Nizhny Novgorod. Kremlin - a fortress in the center of the city (photo)

At the moment it is considered that there are 41 historical cities in Russia. Among them, a special place is occupied by Nizhny Novgorod. The Kremlin of this city is one of the most beautiful and majestic among the preserved sights and attracts thousands of tourists from the city, including from abroad.

History of foundation and construction

Since ancient times on the territory of Ancient Russia, fortifications have been built, which defended the city from the enemy's attack. No wonder the Scandinavians called our country Gardarika. One of such fortifications, built in the 14th century, was the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, which was originally built from the ground and wood.

Under Ivan the Third, in 1500, to strengthen the defenses of the city was laid the first stone tower, called the Tverskaya. Due to the invasion of the Horde, the construction was completed only in 1505, and when 8 years later the oak Kremlin burnt down, architect Pietro Francesco was invited to Nizhny Novgorod. It was this Italian who created powerful fortifications, which still amaze visitors to the city today.

The new Kremlin was built from limestone tuff, mined downstream of the Volga, and red large brick, which was produced on site.

Description of the fortress

The Kremlin (Nizhny Novgorod) had a 2-kilometer wall and 13 towers. Of these, 5 rectangular were passable and 8 - round, deaf. In addition, in front of the Dmitrov Tower was a small stone bridge with a diverting tower.

The fortress was surrounded by a waterless moat 25-30 m wide and 2.5-4 m deep. Specialists suggest that the moat in the Dmitrov Tower area had separate sections that were filled with groundwater.

Armaments and garrison

On the artillery of the fortress in the 16th century at the moment nothing is known. However, there is evidence that in the middle of the 17th century only 20 guns were in service with the garrison, since after the capture of Ivan the Terrible by Kazan in 1552, the military-defensive importance of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin fell significantly. For the most part, these were small-caliber squeaks of small attire. There were also mattresses - small cannons firing a shot. In addition, other firearms were used as well, for example.

The Kremlin (Nizhny Novgorod): History

Throughout the 16th century the fortress was repeatedly subjected to sieges, but the enemy never managed to raise its banners above it.

In the 17th century the Kremlin became the place where the gathering took place, which ended with the organization of the Second People's Militia, which saved Russia and ended the Troubles.

In the 18th century, the fortress was used as the residence of the governor. Under Catherine II, the dilapidated Kremlin was restored. However, the work done only worsened the condition of the structure. Even more devastating were the attempts to save the fortifications, undertaken in 1834-1837. In particular, after the moat was filled, the height of the Kremlin decreased by 4 m and the lower tiers were underground. As a result, they were flooded with groundwater and began to gradually erode. In the 19th century, the Kremlin (Nizhny Novgorod) became the place where militiamen went to the Patriotic War who, faithful to the memory of their grandfathers, showed themselves to be brave warriors.

Foundation of the museum

Under Alexander the Third there arose a fashion for everything Russian and interest in national history. In 1894 it was decided to organize a historical museum in the Kremlin. To do this, we decided to remake the Dmitrievskaya Tower. Upon completion of the works in 1896 the museum was opened to the public. To deliver visitors to the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (Nizhny Novgorod), a photo of which is presented below, in 1896 a funicular was built from Christmas Street. However, in 1926, it was closed, since the operation of the tram line along the Zelensky Congress began. She connected the Great Pokrovskaya street with Rozhdestvenskaya.

Under Soviet power (until 1945)

After the October Revolution, like the whole country, Nizhny Novgorod has also undergone great changes. The Kremlin lost its famous Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, which had no place in the city, renamed in honor of Maxim Gorky.

On the site of the ancient temple erected by Mikhail Romanov and Archbishop Filaret in the 17th century, the new authorities built the Council House, and the museum operating in the Dmitrievsky Tower was closed. A plan was also devised to destroy some of the towers in order to expand the Soviet Square, but the plans were prevented by the Great Patriotic War.

From 1941 to 1943, the Nazis began to bombard Nizhny Novgorod from the air. The Kremlin, which at that time was more than 4 centuries, rose to defend their hometown. On its towers were mounted anti-aircraft guns, which protected the sky above Gorky.

In the postwar period

After the Great Patriotic War near the walls of the ancient Kremlin, the Victory Parade was held on Sovetskaya Square (Minin and Pozharsky) , and from 1949 the fortress was restored. After 31 years in the Kremlin, an exhibition of weapons from the struggle against the fascist invaders opened.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the lack of funding has led to the complete cessation of restoration work. They continued only in the 2000s. In the same period, to preserve the sights for future generations, in Nizhny Novgorod, the Historical and Architectural Reserve was organized, the basis of which is the Kremlin.

Of the events of recent years, it should be noted the re-creation of the Zachatskaya Tower, which was carried out in 2012. As a result of construction works, the ring of Kremlin walls was closed, and the architectural ensemble acquired a complete look.

What tourists will see today in Nizhny Novgorod

Today the city is one of the most important tourist centers of the region. Numerous attractions attract thousands of tourists annually to Nizhny Novgorod. The Kremlin is the most important of them. Among the monuments that have been preserved on its territory, there are 13 towers, each of which will give great pleasure to the lovers of architecture. In addition, there are Gordum, prosecutor's office, arbitration court, chief registry office, post office, philharmonic society, art museum, guardhouse and eternal fire. Also there are: a love alley, several cafes and other interesting objects.

Nizhny Novgorod, Kremlin: how to get

The fortress is located at the confluence of the Oka and the Volga, on a high promontory. Those who arrived in the city by rail, from the Moscow railway station can reach the Kremlin by taking a shuttle bus N 34, 81, 134, 54 or 172 to the stop "Minin and Pozharsky Square". Then you have to walk along the pedestrian street - Bolshaya Pokrovskaya.

Other places of interest

What else can you see if you were lucky enough to get to Nizhny Novgorod? The Kremlin is surrounded by interesting monuments of history and architecture, which can also be viewed. For example, in the area of Minin and Pozharsky, located on the south-east side of the fortress walls, there is a copy of the famous Moscow monument erected in honor of the heroes. Nearby there are also a museum of AS Pushkin, a fountain built in 1847, monuments to V. Chkalov and Kuzma Minin. The latter is known for having been established during the war years, in order to raise the fighting spirit of Nizhny Novgorod citizens during the days of intense air raids on the city.

Now you know what attracts tourists to Nizhny Novgorod. The Kremlin (photo above) deserves to be inspected and prideful for the deeds of our ancestors.