The highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. Description of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin

The tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin is the central bower of the north-western section of the wall facing the Alexander Garden. It is called Troitskaya, it is the second and the second most important. The tower is crowned with a ruby star, and once on it, as well as on Spassky veligus (the Old Russian name), chimes hung.

The ancient white stone Kremlin

Even the Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy in 1366-1368 began to replace the wooden walls of the Kremlin. The material from which new fortifications and towers were erected was most often a light limestone or "white stone", which was so rich in the central regions of Russia. Hence comes the ancient designation of Moscow - "white stone". However, this building material was fragile, and the defensive structures were dilapidated. Restorative work was carried out regularly, to which there are many evidences in the annals. So, in 1462 the Moscow merchant Vasily Dmitrievich Ermolin, who at that time supervised all construction work on the scale of the country, carried out major repairs of the wall section from the Borovitsky gate to the Sviblova Strelnik. To answer the question "which of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin is the highest", you need to learn more about everything in detail, including general reconstructions of walls and towers, which, despite major repairs, continued to "float". For this reason, Ivan III the Great, by the way, increased the size of the Moscow principality by 6 times, in the last third of the 15th century a decree was issued, as a result of which the Moscow Kremlin, its walls and towers underwent a radical reorganization.

The new Kremlin of red brick

To achieve its goal, the Grand Duke of Moscow invites from Italy famous masters of architecture, under the guidance of which from 1485 begins the analysis of white stone threads (a section between two towers) walls and the towers. For ten years, new, this time from burned bricks, was erected on the site of the defensive structures being dismantled. In the process of this reconstruction, the area of the Kremlin was enlarged due to the annexation of the site in the north-west of the fortress. And now it was 27.5 hectares and it took the form of an irregular triangle. This is the current shape of the fortress. The work was led by the Italians. Therefore, it is not surprising that even the upper end of the walls, adorned with battlements, all the velozh (Old Russian name), including the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin, very much resembled Italian castles - Scaligers in the city of Verona and Milan's Sforza Castle.

Towers of the Moscow Fortress

In total, the Moscow Kremlin has 20 towers. Three angular - Vodovzvodnaya, Beglemishevskaya and Corner Arsenal - the towers in the section are round, while the rest, including the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin, are square. Of the general ensemble, mostly in the same style, stands Nikolskaya Tower, overlooking the Red Square, which in 1812 the French blew up. In the restoration work carried out by OI Bove, she was given a Gothic look and painted white. All of them are in shape and height different from each other. So which one is the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin? Troitskaya. What is it and where is it? What is its history?

The architects of Fryazhye

Aleviz Fryazin (Milanets), who came to Moscow in 1494, took part in the general reconstruction of the Kremlin. In 1495 he participated in the construction of a wall and towers along the Neglinnaya River. Stone chambers were also erected under his leadership (1499-1508). In 1508 he built dams on this river, which ran along the northwestern part of the Kremlin wall. Thanks to them, the water level in the river rose so much as to fill the moat created along the wall facing Red Square. He from 1508 to 1516 dug under the leadership of Milanese. And he also built the northernmost tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin.

It should be noted that Fryazin is not a surname, it is a nickname given to all Western specialists who come from Southern Europe. It happened from the distorted word "franc". Because of this, there were often confusions. Aleviz Fryazin Old, Aleviz Fryazin Milanese and Aloysio da Carrezano (or Carcano) - is the same person who built the Trinity Tower, and Bon Fryazin built the bell tower "Ivan the Great". At the same time, Ivan III invites to Moscow one more Aleviz Fryazin, but already a Venetian, or New. They even had a common name - the Fryazh architects. In addition to the above "Fryazin", or "Friag", invited by Ivan III Great, were Marco Ruffo and Pietro Antonio Solari, respectively, Mark and Peter Fryaziny.

Kremlin fortifications

So, the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin was built from 1495 to 1499 by Aleviz Fryazin Milan. And the very first fortification structure of the Kremlin - the Taynitskaya Tower (central in the southern part of the Kremlin wall) - was launched on July 14, 1485. After this, the towers were put into operation almost annually. The latest - the Tsar's Tower - was built in 1680. The walls of the Kremlin deserve special mention, including the ones along the Neglinnaya River. In the center of this stretch is the northernmost highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. The total length of the walls is 2235 meters, the height varies from 5 to 19 meters. In the walls with a thickness of 3.5 to 6.5 meters there was a passage, initially through, but then in some areas littered with debris.

Unique Walls

The towers were located at a certain distance from each other, which could be crossed along the aisle, laid out on the top of the wall. Its width reached where 2, and where and 4 meters. Outside, it was protected by two-pronged teeth, the height of which is 2-2.5 m, and the thickness - 0.65-0.7 m. The total number of protective teeth, located along the perimeter, is 1045 pieces. The archers on the wall were covered with a parapet wall from the side of the courtyard. Initially, the passage was covered with a gable roof, under which it was possible to hide in bad weather, and even covered the wall from the destructive action of rain and snow. This roof was burnt in the XVIII century, and it was not restored any more.

Title History

Since the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin is called Troitskaya, it is necessary to find out why she was given such a name, especially since she was originally called Bogoyavlenskaya, then Rizpolozhenskaya, later Znamenskaya and Kuretna, and she received the present name only in 1658 by the decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Connection with the Troitsk companion located on the territory of the Kremlin. Previous names were associated with the churches of the Kremlin and the nearby royal carriage house.

The most original

The tallest tower of the Kremlin (photo attached) has the following parameters: from the side of the Alexander Garden, built there, where the Neglinnaya River was previously taken in the pipe, the height of the veil is 80 meters with a star, without it - 76.35, on the inside - respectively 69.3 and 65.65 m. This tower is a travel card. Its gate from the time of its foundation to the end of the 17th century was considered the second most important after the Spassky.

They served to travel to the courts of the queens, princes and patriarch. In 1516 a bridge was thrown from the Trinity Tower across the Neglinnaya River, ending with a branching strelnik or barbakan, named in this case Kutafya Tower. Served this fortification strengthening in the first place for additional protection of the gate. This is the only preserved bridge tower of the Kremlin. Walking from her Trinity Bridge, according to some connoisseurs of the history of Moscow, was erected on the site of the first stone similar structure of the capital, built in the XIV century.

The second most important

What is the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin and why not the main Spassky tower? Obviously, at some point in Soviet history the Trinity Gate was added by the fact that it was through them on March 12, 1918, that Lenin arrived in the Kremlin. Through the Trinity Gate Napoleon entered here, through them he also fled from the Kremlin. Returning with victory, the kings also entered through the Trinity Bridge, then they solemnly escorted them to the Spassky Gate. Initially, the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin (photo attached) played an important role in the history of all Moscow. It is the highest, but not the main one, because it does not go to Red Square.

Similarities and differences

With the completion of the construction of this tower, work was completed on the creation of defensive structures of the entire northwestern section of the wall - from this side the Kremlin became inaccessible. The huge tower topped with crenellations, the wooden tent was four-tiered. As the documents from 1585 testify, there were chimes on this tower, which equalized its similarity with Spassky. In addition, two-headed eagles were installed on both of them, and on the Troitskaya emblem of Russia it was more ancient, assembled from several parts fixed with bolts. And when in 1685 a multi-tiered top and a high stone tent, white turrets, other white stone ornaments were built, the resemblance to the main Spasskaya Tower became very large. And even a year later, new chimes were hung (when they were burned in the fire of Moscow in 1812, they were not restored any more).

Elements of church architecture

On the question of which of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin is the highest, you can answer: the one crowned with a quadrangular with an octagon that has a through gazing part. What does it mean? The term "octagon on the quadrangle" is a type of architectural composition, mostly church buildings. The octagonal or octagonal configuration of the floor stands on a quadrangular, broader base. Such a composition seemed to be directed to the heavens, which gave dynamism to the building, which in turn was a striking feature of the Moscow baroque. In the churches of the noble estates in the octagon there was a bell, of course, it was not glazed and looked through. Troitskaya tower, the upper tiers of which were built according to this type, looked very beautiful from the side of the present Alexandrovsky garden. This was facilitated by the fact that in the corners and on the strelnik were placed various turrets and pinacles. Some of them were removed with the expansion of loopholes in 1707 due to the imminent threat of the Swedish invasion. Part - when settling in the Trinity Tower archives of the Ministry of the Imperial Court. It was even rebuilt for expansion.

Huge, eight-story

The highest tower of the Kremlin in Moscow has six overground and two underground floors. The deep cellars initially served as defensive and military targets. Then, in the XVI-XVII century, these cellars were turned into a prison. The deep underground floors themselves were discovered in 1851. Throughout its existence, the Trinity Tower was used in many ways. There was until 1895 the archive of the Imperial Court, and now it houses the Presidential Orchestra.

The Kremlin Stars

In addition, the highest tower of the Kremlin in Moscow - one of the five crowned with stars. Borovitskaya and Spasskaya, Nikolskaya and Vodovzvodnaya are four more towers on which the emblems of Imperial Russia were replaced by stars. In accordance with the arms, you can also ask a question that is very relevant in the quiz: "Which of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin is the highest?" The answer will be: the one on which the oldest (the time of the erection - 1830) up to 1935 was the two-headed eagle. The "youngest" (1912) was on Spassky. He was replaced by the first star. The first stars were gilded semiprecious and very heavy - up to a ton of weight. Therefore, the roofs of Spasskaya, Troitskaya and Borovetska towers were preliminarily strengthened. However, the semi-precious stars faded very quickly, and in 1937 they decided to replace them with luminous stars made of ruby glass.

The uniqueness of the Kremlin towers

How else can you answer the question about which is the highest tower of the Moscow Kremlin? If you look at the layout, it is clear that it was the 15th tower from the Spasskaya Vezhi (numbering goes counter-clockwise) and there is the highest one - Troitskaya, from her one departs the bridge. Each of the 20 velvet Moscow Kremlin is unique, has a history, and to describe them at least superficially, one article is not enough.