Проектная работа ''Московский Кремль и Лондонский Тауэр - две страны, две исторические реликвии"

The Kremlin and the Tower are the main

 historical symbols of Russia and the UK

Introduction

The main symbol of our country is the Moscow Kremlin. It has become a symbol of the Russian State, one of the greatest architectural complexes in the world, a treasure trove of magnificent relics and works of art.

The similar symbol in Great Britain is the London Tower which reflects the history of Great Britain since William the Conqueror.

Picture 1, 2

 I’d like to suggest you exploring and enjoying these two famous world heritage sites: the Moscow Kremlin, situated in the Russian capital above the Moskva River and called the heart of Moscow, and the London Tower, known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress situated on the bank of the river Thames in the capital of the United Kingdom.

Picture 3

Fist of all the Moscow Kremlin and the Tower are both the places where two great capital cities were born. They were both built to defend the people from enemies.

The Tower was founded at the end of 1066 as a part of the Norman Conquest of England to protect him from angry English people who didn’t like being conquered.

The Tower of London was first built as a fortress; the first of its towers was called the «White Tower».

The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.

The Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and the moat.

Today there are 21 different towers. The most famous of them are: The White Tower and the Bloody Tower.

The first written record of Moscow dates back to 1147 to the times of Yuri Dolgoruky. That’s when the first wooden Kremlin was built on the bank of the Moskva River. The fist Kremlin was small, only one-twentieth of the territory it occupies now. Under Dmitry Donskoy in 1367-1368, the white-stone walls and towers of the Kremlin were built and Moscow began to be called "white-stone". In the XV (fifteenth) century it was totally rebuilt. Today it contains the architectural monuments of XIV (fourteenth) – XX (twentieth) centuries: 20 towers and 3 cathedrals. The last was built in 1680.

Picture 4

The Tower played a prominent role in the English history. Built by William the Conqueror it has served as a Royal Palace, an armory, treasury and even a royal Zoo (for 300 years). It was also a Royal residence. King Charles II was the last king to stay there. The monarch traditionally spent the night at the Tower prior to his or her coronation ceremony. The castle was used as a prison since 1100.

The Moscow Kremlin has been a centre of Russian statehood, the residence of Russian tsars, and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the tradition the Russian tsars were coronated in Moscow.

Since 1992 the Kremlin is the residence of the President of the Russian Federation and his Administration. It occupies about 28 hectares (64 acres).

Picture 5

The massive Tower complex except the White Tower includes: the Queen’s house, Royal Fusiliers Museum, the Chapels of St Peter and St John, Medieval Palace. There are 21 different towers which form a major part of London castle complex.

Picture 6

Talking about the Kremlin’s territory, we can’t pass without admiration by the golden-domed cathedrals, old chambers, and magnificent palaces. The most famous of them are: the Armory Chamber, the Assumption, Archangel and Annunciation Cathedrals. The most famous Spasskaya Tower (was built in 1491) is a clock tower. This tower is a symbol of Moscow like Big Ben is a symbol of London.

Pictures 7

The Ivan the Great Bell-Tower complex had been formed for two centuries. Today 24 bells of XVI-XVII centuries are located on the bell-tower.

There is a proverb in Russia: «How heavy you are, the Cap of Monomakh!» - meaning the heavy burden of responsibility.

The Tsar Cannon is a unique item of the Kremlin’s artillery collection. It was created in 1586 and has never shot.

Picture 8

The legend says that the Kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six ravens ever leave the fortress. It was Charles the II, who first insisted that the ravens of the Tower should be protected. There are seven ravens at the Tower today (the required six plus one spare).

Picture 9

Today the Tower and the Kremlin are the most popular tourist attractions. Queen’s Guard at the Tower mounts a guard at the tower. Queen’s Guard with the Yeomen Warders take part in the Ceremony of the keys every day.

The magnificent  Tower of London is now a museum and home to the Crown Jewels protected by the famous Beefeaters. The Beefeaters run regular tours. They will show you to Traitors Gate where prisoners entered the Tower for the last time, The Scaffold site where the executions took place and the impressive armories where you can see the body amour worn by Henry VIII.

The Kremlin is still home to the ceremonial regimental headquarters.

Picture 10

So I’ve told you about the history, construction and the symbols of the Tower and the Kremlin. There are both striking monuments to their countries history and culture.

«A nation that does not respect its past, does not deserve respect from present, and has no right to the future»

Marshal Josef Pilsudski