If you approach the Kazan Kremlin from the streets of the Kremlin and Bauman, from afar you will see a clearly looming silhouette of a three-tier tower of white color with a roof in the form of a tent. It is the main one in the Kremlin and one of the best-preserved architectural monuments of the 16th-17th centuries. This is the Spasskaya Tower.
It will be discussed in this article.
A bit about Kazan
Kazan is one of the centers of the country's spiritual life. More than 1000 years ago, the history of this magnificent city began, in which the developed modern infrastructure is perfectly adjacent to the preserved ancient architectural and historical objects.
Kazan combines different religions, demonstrating the diversity of all of Russia. The city center is a magnificent architectural ensemble with ancient temples, mosques of the 16th-19th centuries and numerous cultural monuments.
One of the most remarkable historical places is the Kazan Kremlin, the entrance to which is through the Spasskaya Tower. The Kazan Kremlin is the most visited place by tourists.
The article provides some information about the amazing history of the Spasskaya Tower, but before, in general terms, a little about the fortress itself.
Kazan Kremlin
It takes at least 2 hours to inspect the entire Kremlin. The best time for an excursion is in the evening, when its facade is illuminated by bright lights. Among the sights of Kazan, the Spasskaya Tower is of no small importance. A passage to the Kremlin opens through it. On its territory you can go through the Tainitsky, Voskresensky or Preobrazhensky travel gates. But the latter today are intended only for road transport.
This oldest part of Kazan, which is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, is a complex of historical, architectural and archaeological sites. On the territory of the Kremlin there are the famous Syuyumbike tower, a monument of Orthodox architecture - the Annunciation Cathedral (building 1555-1562) and the main Kul-Sharif mosque in the republic.
The territory in its form represents an irregular polygon, which repeats the outlines of the hill. Location - cape of a high terrace on the left bank of the Kazanka River and the left bank of the river. Volga. Unfortunately, written evidence of the emergence of the Kremlin did not survive, but according to the official version, the city was founded at the beginning of the X century.
In 1551, during the capture of the city, many objects and walls of the Kremlin were destroyed and new ones appeared in their place. And today, here, as if mixed structures of several centuries. Since 2000, this historic ensemble has been under the protection of UNESCO.
The area of the Kazan Kremlin is 150,000 square meters. meters. The length of the walls along the perimeter is more than 2000 meters, and their width is approximately 3 meters. The height of the walls reaches 6 meters. A distinctive feature of the Kremlin is a unique combination of monuments of two religions: Muslim and Orthodox.
Briefly about the emergence of the Spasskaya Tower of Kazan
A tower was erected in the 16th century precisely in the place where Ivan the Terrible himself, after the capture of Kazan, set a combat flag. This building was erected by the same Pskov architects Yakovlev Postnik and Shiryai Ivan, who built the Church of St. Basil the Blessed on the capital's Red Square.
Above this main passage was an icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, which was copied from the royal banner. In this regard, the tower was given such a name. Today that image is in the Arsky cemetery, in the church of the Yaroslavl Miracle Workers.
Initially, the fortress had 13 powerful stone towers, of which only 8 have survived today. And the most elegant and representative by right is the two-tier white stone Spasskaya tower.
Specifications
Kazan Spasskaya Tower (photo presented in the article) - a four-tier structure with a height of 47 meters. It is located in the southern part of the fortress wall, near the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The construction was repeatedly rebuilt.
The tower has always been the most powerful fortification of the Kremlin. Initially, it was built of white limestone in the form of a simple cubic military structure with a flat roof, on which a sentinel tower was installed. The walls at the base of the tower are 2.5 meters thick. There was initially no wide passage, and the enemies faced a powerful fire of the defenders of the fortress. And now the bricked portal of the tower is clearly visible, as well as iron pins (for installing collars), and grooves for the iron lifting grate.
The Spasskaya tower of Kazan was reconstructed after fires in the 17th-18th centuries, as a result of which two additional tiers with brick eights and a tented roof decorated with rich decor appeared on the powerful four. A clock with chimes of a peculiar design was also installed - the hand was motionless, and the dial rotated. Today, this large and heavy mechanism has been replaced by a conventional electronic-mechanical device.
During the chiming clock, the light-musical performance “Raspberry Jingle” begins to work. At this moment, red spotlights flash and slowly go out as the sound attenuates. In the evening, it looks pretty impressive. The walls of the tower often turn into a screen during light holiday shows, very popular in Kazan.
Some interesting facts
Kazan is rich in historical events. The Spasskaya Tower of the Kazan Kremlin has a complex and interesting history of its construction.
Until the middle of the 20th century, it was polychrome (not stained): the lower tiers were white-stone, and the upper ones were made of red brick. Subsequently, like the rest of the Kremlin towers and walls, they began to cover it with lime whitewash to prevent the formation of fungus on the walls and towers.
Initially, it was possible to enter the Spasskaya Tower of Kazan and, having passed along the perimeter through all other towers and the defensive walls of the fortress, again left it. In this way, in ancient times there was a sentinel watch in order to protect the Kremlin.
Today, the walled openings here are still preserved. On the bricks, you can still see scratches made to make the plaster stick better. At the time of the Soviets, these ancient walls were not treated very carefully.
Finally
Before visiting this thousand-year-old city, making a travel route for the sights of the capital of Tatarstan, it is necessary to include in the program a visit to the Kremlin, where the Spasskaya Tower of Kazan is located.
Having plunged into the atmosphere of centuries ago while walking around the fortress, you can hear an interesting and more detailed story about the history of this historical complex, which includes many interesting objects that hide mysteries and secrets.