The Kremlin in Moscow is a historic complex of buildings, originally a medieval fortress, that includes churches, palaces, armories, and watchtowers. It is a World Heritage Site and the current seat of the Russian government and president. Visitors can explore museums, gardens, and historic structures, including the Assumption Cathedral and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The armory now serves as a museum for Russian treasures. The Kremlin is an iconic symbol of Russia’s culture and history.
The Kremlin, located in Moscow, Russia, is a complex of buildings enclosed within a wall, originally conceived as a medieval fortress. The buildings within it include churches, palaces, armories and a variety of watchtowers. The Kremlin also integrates beautiful gardens and a forest, which are well-maintained with footpaths for visitors to traverse. It has long been associated with Russian government and culture. In 1990 the complex was recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.
In Russian, the word “kremlin” means fortress. The first mention of the Kremlin dates back to 1147, when a party was hosted there. In 1100 it was a self-closed and easily defensible fortified city. The complex expanded in the 12th century and became the seat of Russian power. In 12, power was transferred to St. Petersburg, which remained the capital until the Russian Revolution of 1703; Moscow was later restored as the capital of Russia.
The city of Moscow grew up around the Kremlin as the population expanded and the fortress itself is now enclosed within the city. In addition to housing a museum, it is also the current seat of the Russian government and the home of the president since 1992. The Russian congress meets in the Kremlin and a variety of social and cultural artifacts are housed there.
The Kremlin’s outer wall is interrupted by a series of tall watchtowers. The towers are built in red brick, like the walls, and capped with characteristic green spiers. In the 1930s red stars were added to the tops of the towers. The towers were built in the late 15th century by several Italian architects. Visitors to the Kremlin usually enter through the Trinity Tower, which is located at the western end of the complex.
Within the Kremlin, the complex includes the House of Congress, the presidential residence, the Assumption Cathedral and the historic armory. It also includes the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, which dominates the complex. The bell tower is 262 meters high. There are a number of other buildings in the fortress, but these stand out as physically impressive and historical structures.
The Assumption Cathedral is perhaps the flagship of the Kremlin, built in 1470 by Ivan the Great. The cathedral remains the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church and is capped with beautiful and distinctive golden domes. A variety of other churches on the grounds complement the Cathedral of the Assumption, including the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the Cathedral of the 12 Apostles.
The armory is no longer used to store weapons. Today it houses Russian treasures and serves as a museum where visitors can see artifacts from Russian history. Next door is the Diamond Treasury, where visitors can view the Orlov Diamond along with a variety of other treasures.
The Kremlin is an iconic collection of Russia’s culture, society and architecture. A trip to Moscow isn’t complete without a visit to the famous site, which can give interested visitors days of exploration. The palaces, churches and administrative buildings that combine to form the Kremlin complex span nearly 900 years of Russia’s architectural and cultural history.
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