the collapsed day walls of Dmitry Donskoy. So since 1485, the Walls of the Moscow Kremlin acquired the recognizable color. The towers were erected by visitors of Italian architects (phryazes, as they were then called): Pietro Antonio Solari, Marco Ruffo, Aleviz di Karkano. This explains their unusual, strange appearance for that time. The fact is that the registration of boys in the form of famous "swallow tails" was a typical detail of North-Thawed architecture, characteristic of buildings in the cities where the ruling "party" were death - supporters of rapprochement with the emperor (unlike Gutev, supporters of Pope, who decorated Walls of their cities with a direct completion). These teeth were not only an ornament: they fured out the upper battleships.
The angular and travel towers after the next fire were decorated in the XVII century stone tents with flora. They performed the function of sentigious steps, the signal bells were located there. In the second half of the XVIII century. Famous Russian architects V.I. Bazhenov performed the project of the Kremlin Palace - a large-scale building in a classic style resembling the architecture of French palaces. The project was proposed to be seduced by a turden the slide, leading to the cathedrals - this place would be one of the first "Gulbić" in Europe. To build such a huge structure, it was necessary to carry a third of the Kremlin walls. On one site, which is located in the Moscow River, work began on the disintegration of fortifications, but soon due to the growing worst huge costs, this project was minimized. In the XIX century During the invasion of Napoleon to Moscow, not only the palaces and temples of the Kremlin, but also the Kremlin walls were seriously damaged. Architect who was engaged in the restoration of the victims of the Kremlin towers, was O.I. Beauvais (ironically, the Italian is also).
Spasskaya Tower and Kremlin Kurats
Special mention deserves the most famous of all Kremlin Tessel - Spasskaya, built in 1491 Pietro Antonio Solari. Through her, sovereigns went to the Kremlin and godded gods. From the XV century We reached us only by dedicational white plates, which are narrated by Cyrillic (from the Kremlin) and on Latin (from the side of Red Square) about the order and construction of this tower. Its general view and decoration were then much more modest: she was almost twice as little, and she was originally called Frolovsky, along the Church of Flora and Lavra. The Spasskaya Tower began to be called on the well-known all-Russian Savior icon, which was posted on the entrance in the middle of the XVII century. She was considered lost, but in 2010 it turned out that in Soviet times she was just stucked by plaster. In the XVII century The tower of one of the first was prescribed by multi-tiered elegant riding. And the history of the clock on the Spasskaya Tower deserves a separate story.
The first hours on the Kremlin, still white-named towers were installed in 1404 by Lazarre Serbin. In the XVII century, the Spasskaya Tower acquired thanks to the leaving of Scotland Christopher Galovery, very unusual hours. They were an arrow in the form of a sun with a rotating dial, which was noted 17 hours. The famous Kremlin chimes, which can be seen today belong to the middle of the XIX century. They were met by watchmakers, brothers by the name Bathotop - the founders of the company of the same name. At different times, the chimes published different melodies. Since 1770, it was a song "Ah, my dear Augustine", from the middle of the XIX century. - "If we are famous for our Lord in Zion," after the revolution, the clock began to play "International", and since 2000 it is possible to hear the famous passage from the opera Glinka "life for the king". Currently, the hourly mechanism occupies as many as three floors, and until 1937, this watch was manually cast-iron.
Famous towers of the Kremlin and the history of their names
Let's stop in more detail on the history of some towers. As already mentioned, the corner towers are most important for the defense and in general. The water tower was built by Anton Fryazin in 1488. In the XVII century The tower was equipped with a water-lifting machine, which is why it received its name. Another her name is the Sweet Tower - comes from the boyars of Sviblovy, who had a yard in the Kremlin. In 1812, she was blown up by the French, after which she was restored by OI. Bovy. Thanks to him, her appearance is emphasized classic: rustic (horizontal lines) at the bottom, column, decorative decoration of auditory windows. The first place is decorative, not functionality, the hand of the architect began the beginning of the XIX century.
The Beklemishev Tower, built by Marco Ruffo in 1487, was named so because of the King of King Vasily III Boyarin I. Beklemisheva, who fell into disfavor and was executed. One of the functions of this tower becomes obvious from the name - the place of imprisonment of the rebels. The other name is Moskvoretskaya, as it is located on the banks of the Moscow River and occupies a strategically important position. It is from this side that the city is most often subjected to raids of the Tatars. A secret well was arranged in this tower. In 1707, the buyers were expanded in the tower for a new type weapon, because at that time feared the Swedish intervention. This fact suggests that the tower did not lose defensive significance until the XVIII century.
The angular round tower, located on the northern side of the Kremlin buildings, was erected by Pietro Antonio Solary Ok. 1492 Other its names occur from the boyars of the dog, who lived nearby (Dogkin) and from location next to Arsenal (Arsenal). Thanks to the faces that form its volume, and the expanding book, it gives the impression of special stability and strength. She had a strategic mystery: this is a well inside, as well as an underground move to the River Neglinnaya.
Borovitskaya tower received its name from the pine forest hill that was in ancient times on the Borovitsky hill. The tower is built on the project of Pietro Antonio Solari in 1490. Its constructive feature is the location of the Sprinkle side. It is also an angular, but in terms of it is not a round, but resembles a pyramid, which is formed from the chimeters set on each other (volumes, quadrangular at the base) and is marked with octolar (octagonal at the base). Although this tower was located outside the main roads and was used for household needs, it retained to this day: these are the only permanent travel gates to the Kremlin's territory.
Troitskaya and Kutafia Tower were built by Aleviz Fryazin. Kutafia dates back to 1516, Troitskaya - 1495. These towers are connected by the bridge, both were travel, and in Kutafiy Tower there were only some gates that were closed with heavy forged lattices. To date, this is the main entrance to the Kremlin architectural and museum complex. The Troitskaya Tower is the largest, its height reaches 76.35 meters. Its structure is complex: it consists of six floors, two of which are underground, and in the XVII and XVIII centuries. She was the place of imprisonment. It received its name in 1658 from the Troitsky Foreigner, located nearby.
The Townitskaya Tower is called so due to the fact that not only a secret well was built inside it, but also a counted move towards the Moscow River. This tower was built first, in 1485 - it was from this side that Tatars were usually attacked.
