Kremlin At Red Square

The Kremlin means ‘citadel' and ‘fortification'. It is a group of some of the oldest and most historical buildings that you will find in Moscow. When you enter the Kremlin you will see some of the most amazing cathedrals, palaces, and a variety of governmental buildings.

One of the oldest ‘secular' buildings that can be found inside the Kremlin is the Faceted Palace - which was renovated during the 15th century. The youngest building is the State Kremlin Palace built in 1960. The Kremlin Palace is the home of the Kremlin Concert Hall and stands in the place of the Palace of Congresses.

Within the walls of the Kremlin you will find the historical Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon. The Tsar Bell - which weighs around 200 tons - was knocked down during a fire in 1737 before it was able to ring for the first time.

The Tsar Cannon was built in 1586 to defend the Kremlin's Savior Gate that lead to the Red Square. It weighed 40 tons and was decorated ornately. Maybe the ornate decorations it was made Russia decide to leave the cannon untouched and unfired. Instead it was mounted in 1835 on a gun carriage and displayed outside of the Cathedral Square.

The Kremlin was founded in the year 1156 by Prince Yury Dolgoruky. What started out as a simple wooden hut set on Borovitsky Hill turned into a place full of elaborate Cathedrals and fortresses. The first of these structures were built in the 14th century. A hundred years later architects from Italy were contracted to build crenellated walls that surround the Kremlin fortress. Each wall is built with a tower that has its own unique symbol and historical significance.