Kutafya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin is the center of the Russian capital and its main historical and architectural landmark. Today anyone can easily get to the territory of the modern Kremlin through the famous Trinity Gate.

But before you climb the bridge leading to the high Trinity tower, you need to go through a squat mighty architectural structure called Kutafya Tower. That's about it, and it will be discussed in this article.

History of the construction of the tower

Building fortress walls and siege towers of the Moscow Kremlin, the ancient architects were guided first of all by fortification purposes. The entrances to the fortress had to be reliably covered by bridge structures. The Kremlin's Kutafia Tower is the only such building that has survived to this day.

It was built in 1516 under the leadership of the Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin, specializing in fortification. The purpose of the tower was to protect the entrance to the Trinity Bridge. To strengthen the inaccessibility in front of the Kutafia Tower, a deep ditch was dug and filled with water. On the other side of the tower was the Neglinnaya River.

origin of name

Why was the structure given such an unusual name - Kutafya Tower? And you look at it carefully, who does it remind you of its breadth and massiveness - on the one hand, and the original intricate beauty on the other? Perhaps, a discharged burly woman, clumsy and awkward? In any case, the Moscow residents of the XVI century, this tower apparently caused such associations. Here it is called "kutafya" - as a fat and awkward woman.

True, there is another interpretation of the name of this fortress. Some researchers write that the root of the word "kutafya" is "kut"; Angle or shelter. If we take into account the fact that it was called the fortification structure, the last version sounds more believable.

Destination of the Kutafia Tower

Now it is difficult for us to imagine that at one time the present center of Moscow was a very dangerous place: foreign enemy conquerors could flood at any moment. That is why in the Middle Ages it was so important to build protective fortresses with thick high walls and huge towers, in which the entrances and loopholes were located simultaneously.

Kutafia Tower was the only gate opening the passage to the highest tower of the Kremlin - Troitskaya. Two towers connected the bridge, under which the Neglinnaya River ran. Later in the XIX century the river was encased in an underground pipe (now it can not be seen), but the bridge still stands still. From the outside, the tower was equipped with another bridge - a lift. At the first signs of danger, he rose and the enemy could not get close to Kutafia, since Right in front of her was a deep moat.

This amazing structure was surrounded on all sides by water. Kutafya Tower was originally designed as a stand-alone island fortress, inside which guards were constantly on duty. At the top were loopholes, through which it was possible to shell the enemy.

Kremlin Kutafia Tower on the map

If you look at the map of the Moscow Kremlin, you can see that the Kutafia Tower is located on the west side, and its central entrance is turned towards the Alexander Garden.

The nearest metro stations are "Alexander Garden" and "Lenin Library". It is difficult to pass the tower and not notice it - so much it has an impressive and mighty appearance. A lot of tourists are constantly crowded around it. To get to the territory of the Kremlin, you must first purchase tickets that are sold in the Alexander Garden, and then go through Kutafia Tower, Troitsky Bridge and Trinity Tower to the Kremlin.