Zachatievskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin: description, history and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

Such a unique building as the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, dating back to the 16th century, has retained the image of a medieval fortress thanks to its blind towers in several tiers and impregnable walls with narrow slots for loopholes. This military engineering ensemble was built to protect the southeastern borders of the Moscow state using the most advanced technologies at that time.

General information

In plan, the chain of fortifications is an irregular polygon, at the corners of which towers are located. Initially, this defensive ensemble included fourteen, including a branch archer. The latter was an additional fortification and was located in front of the Dmitrievskaya tower. Today, the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin consists of thirteen such structures. Fortress that stood beforenumerous enemy sieges and never surrendered to the enemy, was repeatedly reconstructed. The most grandiose reconstruction was carried out already in our years - in the twentieth century. Thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of the local resident and architect Svyatoslav Leonidovich Agafonov, the beauty and pride of the city not only did not disappear from the face of the earth, but was restored. Work began in 1949 and continued until 1977. And in November 2012, the Zachatievsky Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was also restored.

Description

It was destroyed by a landslide in the middle of the eighteenth century. The Zachatievsky tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was a two-tiered square structure, which was topped with a plank roof. In terms of its height, this fortification did not exceed the surrounding fortress walls. Due to the fact that this area was subjected to landslides more often than other slopes of the hill, and also due to the fact that the Volga River belonged to the Russians, medieval architects did not attach defensive significance to the fortifications. Therefore, the Zachatievsky Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was used more as a passage, or rather, an exit: through its gate one could very quickly go to the shore. However, they soon ceased to be used due to an emergency state, and already in 1622 the gates were “forced to stand up”. Somewhere in the fifties of the eighteenth century, the tower, shifted by a landslide to the Volga, collapsed. Soon the Kremlin itself lost its significance as a military fortress. And then, by the decision of the Nizhny Novgorod Governor I. M. Rebinder, his towers were converted into military and foodwarehouses and utility rooms.

Kremlin Integrity

For the first time in more than two centuries, the ring of fortress walls has finally closed. Erected on one of the most unfavorable sites, the Zachatievsky tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was destroyed not because of constant enemy raids, but for much more prosaic reasons. Clay soil and a high content of loose rocks in it, which filled all the former ravines and gullies, landslides and ground and surface waters flowing down to the northern walls of the fortress - all these conditions led to the fact that it and the walls adjacent to it collapsed. Just like Borisoglebskaya, the Zachatievsky tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was constantly deformed. For this reason, it was constantly rebuilt. And, finally, in the eighteenth century, during the reign of Catherine the Great, the first provincial architect Yakov Ananyin began work on dismantling the northern walls of the fortress, as well as both long-suffering towers. They were completely eliminated. The walls were replaced with lower ones. Nevertheless, the process of destruction of this section of the fortress continued. And even today, after the reconstruction, terrible cracks are visible in the wall near the Borisoglebskaya tower. The destructive process continues.

History

The Zachatievsky tower was built in the Middle Ages without any special meaning. Over time, it began to serve only as an exit from the fortress. But in 1622, due to its emergency state, the Zachatievsky tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin ceased to perform this function. howto get to the banks of the Volga from the fortress, the townspeople were no longer worried. After all, when this section was destroyed in 1750, the remaining parts were dismantled. And on the site of the tower itself, the “Descent to the Picturesque Spring” appeared. But he, having undergone a devastating landslide, was covered.

Excavations carried out in the sixties of the last century showed that the Zachatskaya, or, as it is also called, the “Zachatievskaya” tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, has shifted almost five centimeters towards the river. According to the architect who led the reconstruction, this happened at the end of the seventeenth - the first half of the eighteenth century. Only since 2012, the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin has acquired its original appearance.

Zachatievskaya Tower where is it located?

Under Agafonov, this thirteenth head - the last of its majestic sisters - was never recreated. Moreover, its original fragments were found only in 1961, after the collapse of the masonry that covered them, dating back to the eighteenth century. Archaeologists discovered the top of the arched passage that led from the tower to the furnace through the thickness of the fortress wall and several white stone steps above it. Their dimensions were 34-36 in height and 27 centimeters in width. This is much steeper than the usual stairs for the Kremlin.

The Zachatskaya (Zachatievskaya) tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is located between the White and Borisoglebskaya heads, on the lowest section of the fortress hill facing the banks of the Volga River. It, according to the surviving chronicle documents, was builtin 1500-1514, almost simultaneously with the walls of the fort.

Recovery

The nearby convent was the reason why the Zachatievsky tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was similarly named in honor of the conception of St. Anna the Martyr. How to get to this holy monastery, each old-timer of the city will show. It was founded under the fortress hill, on the very bank of the Volga, by order of the wife of Nizhny Novgorod Prince Andrei Konstantinovich. This monastery still exists, however, now it is called "Ex altation of the Cross".

Svyatoslav Agafonov, who analyzed the cleared remaining parts of the tower's premises, began to carry out theoretical and design reconstruction. It was he who put forward a hypothesis about the similarity of the Zachatievsky and Nikolskaya heads. The work of the father, who did not live to see the beginning of the restoration, was continued by his daughter, Irina Svyatoslavovna. It was under her leadership that the Zachatievsky Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was rebuilt.

Today

Currently, a museum is arranged here. It presents truly unique exhibits of great historical value and have not been exhibited anywhere before. For example, on the first floor you can see elements of the former walls of the stone Kremlin and the Zachatskaya Tower. The exhibition of the second level, consisting of amphoras, elements of a wooden fortress and weapons, was collected as a result of lengthy archaeological research. On the third floor there is an exhibition dedicated tomilitia of 1612. There is also an observation deck here. The Zachatskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is open from ten in the morning to six in the evening. The museum is closed on Monday.

Interesting facts

The Zachatievsky Tower is considered the most mysterious building of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Moreover, some even consider her cursed. According to legend, the Italian architect who designed it is buried in the tower's foundation pit. The legend says that the overseas architect, having fallen in love with the bride of a local resident, tried to kiss her. A fight broke out between him and the groom, as a result, both opponents died.

The Zachatievsky Tower was restored for the 400th anniversary of the Nizhny Novgorod militia. And then the Kremlin, having acquired the appearance of a finished structure, appeared before the visitors in the form in which it was conceived by its brilliant architect.