Путешествие по Коломенскому Кремлю

A Tour around the Kolomna Kremlin

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell you about the history of Kolomna Kremlin. I think we should start our tour from Sobornaya Square. It’s the holy place of the town and the heart of the Kremlin. On the territory of Kolomna Kremlin there are the UspenskyCathedral , the Tikhvinsky Cathedral, built in pseudo-Russian style, as well as the Novo-Golutvin and Brusensky monasteries, the Trinity Church, the Cross Cathedral and other historic buildings.

In the center of the Kremlin there is the five-domedUspensky Cathedral rebuilt in 1672-1682 on the site of the former white stone building of Dmitry Donskoy’s time.

To the north of the cathedral there stands a small Church of Resurrection. Earlier, it was connected with the palace. According to the legend Dmitry Donskoy and Suzdal Princess Eudoxia were married there.

I’d like to draw your attention to Brusensky monastery.

Brusensky monastery is no less interesting. It is the place of the revered Kazan icon of Our Lady. According to the legend it is one of the direct copies of the miraculous Kazan icon. The monastery was founded around the tent-roofed church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the 16th century by the order of Ivan the Terrible to mark the capture of Kazan.

Kolomna Kremlin is the main tourist attraction.

The history of Kolomna begins with the Kremlin, an ancient fortified settlement built beside the Kolomenka and Moskva rivers. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the region.

It was built in 1525-1531 and protected Moscow from Kazan and Crimea invasions. It played the key role in the Moscow defense system.

Kremlin building was directed by Italian architects who took part in Moscow Kremlin building and used it as a model. Except for stone Kolomna had all other necessary materials – high quality brick clay, crushed stone and even some marble.

It’s interesting to know that Kolomna Kremlin was built by the order of Vasily III and was equal to the Moscow one.

 Let’s look at this table and compare two Kremlins.

The names of the towers of Kolomna Kremlin coincide with the Moscow’s: Spasskaya , Sviblova, Tainitskaya.

 Let’s look at the plan! The Kremlin occupies an oval plot of land covering the hills on the north bank of the Moskva River. Towers followed all the perimeter of the Kremlin to allow active defense. Warriors could attack invaders frontally from the walls and flankingly from the towers.

The Moskva and Kolomenka Rivers were the defensive objects from the north and northwest. Protection from the other side was provided by a huge deep ditch lined with white stone. This proves the fact that Kolomna Kremlin was not just a building but a true fortress.

Each side of the Kremlin was guarded by towers. It was a fortress able to withstand many enemy attacks.

 If you go round the Kremlin nearly 2 kilometres counting its majestic constructions, you will find only 7 towers have survived up-to-date. Previously, the Kremlin had 17 towers, the 4 of which had gates.

Here is the list of the towers
Kolomenskaya Tower
Granovitaya Tower
Yamskaya Tower
Simionovskaya Tower
Spasskaya Tower
Pogorelaya Tower
Voznesenskaya Tower
Borisobglebskaya Tower
Voskresenskaya Tower
Sandirevskaya Tower
Bobrenevskaya Tower

Sviblova Tower
Zastenochnaya Tower

Besides towers, there were two gates in walls:

The Mihaelovskie Gates and the Melynychnie Gates.

Kolomna Kremlin towers have different forms: round, four-sided and many-sided. All towers have 5 floors, one of them is situated underground and had gun slots. All towers had galleries on the top with swallowtail crenellations.
According to old Russian architectural standards many sided towers – Kolomenskaya and Granovitaya and round tower – Sviblova were situated in the Kremlin area.

 Look at the Pyatnitskie Gates. It was the central gate of the town. This tower has much in common with the Borovitsky gate in Moscow Kremlin. The gate has a shooting tower. The entrance was protected with the iron bars. There was a bell over the arch. The gate seems to be very graceful.

There are mysterious stories about some of the towers. The Tainitskaya Tower had a secret well to get water from the Kolomenka river during the long sieges.

Kolomenskaya Tower used to be the eastern city watch tower. Now everyone passing through Kolomna may see it. Kolomenskaya Tower is one of the best examples of 16th century fortress buildings. It has 20 sides, 8 floors, 11m diameter, 31m in height. It stands near the Kolomenka river. People call it Marinkina. According to the legend Marina Mnishek was imprisoned and died there in 1614.

Kolomna is dear to all the citizens of the town. So why not walk along the most beautiful streets of Kolomna Kremlin and listen to the ancient stones whispering their mysterious tales?