Address: Moscow Kremlin, between Beklemishevskaya and Second Nameless Towers
Build date: 1480 year
Tower height: 27.15 m.
Coordinates: 55 ° 44'59.1 "N 37 ° 37'19.6" E
Content:
Short story
The Petrovskaya Tower is not just a decoration of the Moscow Kremlin. Erected in 1480 next to the Beklemishevskaya (Moskvoretskaya) tower, it strengthened the southern wall of the Kremlin, since this side of the historical monument of Russia was often attacked.
At first, the structure had no name, like the two Nameless Towers, which never received any name. However, in the future it was nevertheless designated as Petrovskaya, because at the Ugreshsky courtyard in the Kremlin there was the church of Metropolitan Peter... Due to its location on this courtyard, the Petrovskaya Tower received another name - Ugreshskaya.
Petrovskaya Tower against the background of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower
Approximately 200 years after the construction of the Petrovskaya Tower (more precisely, in 1676), it was decided to supplement the structure of the tower. These works were carried out for about 10 years, and upon their completion the tower was built on.
So on its main quadruple a low tent and two more quadruples appeared. The total height of the tower was 27.15 m... The whole structure ends with a pyramidal tent-octahedron. The end of the lower quadrangle is decorated with false machicules, and the upper quadruples are framed by cornices and are decorated with semi-columns at the corners.
From left to right: Petrovskaya tower, Beklemishevskaya tower
Historical events through which the Petrovskaya Tower passed
The year 1612, described by Russian historians as the Time of Troubles, is immortalized in the annals because of the Polish intervention. Then the cannon shots destroyed the tower completely, but later it was rebuilt, and in 1667 a church was built in it.
In 1770 (some sources indicate 1771), the tower was dismantled in connection with the preparation for construction work on the construction of the architect V.I. Of the Great Kremlin Palace. But, as soon as its construction was completed, the Petrovskaya Tower was re-erected, however, without a church. This event dates back to 1783.
View of the tower from the Kremlin embankment
In 1812, the tower was blown up by the French while retreating from Moscow... And 6 years later, under the leadership of the architect Bove, work was carried out to restore it. Having survived so many events and reconstructions, the Petrovskaya Tower remains attractive to this day due to its stepped shape. But, despite all the beauty, its original purpose was to satisfy the economic needs of the Kremlin gardeners.
