History

Kremlin

The name "Kremlin" comes from the Russian word "Kreml", it means fortress. The Kremlin in Mosow is not the only one, many Russian towns have Kremlins, but the one in Moscow is the most famous.
The first Kremlin was a wooden fortress and it was built atop Borovitsky Hill in 1156 by Prince Yuri Dolgorunky.
In 1238, Tartars burnt the Kremlin and in the years 1326-1329 they erected oaken walls around the fortress. The Kremlin is the residence of the grand dukes and its princes ruled from there. From the mid 1500s to 1712 the Kremlin was the centre of czarist rule. From 1367 to 1368 white stone walls and towers were built around the Kremlin. In the year 1382 Tartar Khan Tokhtamysh broke into the Kremlin and demolished it. The present walls were built in the late 1400s by architects from Italy and from throughout Russia. They have an extent of about 2.4 km. Inside the Kremlin are beautiful Cathedrals, for example the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Cathedral of the Annunciation and the Archangel Cathedral, palaces and government buildings.

[Picture: Map of the Kremlin]
(Reference: T.V. Pavlova, 1997, Moscow Guide-book for students)

The Kremlin was the centre of the government of the Soviet Union and with the end of the Soviet Union it became the centre of government of the independent Russia.

All towers of the Kremlin walls were built at a different time, from different architects and in different styles. The Spassky Tower, the main tower of the Kremlin was built in 1491 by an Italian architect and in 1624-1625 it was completed by a Russian architect. The Czarsky tower to the right of the main tower is build in 1680. The Kutafia Tower was built in the early 1600s and it is made of white stones. The tower was used as a bridgehead watchtower. In 1495, the Troitsky Tower was built, it is the tallest tower of the Kremlin walls. Through this tower Napoleon and his troops entered the Kremlin. The wall includes also the Moscvoretsky Tower, the Vodovzvodny Tower and the Borovitsky tower.

Inside the Kremlin there is the Cathedral Square, the oldest square in Moscow and the main square of the Kremlin. It is the place for ceremonial processions. One of the cathedrals of the Cathedral Square is the Cathedral of the Assumption. This cathedral was modelled afer the Cathedral of Assumption in Vladimir and it was built in 1475-1479. The Cathedral of Assumption is a five-domed cathedral, 125 feet high, 79 feet wide and 117 feet long.

[Picture: Cathedral of Assumption]

The cathedral has painted portals, inside it is festive and majestic, with frescos and temperas and icons from different centuries. Near to the southern door stands the throne of Ivan the Terrible (1551). Russian czars were invested and crowned in this cathedral.

The Cathedral of the Annunication

The Cathedral of the Annunication, a nine-domed cathedral, was built in 1484-1489 by Russian craftsmen. It stands near the Moscow River. It was the private chapel of Russian princes and czars. The pilasters lining the cloister are painted with potraits of philosophes and poets, like Plato, Homer and Aristotle, and Moscows princes.

The Archangel Cathedral

The Archangel Cathedral was built in 1505-1509 by Alevisio Novi. The cathedral contains icons, for examble the icon of Archangel Michael. It was the burial place of princes and czars, so there is the tombs of Ivan the Terrible and his sons. The oldest tomb is the tomb of Prince Ivan Kalita, who died in 1341. The czars used to come to the Archangel Cathedral to pay respect to their forefathers.

The Grand Kremlin Palace

[Picture: Wall of Kremlin, on the left Grand Kremlin Palace, the Cathedral of the Annunication and the Tainitsky Tower]

The Grand Kremlin Palace is located next to the Armoury and behind the Cathedral of the Annunication. The Palace faces the Moscow River and was built in 1838-1849. It has many halls. The Hall of St. George has stucco ornaments, is 200 feet long, 68 feet wide and 58 feet high. In the Palace is also the circular Hall of St. Vladimir, the Terem Palace, the Czarina Golden Chamber, the Faceted Hall and the Throne Hall, the czar's office. The Armoury contains a collection of royal ceremonial carriages, collecions of 13th- 18th century arms and accoutrements, and a collection of fabrics and garments (14th-19th century).

The Belfry of Ivan the Great

The Belfry of Ivan the Great stands in the centre of the Kremlin and was erected in 1505-1508. The bell tower was added later (1532-1543). It was the tallest tower (267 feet high) and so it was the main watchtower. The Czar Bell, the biggest bell in the world, stands at the foot of the Belfry of Ivan the Great.

[ Pictur: Czar Bell]

Two Russian craftsmen (Ivan Motorin and his son Michail) casted the bell in 1733-1735, but a fragment split off during a fire in 1737. The bell weighs 200 tons and already the fragment only weighs 11.5 tons.

The palace of Congress

The palace of Congress was built in 1960-1961 and has a seating capacity of 6000. The speech of someone can be translated into 29 languages. There is also a banquet hall. The Bolshoi Theatre uses it to stage opera and ballet.

Inside the Kremlin is also the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Faceted Hall, the Arsenal, the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles and the Czar Cannon, the biggest cannon in the world that however never fired.

Czar's Castle

[Czar's castle]

This castle was the last stop of the czar and his family on his way from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
The castle combines different structure styles. It is a symbol, that Russia is the heart of the world and combines all cultures.
At the moment the castle is being renovated and a restaurant will be built behind the castle. When the construction is finished the castle will be used by the Russian government for receptions.