Zachatiev Tower of Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin: description, history and interesting facts

Such a unique structure as the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin dating from the sixteenth century still preserves the image of a medieval fortress due to its deaf towers in several tiers and inaccessible walls with narrow slits for loopholes. This military engineering ensemble was built to protect the southeastern borders of the Moscow state by the most advanced technologies at that time.

general information

In terms of a chain of fortresses is an irregular polygon, in the corners of which there are towers. Initially, this defensive ensemble included fourteen, including the defensive strelnitsu. The latter was an additional fortification and was located in front of the Dmitrievskaya Tower. Today the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin consists of thirteen similar structures. The fortress, which stood up in front of numerous enemy sieges and never surrendered to the enemy, was repeatedly reconstructed. The most grandiose restructuring was carried out already in our years - in the twentieth century. Thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of the local resident and architect Svyatoslav Leonidovich Agafonov, the beauty and pride of the city not only did not disappear from the face of the earth, but was also restored. The works were started in 1949 and lasted until 1977. And in November 2012 the Zachatievskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was restored.

Description

It was destroyed by a landslide in the middle of the eighteenth century. Zachatievskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was a two-tiered square structure, which was crowned with a narrow roof. In its height, this fortification did not exceed the surrounding fortress walls. Due to the fact that this site was more often subjected to landslides than other hill slopes, and also because the Volga River belonged to Rusys, medieval architects did not attach fortifications of defensive significance. Therefore, more Zachatievskaya tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was used as a passage, more precisely, an exit: through its gate it was possible to very quickly reach the shore. However, they soon ceased to be used because of the emergency condition, and already in 1622 the gates were "forced to the rear by a standing". Somewhere in the fifties of the eighteenth century, a tower, shifted by a landslide to the Volga, collapsed. Soon the Kremlin itself lost its importance as a military fortress. And then the decision of Nizhny Novgorod Governor IM Rebinder, his towers were converted into military and food warehouses and utility rooms.

The integrity of the Kremlin

For the first time in more than two centuries, the ring of fortress walls finally closed. Built on one of the most unfavorable sites Zachatievskaya tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was destroyed not because of constant enemy raids, but for reasons much more prosaic. Clayey soil and its high content of loose rocks, which filled all the former ravines and gullies, landslides and ground and surface waters, flowing down to the northern walls of the fortress, all these conditions led to the fact that it and the adjoining walls collapsed. Like Borisoglebskaya, the Zachatievskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was constantly deformed. For this reason, it was constantly rebuilt. And, finally, in the eighteenth century, during the reign of Catherine the Great, the first provincial architect, Yakov Ananin, began work on the northern walls of the fortress, as well as on the two long-suffering towers. They were completely eliminated. The walls were replaced by lower ones. Nevertheless, the process of destruction of this part of the fortress continued. And even today, after reconstruction, there are terrible cracks in the wall near Borisoglebskaya Tower. The destructive process continues.

History

Zachatievskaya tower in the Middle Ages was built without investing in it special meaning. Over time, it began to serve only as an exit from the fortress. But in 1622, because of its emergency condition, this function was no longer performed by the Zachatievskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. How to get to the Volga shore from the fortress, the townspeople no longer bothered. After all, when in 1750 this site was destroyed, the remaining parts were dismantled. And in place of the tower itself appeared "A descent to a picturesque spring". But he, having undergone a destructive landslide, was filled up.

Excavations carried out in the sixties of the last century showed that Zachatskaya, or, as it is also called, the "Zachatievskaya" tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, moved almost five centimeters towards the river. According to the architect who supervised the reconstruction, it happened in the late seventeenth - the first half of the eighteenth century. Only since 2012 has found its original appearance Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin.

Zachatiev Tower where is it?

Under Agafonov this thirteenth head - the last of his majestic sisters - was never recreated. Moreover, its original fragments were found only in 1961, after the collapse of the masonry that closed them, dating back to the eighteenth century. Archaeologists have discovered the top of the vaulted passage that led from the tower to the church through the thickness of the fortress wall and several white stone steps above it. Their dimensions were 34-36 in height and 27 centimeters in width. This is much steeper than the usual staircase for the Kremlin.

Zachatskaya (Zachatievskaya) Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is located between the White and Borisoglebsk heads, on the lowest part of the fortress hill, facing the banks of the Volga River. It, according to the surviving annalistic documents, was built in 1500-1514, almost simultaneously with the walls of the fort.

Recovery

The nearby nunnery served as the reason that in honor of the conception of St. Anne the martyr was similarly named Zachatievskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. How to get to this holy monastery, every old resident of the city will show. It was founded under the serf hill, on the bank of the Volga by order of the wife of the Nizhny Novgorod prince Andrey Konstantinovich. This monastery still exists, however, it is now called the "Cross Exaltation".

Svyatoslav Agafonov, who analyzed the cleared extant parts of the tower's premises, began to conduct theoretical and design reconstruction. It was they who put forward the hypothesis of the similarity between Zachatievskaya and Nikolskaya heads. The case of his father, who did not survive until the restoration, continued his daughter - Irina Svyatoslavovna. It was under her leadership that the Zachatievskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was rebuilt.

Today

Currently, there is a museum here. It presents truly unique exhibits that have a huge historical value and have never been exhibited before. For example, on the first floor you can see the elements of the former walls of the stone Kremlin and the Tower of Zachat. The second level exhibition, consisting of amphorae, elements of a wooden fortress and weapons, was collected as a result of long archaeological research. On the third floor there is an exposition dedicated to the militia of 1612. There is also an observation deck. The operating mode of the Zachatskaya Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is from 10am to 6pm. On Monday the museum is closed.

Interesting Facts

Zachatievskaya tower is considered the most mysterious structure of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Moreover, some even consider it damned. According to legend, in the foundation of the tower is buried an Italian architect who designed it. The legend says that the overseas architect, having fallen in love with a local resident's bride, tried to kiss her. Between him and the groom a fight ensued, as a result, both rivals died.

Restored Zachatievskaya tower to the 400th anniversary of the Nizhny Novgorod militia. And then the Kremlin, having acquired the look of a completed structure, appeared before the visitors in the form in which it was conceived by its brilliant architect.