Kremlin high resolution. Sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

In the very center of the capital there are witnesses of significant events of the past and places where the present is being made - the Kremlin and Red Square. Ancient and unique, beloved and mystical - these places have long become not just business cards of Moscow, but also symbols of the country. Seeing the sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square is the number 1 task for any tourist.

One of the visiting cards of the capital known far beyond the borders of the country - the Grand Kremlin Palace - is located along the embankment of the Moskva River. The modern palace was built under Nicholas I by a group of architects led by K. Ton on the site of the once existing structures of the times of Ivan III and Elizabeth Petrovna. The majestic building is equal in height to a 15-storey building, and in terms of the occupied area it is more than 3 football fields. The complex includes the newly erected building of the palace, the Faceted, Tsaritsyn and Armory Chambers, the Terem Palace and churches.

Behind the exquisite facade of the palace, about 700 rooms are hidden, including 5 order halls, front and living rooms of the imperial family and service rooms. The main attraction of the palace, which is now the residence of the president, is luxurious interiors with unique parquet, gilding and marble.

Cathedrals

The Moscow Kremlin is a treasure trove of Russian art and spirituality. Its separate component is unique cathedrals, of which only 8 have survived.

St. Basil's Cathedral

The brightest and most unique of the existing temples is St. Basil's Cathedral. The peculiarity of the temple built in 1561 is in the unique chapters, none of which repeats the drawing of the other, all 10 are completely different. The temple was not always so colorful. Initially, the building was made of white stone and brick, and in the 17th century. its domes and walls were decorated with colorful designs. With what this is connected, it is not known for certain how and who exactly erected the temple. There is a version that the architect was Nikolai Postnik, nicknamed Barma, or they were 2 different people.

The cathedral consists of 10 churches built on the same foundation. In the center is the Church of the Intercession, which gave the cathedral its second name. There are 4 large churches around it, indicating the cardinal directions, and 4 more between them. The entire ensemble is surrounded by a bypass gallery.

Cathedral of the Archangel

Standing apart among the Kremlin churches is the Archangel Cathedral. Built in the XIV century. it will not stand out either by the luxury of the exterior or the richness of colors. The ceremonial building in the Renaissance style was originally built as a tomb and is dedicated to the archangel, both the features of architecture and the choice of decor elements are subordinate to this.

According to the tradition of temples built in honor of archangels and saints, the five-domed cathedral is crowned with silver helmet-shaped domes and only the central dome is a gilded hemisphere. The façade, originally painted to look like red brick and later repainted white, is adorned with intact pilasters, capitals, rosettes and arches. The interior has undergone significant changes. Unique frescoes remained only at the burial place of Ivan the Terrible. The sights of the cathedral are an icon depicting the Archangel Michael, and the "Blessed Sky" and 56 graves of princes and kings.

Blagoveshchensky cathedral

Among the many Kremlin churches built by Italian masters, the Annunciation Cathedral stands out for its architecture. It became a monument of Russian architecture, combining the features inherent in the Moscow and Pskov schools. Built as a house church in 1489, the cathedral was completed and decorated until the 1560s, when it acquired its modern look. By this time, the 3-domed cathedral, surrounded by porches, was replenished with more churches and galleries, and now it is crowned with 9 domes.

One of the cathedrals most beloved by princes and tsars is distinguished by luxury from the floor of jasper and agate and the most beautiful iconostasis to the golden cross, which Napoleon never found, and the mechanical clock, the prototype of the Moscow chimes. The cathedral is full of mysteries. These are tsats - crescents under the crosses of domes, and miraculous icons. One of the secrets is the images of Greek philosophers on the porch, among other works by the icon painter Edikeev, who was entrusted with painting the temple. Now services are not held in the temple, there is a museum here.

Assumption Cathedral

The Assumption Cathedral is one of the main Moscow churches and undoubtedly one of the most controversial. It is still unknown why the Pskov architects, whose relics lie at the foundation of the cathedral, and many other things, abandoned its construction. . It was crowned, elevated to the dignity, served prayers, swore allegiance and announced state acts. In the Assumption Cathedral, the first of the Romanov family was crowned, and Count L. Tolstoy was excommunicated from the church.

The construction was entrusted to the Italian Catholic Fiorovanti, who coped with the task by erecting a temple that attracts attention with a strict facade and golden helmet-shaped domes. Behind the seeming simplicity of the architecture are hidden innovative techniques that made the cathedral outstanding. Now it houses a museum, but festive services are also held.

Ivan the Great belltower

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower is an amazing complex that was built for about 3 centuries, from 1505 to 1815. It included the Assumption Belfry with the Filaret Annex and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower itself. The bell tower appeared first, which served for 3 nearby cathedrals. Then it was a little lower than now. Almost a century later, under Boris Godunov, the last tier was built on. With a height of 81 m, the bell tower became the tallest building in the city, which it remained until the end of the 19th century.

In 1552, the Assumption Church was erected near the bell tower, which was rebuilt into a belfry. In 1624, Filaret's extension appeared near the belfry. The latter were destroyed during Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, and rebuilt much later. Now museums are located in the bell tower, and going upstairs, tourists get to one of the best in the city viewing platforms from where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Kremlin.

Verkhospassky Cathedral

The Upper Savior Cathedral cannot be confused with any other - its roof is decorated with 11 drums with golden domes. The temple is a complex of house churches built right in the Terem Palace. The origins of the cathedral go back to the 17th century. to house churches, when in 1627 Catherine's Church was built on the female half of the palace. A few years later, the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands with a chapel of John the Baptist was erected for the tsar and princes in the male half.

By the middle of the century, the church of St. Evdokia appeared above Catherine's, which would later be re-consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of the Word. And above the chapel they erect the temple of the Exaltation of the Lord or the Crucifixion. United all the temples Osip Startsev during the reconstruction. Domes were brought to the roof, mounted on drums painted with tiles by masters from the New Yersaim Monastery. The appearance of the cathedral has changed little since then, but the interior has lost a lot.

Church of the Twelve Apostles

The Church of the Twelve Apostles is the home church of the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, which adjoins the Patriarchal Palace. It was built under Patriarch Nikon, who invited the most famous architects and painters to decorate it. Its beauty and wealth, not inferior to the Terem Palace with temples, became the reason for the disgrace of the patriarch. The Church of the Twelve Apostles is the last of the temple buildings of the Kremlin. Its architecture repeats the elements of the cathedrals surrounding it, combining them into a single ensemble.

After the abolition of the patriarchate, the temple gradually deteriorates. Significant damage was inflicted on it in 1917. Now, in the only church in the city dedicated to this holiday, there is a museum, as well as in the palace itself. The unique painting that adorned the walls of the temple has almost not been preserved, but a rich exhibition of icons is offered to the attention of visitors.

Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God in Blachernae

The modest one-domed Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God in Vacherna is a memory of the miracle that became possible thanks to the Robe of the Mother of God. The Tatars who attacked the Kremlin, whose first attack was beaten off by those besieged in the Kremlin, for some reason left, leaving the loot. In memory of this, a wooden temple was erected, which burned down in a fire. Pskov craftsmen built a stone church in 1486, which became a home for Russian patriarchs and metropolitans. But with the advent of the Temple of the Twelve Apostles, its role changes, it becomes another palace church. It is being rebuilt, the open porches are being turned into covered galleries, along which the tsarina follows to the Assumption Cathedral.

The church was badly damaged twice: in a fire in 1737 and shelling in 1918. During the restoration, the wall painting was restored, which, together with the iconostasis, gives the church an intimacy. The museum of Russian sculpture is located on the gallery of the restored church.

Museums

In 1991, a museum-reserve of the same name was founded from several state museums of the Kremlin. It included:

• museum-cathedrals, which host exhibitions: Arkhangelsk, Annunciation and Assumption
• Church of the Deposition of the Robe, 12 Apostles
• Belfry "Ivan the Great"
• Patriarchal and Armory Chambers

Armouries

The Armory is a centuries-old legacy of Russian tsars and patriarchs. The first mention of it dates back to 1547, only then it was called the Armory Order, which included the Great Treasury, where all the jewels were stored, the Armory with weapons, uniforms and banners, the Stable Order with crews and the Master Chambers. The modern Armory occupies 2 floors in the Grand Kremlin Palace. Its exposition is located in 9 halls and presents more than 4 thousand exhibits of arts and crafts.

Works of masters not only of Russia and Europe, but also of the East are exhibited here. Among them is a unique collection of thrones, the largest collection of state regalia, rare weapons, art objects of "pre-Mongol" Russia, etc. The most famous exhibits of the exhibition are Monomakh's hat, Faberge's eggs, the throne of Ivan the Terrible, the parade dress of Peter I, etc.

Diamond fund

The Diamond Fund is a separate exposition exhibited in the Armory, which is part of the Gokhran of the Russian Federation. The beginning of the collection collected in the fund was laid by Peter I, who by his decree recognized the treasures in the royal chambers as state treasures. Coronation regalia, jewelry, if necessary, were issued, and then returned to the Diamond Cabinet, and then the Armory.

After the revolution, many precious exhibits of the fund were sold. Today, the collection of the Diamond Fund consists of about 70 exhibits, including historical stones, gems, diamonds, nuggets, orders and a unique collection of crowns. Visitors will be able to see the famous Orlov diamond, a Colombian emerald, a 9-kilogram Camel nugget, large and small imperial crowns, etc.

State Historical Museum

The building of red brick, located in the northwestern part of Red Square, attracts attention due to its uniformity with the ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin. Since 1883, the Historical Museum has been located here, the expositions of which will tell about the history of Russia from ancient times to the present.

On 2 floors of the museum in 39 halls, 22 thousand exhibits are placed in chronological order, which is less than 1% of the entire museum fund. Passing from hall to hall, visitors from primitive society find themselves in our days. Among the exhibits there is a boat made of wood, mammoth tusks, a religious building made of plates, medieval armor, orders, etc. The interiors of the museum, which Aivazovsky, Repin, Korovin and others worked on, are also of value.

towers

The Moscow Kremlin has the shape of a triangle, at the top of which there are round towers (Beklemishevskaya, Vodovzvodnaya and Angular Arsenalnaya), the remaining 17 are rectangular. Despite some similarities, all towers are unique. The Trinity Tower is recognized as the highest, the size of which, together with the star, is about 80 m, which is slightly lower than the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The Spasskaya Tower, famous for its chimes, is somewhat inferior to it, passing through which it was necessary to dismount and take off your hats.

The smallest and most unlike the others is the Tsarskaya Tower, whose height does not exceed 17 m. It owes its name to Ivan the Terrible, who loves to watch what is happening on Red Square from here. Another unique building - Kutafya tower - the only one of the bridgeheads, i.e. not built into the wall. Each tower is interesting in its own way: Tainitskaya was the first to appear, Corner Arsenalnaya keeps a spring and a dungeon, government motorcades enter the Kremlin through Borovitskaya.

Attractions

Red Square is the symbol, heart and historical center of Moscow. This popular tourist destination is home to many attractions and is a must-see.

Zero kilometer

Kilometer zero is a new attraction in Moscow, which appeared only in 1996. The sign was supposed to appear in the capital in 1985, but they could not decide on the installation site. This bronze sign shows the starting point for distances. Usually it is located near the main post office, but in Moscow it was decided to place it in the center of tourist routes near the Iverskaya Chapel, explaining this by the fact that before the road every Muscovite went to bow to her, asking for intercession.

The sign is a square divided into 4 parts, symbolizing the parts of the world, inscribed in a circle. Animals are depicted on the bas-relief of the square. In its center is an eight-pointed badge with an inscription. Despite its youth, the attraction is very popular. There is a sign: if you stand in the center of the sign facing the chapel on one foot and throw a coin over your left shoulder with your left hand so that it remains within the circle, then your wish will come true.

Resurrection Gate

Between the building of the Historical Museum and the City Duma there are the Resurrection Gates with a double passage, through which tourists get to Red Square. The gates were rebuilt in 1995 at the same place where they were until 1931. The first gates were erected in the 15th century. and were called the Lions, because. in the ditch in front of them was placed a gift from the English king - a cage with lions. Later they changed several more names: Bogoyavlensky in honor of the church, Neglimensky because of the bridge over the river, along the nearby courtyards of Troitsky and Kuryatnye, until they became Iversky because of the icon that was met here from Athos.

After the restoration, they depicted the resurrection of Christ and the gates began to be called Resurrection. They were demolished as a royal monument, besides, they did not allow large vehicles to enter the square during the parade. A monument to the worker was erected at this place. Now these two-arched gates rebuilt in red brick with white inserts are one of the hallmarks of the capital.

House of provincial government

Quite modest against the backdrop of the bright ensemble of Red Square, the building of the provincial government is not striking. Built in 1730-40s. according to the project of P. Heiden, the building was part of the Kitaygoro Mint. Not all of its buildings have been preserved; new buildings have been built on the foundations of some - the City Duma. The house of the provincial government is a 2-storey building in the Baroque style. Its facade is decorated with graceful pilasters, cornices, risalits and putti figurines. In the middle there is a passage gate through which the building of the Old Mint is visible.

Inside the building, ceremonial halls were equipped for ceremonial meetings of official places, later the Moscow Duma was located here. After the revolution, there were communal apartments in the building for some time. Now the premises of the house are leased to non-profit organizations, part of the rented jewelry store.

GUM

GUM is a unique trading city in the historical center of Moscow. The heir to the Upper Chambers of Commerce, the supermarket specializes in luxury goods and occupies an entire block. Trade has always flourished on the square near the Kremlin. In order to streamline the shops, racks and give the trading place a civilized look, the Trading Rows were first built, which in 1893 were replaced by the passage - the Upper Trading Rows. They existed until 1917, when they were closed as a relic of tsarism. In 1922 they were opened, but already as GUM, which became a symbol of the new policy, which was destined to work until 1930. GUM was opened again only in 1953 after the death of Stalin and Beria.

The modern GUM is a shopping and entertainment center, which occupies a historical building in pseudo-Russian style with a glass roof, under which there are 3 longitudinal and 3 transverse aisles. It presents products of more than 100 world brands, a cinema hall and restaurants.

Mausoleum V.I. Lenin

The Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin is one of the most controversial buildings in Moscow. Created as a ritual tomb, it has long since become a museum. The mausoleum, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is the third in a row. The first two were wooden. The last mausoleum was built in the form of a pyramid of marble, granite, labradorite and quartz. It is a structure 12 meters high and 24 meters wide.

Inside there is a Funeral Hall with a sarcophagus, in which the body of the leader is kept, and a columbarium, where the ashes of other political figures were supposed to be kept. The latter is not used and is not shown to visitors. The mausoleum fit into the architecture of Red Square, but still raise a lot of questions: from the choice of the shape of the building itself, to the need for embalming.

Place of execution

One of the sights of Red Square - Lobnoye Mesto - is not striking. A small round elevation 1 m high and 13 m in diameter is surrounded by a stone parapet. The discreet architecture does not attract attention, but the building was important - solemn speeches were made from here and decrees were read out, here the relics of saints were erected to the kingdom and exhibited, strikes were held and works of art were exhibited.

Although legends associate this place with public executions. In fact, no one was executed at the Execution Ground, rather the legends went because of a false etymology. The phrase appeared when translating from Hebrew a place in the Gospel, which spoke of the execution at Calvary. And the Execution Ground is called because of the proximity Vasilyevsky Spusk, which in the Middle Ages was called "forehead". Previously, it was here that tourists threw a coin in order to return again, now Zero Kilometer fulfills this mission.

Tsar Cannon

The largest cannon in the world, the Tsar Cannon, is installed on Ivanovskaya Square between the Church of the 2 Apostles and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. An outstanding work of artillery art was made at the Cannon Yard by the foundry worker A. Chokhov by decree of the son of Tsar Ivan the Terrible - Fedor Ivanovich in 1586. This is an active weapon, because. in the barrel there is a foundry seal, which was put only after a trial shot. The length of this giant is 5 m, and the weight is 40 tons; about 200 horses were required to move it.

On the bronze trunk, surrounded by ornaments, friezes and inscriptions, there is an equestrian image of the king, which gave the name "Tsar Cannon". In 1835, a gun carriage was cast from cast iron at the factory in St. Petersburg, which only confirmed the name, it is decorated with the head of the king of animals - a lion. Researchers claim that the famous giant is not a cannon at all, but a battering ram. the carriage is not designed for her shot. Be that as it may, the Tsar Cannon is one of the achievements of the 16th century.

The Tsar Bell

Another monster of casting skill - the Tsar Bell is located on Ivanovskaya Square near the eastern part of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The bell, cast by the Motorin family of foundry workers in 1730 by decree of Tsarina Anna Ioannovna, never rang, moreover, it was never raised to the bell tower. The queen wanted to leave the memory of her reign following her predecessors. The Godunovsky bell, which weighed 33 tons, served less than 50 years and broke in a fire. The same fate befell the bell created under Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, whose weight was 130 tons.

The Tsar Bell was cast in 1736, however, it was pulled out of the pit only after almost 100 years because of the weight of 200 tons. Only then was a chipped piece of 11 tons discovered. m, was installed in the place where it stands now. Disputes about the need for restoration do not subside, but there have been no attempts to implement it.

Monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky

The monument to Minin and Pozharsky is the first major monument in Moscow, installed on Red Square in front of St. Basil's Cathedral. Before that, temples, arches, etc. were opened in honor of important events. For the 200th anniversary of the Second Home Guard and the victory of 1612 over the interventionists in 1803, it was proposed to create a sculptural composition. She was supposed to portray the leaders of the militia - Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and the headman Kuzma Minin.

It was they who organized a rebuff to the Polish-Lithuanian and Swedish conquerors in Nizhny Novgorod, where the monument was intended. But the monument remained in the capital. Installed in 1818 in front of the Upper Trading Rows, during the reconstruction of the square it was moved to the cathedral. The monument, the creation of which took 18 tons of copper and brass and was cast at a time, has become a real decoration of the square.

Arsenal

Between the Nikolskaya and Troitskaya towers, close to the Kremlin wall, there is a Tseikhgauz or Arsenal. This building, erected by decree of Peter I in 1736, was supposed to serve not only as a warehouse of weapons, but also as a museum in which military trophy banners, weapons and uniforms were exhibited. The two-story, trapezoid-shaped building with a large courtyard took over 30 years to build. In 1812 it was blown up. Reconstruction work was carried out until 1828. Now its facade is decorated with deep arched windows arranged in pairs and friezes.

Irina Viktorovna Pasynkova

Dear colleagues. During the thematic week dedicated to Moscow, the guys and I listened to songs about our beloved capital, recited poems, read literary works, carefully examined illustrations and albums with image sights of the main city of the country. Moscow Kremlin- one of the main attractions of the capital, the greatest monument of the history of our Motherland, a brilliant creation of Russian national culture, a beautiful and complex architectural ensemble. In class on fine arts children learned to draw Kremlin. I offer you Master Class not difficult in my opinion images of the Kremlin.

On the landscape sheet, we mark two horizontal lines with a simple pencil. Bottom line-ground, top-wall Kremlin. It is located below the middle of the sheet (we consolidate knowledge of spatial representations)

In the middle we draw the central tower and columns (reinforcing knowledge of geometric shapes)

Now we perform the composition in color

That's it the image of the Kremlin turned out

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The most recognizable architectural structure in Russia, the Moscow Kremlin, is located in the historical center of the capital. The main feature of the architectural ensemble is its fortifying complex, consisting of walls in the form of a triangle with twenty towers.

The complex was built between 1485 and 1499 and is well preserved to this day. It several times served as a model for similar fortresses that appeared in other cities of Russia - Kazan, Tula, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, etc. Within 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 adjoining Red Square, which is on this list, the Kremlin is usually considered the main attraction of Moscow.

Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin

The architectural ensemble is formed by 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, the construction took place in 1326-1327 under the leadership of Ivan I. After the completion of construction, the cathedral served as the home church of the Metropolitan of Moscow, who settled in the predecessor of the current Patriarchal Palace.

By 1472, the now collapsed cathedral was destroyed, and then a new building was built in its place. However, it collapsed in May 1474, possibly due to an earthquake or due to construction errors. A new attempt at revival was made by Grand Duke Ivan III. It was in this cathedral that prayer services were served before important campaigns, kings were crowned and elevated to the rank of patriarchs.

Dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Russian rulers, it was built in 1505 on the site of the 1333 church of the same name. It was built by the Italian architect Aloisio Lamberti da Montignana. The architectural style combines traditional ancient Russian religious architecture and elements of the Italian Renaissance.

Located on the southwest corner of the square. In 1291, a wooden church was built here, but burned down a century later and was replaced by a stone church. The white stone cathedral on the facades has nine onion domes and is intended for family ceremonies.

Working hours of the cathedrals: 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 squares of the Moscow Kremlin

• - these are several representative secular buildings created in different centuries and served as a home for Russian grand dukes and tsars, and in our time for presidents.
  

  

  

  

• - a five-story building, decorated with rich carved decorative frames, as well as a tiled roof.
  

  

  

• - a building of the 17th century, preserved rare architectural features of civil architecture of that time. The museum presents jewelry works, exquisite dishes, paintings, objects royal hunting. The magnificent iconostasis of the Ascension Monastery destroyed in 1929 has been preserved.
  
  
• - a three-story building, made in the early neoclassical style. Initially, the palace was supposed to serve as the residence of the Senate, but in our time it exists as the central working representation of the President of Russia.
  

  

  

  

Among the popular places in the Moscow Kremlin, the following squares should be noted:

Moscow Kremlin towers

The length of the walls is 2235 meters, their maximum height is 19 meters, and the thickness reaches 6.5 meters.

There are 20 defensive towers similar in architectural style. Three corner towers have a cylindrical base, the remaining 17 are quadrangular.

Trinity Tower is the highest, rising up to 80 meters.

Lowest - Kutafya tower(13.5 meters), located outside the wall.

Four towers have travel gates:

The tops of these 4 towers, which are considered especially beautiful, are decorated with symbolic red ruby ​​stars of the Soviet era.

The clock on the Spasskaya Tower first appeared in the 15th century, but burned down in 1656. On December 9, 1706, the capital heard for the first time the chimes, which announced a new hour. Since then, many events have taken place: wars have been fought, cities have been renamed, capitals have changed, but the famous chimes of the Moscow Kremlin remain the main chronometer of Russia.

The bell tower (81 meters high) is the tallest building in the Kremlin ensemble. It was built between 1505 and 1508 and still performs its function for three cathedrals that do not have their own bell towers - Arkhangelsk, Assumption and Annunciation.

Nearby is a small church of St. John, from which the name of the bell tower and the square appeared. It existed until the beginning of the 16th century, then collapsed and has since deteriorated significantly.

The Faceted Chamber is the main banquet hall of the Moscow princes, it is the oldest surviving secular building in the city. Currently, this is the official ceremonial hall for the President of Russia, so it is closed for tours.

Armory and Diamond Fund

The chamber was built according to the decree of Peter I, so that weapons obtained in wars were stored in it. Construction was 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, and was reconstructed only in 1828. Now the Armory is a museum, which can be visited on any day of the week from 10:00 to 18:00, except for Thursday. Ticket price for adults - 700 rubles, for children - free of charge.

There are not only exhibits of the weapons trade, but also the Diamond Fund. The permanent exhibition of the State Diamond Fund 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. Opening hours - from 10:00 to 17:20 on any day except Thursday. For an adult ticket, you will have to pay 500 rubles, a child ticket costs 100 rubles.

Two exhibited diamonds deserve special attention, as they belong to the most famous examples of this gem in the world:

1. It is not only the largest medieval fortress in Russia, but also the largest active fortress in all of Europe. Of course, there were more such structures, but the Moscow Kremlin is the only one that is still in use.
2. The Kremlin walls were white. The walls "acquired" their red brick at the end of the 19th century. To see the White Kremlin, look for works by 18th or 19th century artists such as Pyotr Vereshchagin or Alexei Savrasov.
3. Red Square has nothing to do with red. The name comes from the Old Russian word "krasny", which means beautiful, and is in no way related to the color of the buildings, which, as we now know, were white until the end of the 19th century.
4. The stars of the Moscow Kremlin were eagles. During the time of Tsarist Russia, four Kremlin towers were crowned with double-headed eagles, which have been the Russian coat of arms since the 15th century. In 1935 the Soviet government replaced the eagles, which were melted down and replaced with the five pointed stars we see today. The fifth star on the Vodovzvodnaya Tower was added later.
5. Kremlin towers have names. Of the 20 Kremlin towers, only two do not have their own names.
6. The Kremlin is densely built up. Behind the 2235-meter Kremlin walls there are 5 squares and 18 buildings, among which the most popular are the Spasskaya Tower, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, the Assumption Cathedral, the Trinity Tower and the Terem Palace.
7. The Moscow Kremlin was practically not damaged in World War II. During the war, the Kremlin was carefully disguised to look like a residential building block. The domes of the church and the famous green towers were painted gray and brown respectively, fake doors and windows were attached to the walls of the Kremlin, and Red Square was burdened with wooden structures.
8. The Kremlin is in the Guinness Book of Records. In the Moscow Kremlin you can see the world's largest bell and the world's largest cannon. In 1735, a 6.14 meter high bell was made from metal casting, the tsar cannon weighing 39.312 tons was lost in 1586 and was never used in the war.
9. The stars of the Kremlin always shine. In its 80 years of existence, the illumination of the Kremlin's stars has only been switched off twice. The first time was during World War II when the Kremlin was camouflaged to hide it from bombers. The second time they were turned off for the film. Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov filmed a scene for The Barber of Siberia.
10. The Kremlin clock has a deep secret. The secret of the accuracy of the Kremlin clock literally lies under our feet. The clock is connected to the control clock at the Sternberg Astronomical Institute via a cable.

The address: Russia Moscow
Start of construction: 1482
Completion of construction: 1495
Number of towers: 20
Wall length: 2500 m
Main attractions: Spasskaya Tower, Assumption Cathedral, Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Annunciation Cathedral, Archangel Cathedral, Chamber of Facets, Terem Palace, Arsenal, Armory, Tsar Cannon, Tsar Bell
Coordinates: 55°45"03.0"N 37°36"59.3"E
Object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation

Content:

A Brief History of the Moscow Kremlin

In the very heart of Moscow, on Borovitsky Hill, the majestic ensemble of the Kremlin rises. It has long become not only a symbol of the capital, but of the whole of Russia. History itself ordered that the ordinary village of Krivichi, spread out in the middle of the wilderness, eventually turned into the capital of a mighty Russian state.

Kremlin from a bird's eye view

The Kremlin or citadel in ancient Russia was called the central, fortified part of the city with a fortress wall, loopholes and towers. The first Moscow Kremlin, built in 1156 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, was a wooden fortress surrounded by a moat and a rampart.

During the reign of Ivan I, nicknamed Kalita (money bag), oak walls and towers were erected in Moscow and the first stone building was laid - the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God.

View of the Kremlin walls from the Kremlin embankment

In 1367, Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy surrounded the Kremlin with a powerful fortress wall made of white limestone. Since then, the capital has been nicknamed "White-Stone Moscow". Large-scale construction unfolded under Ivan III, who united a significant part of the Russian lands around Moscow and built a residence worthy of the "sovereign of all Russia" in the Kremlin.

For the construction of fortifications, Ivan III invited architects from Milan. It was in 1485 - 1495 that the walls and towers of the Kremlin that still exist today were built. The top of the walls is crowned with 1045 battlements in the form of a "dovetail" - they have the same appearance as the battlements of Italian castles. At the turn of the 15th - 16th centuries, the Moscow Kremlin turned into an impregnable massive fortress lined with red brick.

View of the Kremlin from the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge

In 1516, a moat was dug along the fortifications overlooking Red Square. After the Time of Troubles, the towers were decorated with tents, giving the Kremlin a modern look.

The miraculous return of the shrine of the Moscow Kremlin

Spasskaya, created by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari, is rightfully considered the main of the 20 towers of the Moscow Kremlin. The Spassky Gate has long been the main entrance to the Kremlin, and the chimes placed in the tent of the tower are known as the main clock of the country. The top of the tower is crowned with a luminous ruby ​​star, but after the collapse of the USSR, there are more and more calls to remove the star and hoist a double-headed eagle in its place. The tower got its name from the over-gate icon of the Savior of Smolensk.

View of the Kremlin from the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge

The icon was revered as a saint, so the men, passing through the gate, in front of the image of the Savior had to take off their headdress. The legend says that when Napoleon was passing through the Spassky Gates, a gust of wind tore off his cocked hat from his head. But the bad omens did not end there: the French tried to steal the gilded riza that adorned the image of the Savior of Smolensk, but the ladder attached to the gate overturned, and the shrine remained unharmed.

During the years of Soviet power, the icon was removed from the tower. For more than 70 years, the shrine was considered lost, until in 2010, restorers discovered a metal mesh hiding the image of Christ under a layer of plaster. On August 28, 2010, on the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Patriarch Kirill solemnly consecrated the newly found icon over the gates of the Spasskaya Tower.

Beklemishevskaya tower

Legends and myths of the Kremlin

From time immemorial, the Moscow Kremlin was not only a symbol of the sovereign's unlimited power, but also a place about which legends were composed. For a long history about the Kremlin temples and towers, so many legends have been created that would be enough for a whole book.

The most famous legends tell about secret dungeons and underground passages. It is believed that they were invented by Italian architects who designed and built the Kremlin walls and towers. Many underground rooms have been preserved under the former Chudov Monastery, which until the 1930s was located in the eastern part of the Kremlin Hill. These are passages, the interior of temples and long galleries. To date, some of them are flooded with groundwater.

Eternal flame near the walls of the Kremlin

There are rumors among Muscovites that branched underground passages used to lead out from each of the Kremlin towers. The same secret passages connected all the royal palaces. When in the 1960s the builders undertook to dig a large foundation pit for the State Kremlin Palace, they discovered three underground passages built in the 16th century. The dungeons were so wide that a cart could be driven through them.

Underground passages were found during every major reconstruction. Most often, voids, dips and labyrinths were walled up or simply filled with concrete for safety reasons.

Spasskaya Tower

One of the secrets of the Moscow Kremlin is also associated with its dungeons. For several centuries, historians and archaeologists have been struggling with the mystery of the disappearance of the library of Ivan IV the Terrible, which is also called Liberia. The Russian sovereign inherited a unique collection of ancient books and manuscripts from his grandmother Sophia Paleolog, who received these books as a dowry.

In historical documents, there is an inventory of the library, consisting of 800 volumes, but the collection itself disappeared without a trace. Some researchers are convinced that it burned down in a fire or disappeared during the Time of Troubles. But many are sure that the library is intact and hidden in one of the Kremlin dungeons.

View of the Assumption, Annunciation Cathedrals and Cathedral Square

Finding books in vaults located underground was not an accident. When Sophia Paleolog arrived in the city in 1472, she saw the terrible consequences of the fire that raged in Moscow two years earlier. Realizing that the library she brought could easily die in a fire, Sophia ordered to equip a spacious basement for storage, which was located under the Kremlin Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. After that, valuable Liberia was always kept in the dungeons.

View of Cathedral Square and Ivan the Great Bell Tower

Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin - "altars of Russia"

Today the Moscow Kremlin is both the place of work of the President of the Russian Federation and a historical and cultural museum. The historical center of the Kremlin is represented by Cathedral Square with three cathedrals - Assumption, Arkhangelsk and Annunciation. An old proverb says: "The Kremlin rises above Moscow, and above the Kremlin - only the sky." That is why all the people honored the decrees of the king, which he proclaimed in the Assumption Cathedral.

This temple can rightfully be called the "altar of Russia." In the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, the tsars were crowned kings, the next head of the Russian church was elected, and the relics of Moscow saints found eternal rest in the tombs of the temple. The Archangel Cathedral, starting from 1340 and up to the 18th century, served as the burial place of Moscow princes and tsars.

Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

Under its vaults, tombstones are installed in a strict order on white stone slabs. The Annunciation Cathedral was the personal prayer house of the Moscow princes: here they were baptized, confessed, married. According to legend, the grand ducal treasury was kept in the basement of this temple. Cathedral Square is surrounded by the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Faceted and Patriarch's Chambers. Meetings of the Boyar Duma and Zemsky Sobors were held in the Palace of Facets, and the office of the Holy Synod was located in the Patriarchal Palace.

Sights of the Moscow Kremlin

The younger buildings of the Kremlin include the Grand Kremlin Palace, built in the middle of the 19th century by order of Emperor Nicholas I. Today, the main residence of the President of Russia is located within its walls.

Tsar Cannon

In the palace halls, ceremonies of inauguration of the President are held, state awards and credentials are presented. One of the buildings of the palace houses the Diamond Fund of the Russian Federation and the Armory - a treasury of palace household items. In the Kremlin, on the pedestals are the Tsar Cannon weighing 40 tons and the Tsar Bell weighing 200 tons - masterpieces of Russian foundry craftsmanship. Due to their gigantic dimensions, they are not suitable for their intended use, but they have become symbols of great Russia. The Kremlin is always crowded. Guests admire the enduring beauty of architectural creations that personify Russian history. As M.Yu. Lermontov in the "Panorama of Moscow", nothing can compare with this Kremlin which, "surrounded by battlements and golden domes of cathedrals, reclines on high mountain, how royal crown on the forehead of a formidable lord.

The Moscow Kremlin is the main attraction of the capital of Russia, which has great historical, architectural, socio-political value.

The Kremlin is located in the very center of the city on the high Borovitsky Hill near the Moscow River. On one side of it is Red Square, on the other - Alexander Garden.

Read about how to get to the Moscow Kremlin, which Kremlin sights to see first, how to buy entrance tickets, about the opening hours, excursions and much more in this article.

History of the Moscow Kremlin

The Finno-Ugric tribes were the first to settle on the territory of the modern Kremlin in the Bronze Age. In the 10th century, Borovitsky Hill, located at the intersection of important trade routes, was occupied by the Vyatichi, and in 1156, by the will of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, a typical Russian fortress was built here with defensive fortifications - earthen ramparts with palisades, surrounded by a deep moat.

Until the middle of the 14th century, the Moscow Kremlin was wooden. Under the Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy, its walls and towers were replaced with white stone ones, which served until the end of the 15th century.

Under the guidance of Italian craftsmen in 1485-1516, new powerful fortifications made of baked bricks were erected - towers and battlements with a thickness of three to six and a half meters, which we have the opportunity to admire even today.

Architectural ensemble

The architectural ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin is made up of the golden-domed Annunciation, Archangel and Assumption Cathedrals, the Patriarch's Chambers, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Chamber of Facets, and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. In the 17th century, the Terem Palace was erected, around the same time the Kremlin towers acquired a modern look. In the 18th century, the Arsenal, the Senate, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Armory appeared.

Unfortunately, the oldest Cathedral of the Savior on Bor, built in 1330 and destroyed in 1933, the Chudov Monastery, founded in 1365 and demolished in 1929, the Ascension Monastery, the Small Nicholas Palace and many other buildings have not survived. In total, during the years of Soviet power, out of 54 Kremlin buildings, only 26 remained “alive”.

However, in 1990 the Kremlin was included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

Photo - tour of the territory

The entrance to the territory is through the Kutafya tower topped with a beautiful openwork "crown".

Before you get to the Kremlin, you need to buy tickets in the dark glass pavilion, which is located nearby in the Alexander Garden, go through the "frame" of the metal detector and the procedure for screening personal belongings. Large bags, suitcases and backpacks will have to be left in the luggage room.

The Kutafya Tower, previously surrounded by a river and a moat, protected the approaches to the Trinity Tower.

Having passed along the Trinity Bridge, we will look at the multi-tiered Trinity Tower from the other side. Its height is 80 meters, it is the most tall tower Kremlin.

On the right in the photo is the Arsenal, built by order of Peter the Great. It was assumed that the building would be used as a military warehouse and trophy storage. Nowadays, the administrative services of the Kremlin Commandant's Office and the barracks of the Presidential Regiment are stationed here.

On the left is the State Kremlin Palace (formerly the Palace of Congresses), built in 1961. The main New Year tree of the country is held here, concerts and ballet performances are held.

Near the walls of the Arsenal there are historical weapons - collections of old Russian and foreign cannons, military trophies of the Patriotic War of 1812.

Now let's go to the Senate Square.

The Senate building, designed by architect M.F. Kazakov, has the shape of a triangle. In the Soviet years, V.I. Lenin, working rooms of I.V. Stalin, L.I. Brezhnev, M.S. Gorbachev. Today, the Senate is the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

View from about the same point in the opposite direction - to Trinity Square and the Kremlin cathedrals.

The Tsar Cannon, which is a must-see, stands near Trinity Square and the Patriarch's Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles.

A powerful tool was made in 1586. This is the largest cannon in the world, an outstanding example of Russian weapons art. Its caliber is 890 mm, weight is 40 tons.

At the foot of the bell tower there is another giant - the Tsar Bell, cast in the 18th century. Its weight is 202 tons, diameter is 6.6 meters. The Tsar Bell was cast right there, on the territory of Ivanovskaya Square. A piece of the bell broke off during a big fire in the Kremlin.

On the south side, Ivanovskaya Square adjoins the Big Kremlin Square and the Tainitsky Garden.

Unfortunately, you can’t walk around the entire garden - this is a secure facility. But you can still see something interesting: for example, an aviary for peregrine falcons, goshawks and an eagle owl, which are kept specifically to chase crows and doves. Or here - a helipad for the president and prime minister, equipped not so long ago.

View from the square on the ensemble of the bell tower Ivan the Great. The Kremlin bell tower became the tallest building in Moscow under Boris Godunov, who ordered it to be built in 1600 to a height of 81 m. You can climb up in the summer by purchasing a separate ticket.

From April to October, on Saturdays at 12:00, the ceremony of equestrian and foot divorce of the Presidential Regiment takes place on Cathedral Square. Viewing the ceremonial is included in the price of a single ticket to visit the territory of the Kremlin and the cathedral-museums of Cathedral Square.

The Assumption Cathedral, designed by the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti, was the main temple of Russia for four centuries - Ivan the Terrible and other tsars were crowned here, emperors were crowned. Many patriarchs and metropolitans are buried in the Assumption Cathedral.

In the photo - the Archangel Cathedral, erected in 1505-1508 in honor of the Archangel Michael by the Venetian Aleviz Novy.

Entrance to the Archangel Cathedral. In the temple-royal tomb there are 54 burials of saints, princes, tsars and their wives, including the holy prince Dmitry Uglich, Moscow princes Vasily the Dark, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan Kalita, tsars Ivan the Terrible and Alexei Mikhailovich.

The Cathedral of the Annunciation, one of the oldest on the Kremlin territory, was built by Pskov craftsmen in 1484-1489. The temple, small in size, was used as a home church of Russian sovereigns.

In the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral there is an interesting exhibition "Treasures and Antiquities of the Moscow Kremlin".

The Faceted Chamber, one of the oldest civil buildings in Moscow, in tsarist times served as the main front reception hall, a place for meetings of the Boyar Duma, meetings of the Zemsky Sobors. Now it is the representative hall of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

The chamber is called the Faceted Chamber because it is lined with blocks having 4 faces.

In the corner of Cathedral Square are the Verkhospassky Cathedral - part of the ancient Terem Palace, the eastern facade of the Golden Tsarina's Chamber and the Church of the Deposition of the Robe - the home church of Moscow metropolitans and patriarchs.

From Cathedral Square we move to the Grand Kremlin Palace, built in the 19th century. The ensemble of the palace includes about 700 rooms, including the St. George, Vladimir, Andreevsky, Alexander and Catherine's halls, the Golden Tsaritsyna Chamber, the Malachite Foyer, the Study and Bedroom of the Emperors, nine churches and the Terem Palace.

Since the Grand Kremlin Palace is the main residence of the President of the Russian Federation, you can get there only as part of a group from an organization on a preliminary application submitted a month in advance.

Next to the BKD is the Armory - a museum with innumerable riches: ancient gold and silver jewelry and other items, weapons, armor, state regalia, a collection of carriages. Here you can see Monomakh's cap, scepters, orbs, thrones, coronation dresses and ceremonial royal clothes.

The same building houses the Diamond Fund - the national treasury of Russia, a repository of precious stones and nuggets, ceremonial jewelry of Russian tsars and emperors. It is here that the Great Imperial Crown, made on the occasion of the coronation of Catherine II, is located. The crown is adorned with 5000 diamonds, 75 large pearls and a very large rare dark red spinel gemstone.

View from the Armory to the Vodovzvodnaya, Borovitskaya towers and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

The amusing palace - the chambers of the boyar Miloslavsky is best seen from the Alexander Garden, it is located near the Kremlin wall between the Trinity and Commandant towers. In 1672, fun was organized here - performances for the amusement of the kings, which gave the name to the palace. Under Peter the Great, the Poteshny Palace housed the Police Order, and today the services of the Commandant's Office.

How to get to the Kremlin

By public transport: the nearest metro stations are the Lenin Library, Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya and Arbatskaya on the blue Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line. It is also easy to walk to the Kremlin on foot from many central stations: Okhotny Ryad, Revolution Square, Teatralnaya and others.

Opening hours

The territory of the Kremlin and cathedral-museums of Cathedral Square:

• from May 16 to September 30 - daily, except Thursday, from 9-30 to 18-00 (the box office is open from 9-00 to 16-30)
• from October 1 to May 15 - daily, except Thursday, from 10-00 to 17-00 (the box office is open from 9-30 to 16-00)

The Armory is open from 10:00 to 18:00 every day except Thursday. The beginning of the sessions - 10-00, 12-00, 14-30, 16-30

Diamond Fund - daily, except Thursday, from 10-00 to 17-20 for sessions. Break - from 13-00 to 14-00. The duration of the session is 40 minutes. Sale of tickets for the morning sessions starts at 9-00, for the evening - at 13-00. Morning sessions: 10-00, 10-20, 10-40, 11-00, 11-20, 12-00, 12-20. Evening sessions: 14-00, 15-00, 15-20, 16-00, 16-20, 16-40, 17-00, 17-20.

The Diamond Fund is closed on holidays. More details about the working hours - on the official website: gokhran.ru/ru/diamond-fund/contacts.phtml

Rarely, but it happens that access to the Kremlin is closed in connection with solemn events, meetings of heads of foreign states, receptions on the occasion of state holidays and other events.

Ticket price

Single ticket (territory, cathedrals, exhibitions)– visiting the territory of the Kremlin, the cathedral-museums of the Cathedral Square, the exhibition halls of the Patriarchal Chambers, the exposition “Treasures and Antiquities of the Moscow Kremlin” in the basement of the Annunciation Cathedral, the exhibition of wooden sculpture in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the exposition in the annex of the Archangel Cathedral:

• adults - 500 rubles
• Russian students and pensioners - 250 rubles, without the possibility of visiting museums (territory only) - free of charge
• children under 16, members of large families, disabled people of the 1st and 2nd groups and other preferential categories of citizens - free of charge
• for persons under the age of 18, the second Tuesday of each month - free of charge
• on Cultural Heritage Days, a single ticket is free for everyone

Single tickets are sold online on the official website of the Moscow Kremlin kreml.ru (except for free and reduced tickets) and at the box office in the Alexander Garden on the day of the visit.

- the visit is carried out on a separate ticket, the price includes an audio guide:

• adults — 700 rubles
• Russian students and pensioners - 350 rubles
• children under 16, members of large families, disabled people of the 1st and 2nd groups and other privileged categories of citizens - free of charge

Entrance tickets to the Armory are sold on the day of the visit if tickets are available at the box office in the Alexander Garden and via the Internet on the official website of the Moscow Kremlin kreml.ru (except for free and discounted tickets).

Attention! Purchasing tickets online for a particular session does not guarantee additional free or reduced-price tickets for the same session on the day of your visit to the museum. Free and discount tickets are issued only if they are available at the box office, in the order of the general queue. The museum's capacity does not allow allocating an unlimited number of tickets for each session.

Diamond fund- you can buy tickets at the box office No. 4 and No. 5 in the Alexander Garden on the day of your visit for a certain session. The ticket price includes an excursion.

• adults - 500 rubles
• schoolchildren, students, pensioners, members of large families - 100 rubles
• disabled children, non-working disabled people of groups 1 and 2 and other preferential categories of citizens - free of charge

The number of tickets for each session is limited.

If you want to visit only the Armory and / or the Diamond Fund, the entrance is possible through the Borovitskaya Tower.

The line at the box office and at the entrance is the least in the cold season on weekdays, most of all - in the warm season in good weather on weekends, especially on Saturday in the morning - because of the opportunity to watch the ceremony of setting the guard on Cathedral Square.

Excursions

The Kremlin excursion center offers sightseeing and thematic tours of the Kremlin, the Armory, cathedral-museums and museum expositions for organized groups and individual visitors as part of a combined group.

Prices for excursions around the Moscow Kremlin, the order of registration and payment for excursions, see the official website: kreml.ru

Free mobile guide around the Kremlin - izi.travel/ru/7cce-moskva-kreml/ru

Photography

Amateur photography and video filming is prohibited in cathedral-museums, the Armory and the Diamond Fund.