The first found evidence of the location of ancient settlements on the territory of the Kremlin is two to three thousand years old. In fact, there is no correct answer to the question of who built the Kremlin in Moscow, since the construction of the first palisade is attributed to the time when a settlement of a diakov type was located on Borovitsky Hill. The direct construction of the structure began with the order of Yuri Dolgorukov to erect walls in 1156.
Olympus of the Russian state - the Kremlin in Moscow
Initially, the walls of the building were made of wood, and only with the coming to power of Dmitry Donskoy the capital acquired its well-known nickname - white stone. The walls were replaced with stone ones made from local limestone. During the reign of Ivan III, Italian architects were invited, who set about new construction (1475-1479) - dismantling a white stone wall and erecting a brick one in its place. In order to maintain safety, it was disassembled in parts with a quick replacement for a new one. Construction continued for a long ten years. Also, together with the modernization of the wall, the construction of the Assumption Cathedral was carried out.
During the war of 1812, the Kremlin inMoscow was badly damaged and looted. It took him about four years to regain his former appearance. Dozens of the best specialists worked on this. The building was also heavily damaged during the armed uprising of 1917, during which the Kremlin was mercilessly shelled by artillery.
Location
The Moscow Kremlin, as the main socio-political and artistic-historical complex of the capital of the Russian Federation, simply must be located in the immediate center of the city. This can be explained in two ways:
- Aesthetic perception of the building as the center of the capital - the main governing body, where the main decrees come from, etc.
- Considering the Kremlin in Moscow as one of the oldest objects, it is appropriate to note its strategically correct location. The fortress was and is located between two connecting rivers, leaving the potential invader the right to attack only from one side, which has a positive effect on the defense of the main administrative facility of the state.
The Kremlin in Moscow is located on Borovitsky Hill - on the left bank of the Moscow River. In its architectural design, the building is an irregular triangle (to be more precise, it is a quadrilateral with one cut corner).
The era of the USSR
The Kremlin changed in a special way when the Soviet government came to power in the country. Since 1918, Moscow has again become the political center of the entire state. In March of the sameyear, the entire Soviet government moves to the Kremlin. The entry of "soviets" into the former royal palaces caused a wave of indignation among ordinary citizens, but it was quickly suppressed. The building became a forbidden zone, ordinary residents lost the opportunity to freely enter its territory. Historians have stated that over the years of Soviet power, the Kremlin in Moscow as an architectural ensemble was significantly damaged - more than half of the previously existing buildings and monuments were demolished.
One of the most famous transformations during the Soviet period was the replacement of double-headed eagles, located on the central travel towers, with stars made from Ural gems, which were later replaced by ruby ones.
Kremlin towers
The towers of the Moscow Kremlin are presented in the amount of twenty pieces, each of them was erected in different years and has its own length and a unique name. The following four towers are considered to be the main ones: Beklemishevskaya, Vodovzvodnaya, Angular Arsenalnaya (located in the corners of the triangle, the only elements with a round section, the remaining seventeen have a square one), as well as Spasskaya - the most famous due to the clock installed on it. Mysterious ruby stars flaunt on five towers: Spasskaya (Frolovskaya), Nikolskaya, Troitskaya, Borovitskaya (Predtechenskaya) and Vodovzvodnaya.
The lowest is the Tsarskaya Tower, built in 1680, and the highest are Troitskaya (79.3 meters), Nikolskaya (70.4 meters) and Spasskaya (71 meters.) All towers, mainly due to construction in the same time(second half of the 17th century), made in the same architectural style. A bright spot is the Nikolskaya Tower, designed in a pseudo-Gothic style.
The work of overseas masters
The Kremlin walls were built between 1485-1516 by Italian architects. They represent an unequal triangle with a total length of 2235 m, height and width of 5-19 m and 3.5-6.5 m, respectively. The top of the walls is decorated with battlements, there are 1045 of them in total (according to the Lombard tradition, in the form of a swallow's tail). Most have loopholes in the form of slots. They have built-in loopholes, wide and covered. From the outside, the walls have a smooth shape, and from the inside they are decorated with niches in the form of arches. This architectural solution is designed not only to facilitate, but also to strengthen the structure. Like many buildings of those times, the Kremlin wall kept many hiding places and secret passages, which made it possible to leave the fortification if necessary. However, a section of the wall in the northeast, overlooking Red Square, now serves as a columbarium. It contains urns with the ashes of prominent figures of the Soviet period. Now the question is being raised about allocating another place for the columbarium.
The Kremlin and its components
No matter how rich in terms of interesting places the city of Moscow is, the Kremlin is the main attraction of the capital. It is famous for many different architectural creations. Entrance to its territory, of course, is paid, as are excursions, but what is money compared to centuries of history,stored and housed in the same facility?
Orthodox cathedrals are especially interesting:
- Assumption Cathedral.
- Annunciation Cathedral.
- Patriarchal Palace and Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles.
- Verkhospassky Cathedral.
- Arkhangelsk Cathedral, etc.
During the tour, no doubt, there will be a desire to take a photo of the Kremlin in Moscow. It is worth capturing both the walls and towers described above, as well as skillful palace buildings - this is the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Faceted Chamber, and the Amusing Palace.
Buildings such as the State Kremlin Palace, formerly known as the Palace of Congresses, the Armory, the Senate Palace and others can become a very interesting place to get acquainted.
One of the most recognizable sights of the Kremlin were, of course, the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell, cast in 1586 and 1733-1735. respectively.
Sights of Moscow - the Kremlin and its museums
When mentioning the museums located on the territory of the Kremlin, it is simply impossible not to talk about the Diamond Fund, one of the largest collections of jewelry in the country. A significant symbol of the former royal power is the king's regalia - orb, scepter and crown. For security reasons, photography and video recording is not allowed inside. There are also seven historical stones, the most famous of which are the following: the Orlov diamond and the Shah. The latter, as you know, was presented to the Russian Emperor Nicholas I by the Persian Shah in order to make amends for the growing conflict.in connection with the tragic death of the famous Russian poet and playwright A. S. Griboyedov during the attack on the Russian embassy in Tehran in early 1829.
The history of the Russian state is covered most fully in the Armory. This is a two-story building erected by the architect K. Ton. It contains all the thrones on which Russian autocrats sat in different years. There you can see the famous collection of Faberge eggs, as well as the sabers of Minin and Pozharsky, Yuri Dolgoruky's silver chalice, etc.
The current situation of the Moscow Kremlin
The history of the Kremlin in Moscow has not lost its thread even today. At present, or to be more precise, since 1991, the Kremlin has been the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. In connection with this fact, in the nineties, incredible restoration work was carried out throughout its territory. Such sights as the Palace of Facets, the Alexander and Andreevsky halls of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Senate building, etc. have undergone restoration.
The walls of the Kremlin are painted almost every year so that they do not lose their presentable and spectacular appearance.
Active Organizations
Which organizations are located at the famous address "Russia, Moscow, the Kremlin"? First of all, this is the office of the President of Russia, located in the Senate Palace. The second most important place is occupied by the Russian Orthodox Church, whose headquarters are located in the Annunciation, Archangel and Assumption Cathedrals. importantthe organization located in the Kremlin is the FSO - the Federal Security Service - the same service that is entrusted with a responsible mission - the protection of top officials of the Russian Federation.
One of the most interesting for tourists is the museum-reserve called "Moscow Kremlin", several components of which were described above. It was founded back in 1806 and is still one of the must-see places in Moscow.
