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Where It's At
The Moscow Kremlin is the chief architectural sight of the
city. The Kremlin is a refuge, a self contained city. Kremlin
means fortress, the Russian word for citadel, a medieval walled
city on a hill above the Moscow River. Long ago the city grew
far beyond the walls, but the citadel remained the seat of
government.
The skyline of the Kremlin is strikingly majestic and picturesque.
The might of its walls, its ridge-roofed towers and the three-dimensional
expressiveness of the buildings clustered on its grounds offer
panoramas of rare beauty. At one time, every western spy would
have risked their lives to gain entrance, but now it only
costs about $5 US to have a look around.
History
The ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin is the result of the efforts
of many generations. Initially, it was a small fortified settlement
which sprang up on Borovitsky Hill - a promontory at
the spot where the Neglinnaya River flowed into the
Moscow River. The oldest archaeological finds unearthed on
the Kremlin grounds date back to the Bronze Age. Signs of
a Slavic settlement here date to no later than the end of
the 11th century. At the time, the fortress on the top of
Borovitsky Hill covered an area of about 5 hectares.
In 1917, the new soviet government under Lenin transferred
the Russian capital back to Moscow. The Kremlin became the
seat of the highest state bodies, a sort of preserve, where
only those who lived or worked there were admitted. It was
only in 1955 that its unique museums have again become accessible
to all. Church services have recently been resumed in the
old cathedrals and the Kremlin bells which have been silent
for over 70 years have rung into life again.
The Kremlin has been and remains a unique monument of Russian
culture and a symbol of Russian statehood.
Highlights
Sights to visit at the Kremlin include:
Arsenal - Peter the Great's weapon storeroom.
The State Kremlin Palace - made of glass and concrete
in 1961, it's now the home of the Kremlin Ballet Company.
Senate - Catherine the Great's council chamber and
offices of Lenin.
Tsar Cannon and Bell - this giant cannon made in the
reign of Ivan the Terrible has failed to fire a ball, neither
has the 200 tonne bell ever rung a note. Still, they remain
an impressive sight despite their impracticalities.
Cathedral Square - with it's highly photographic gold
domed towers, the square symbolises the old Tsarist (King's)
rule and as the Kremlin is a microcosm of Moscow, the square
is a microcosm of the Kremlin symbolising the regal past,
with the addition of a statue of Lenin.
Ivan the Great Belltower - this fantastic 16th century
tower is the tallest building in the whole of Russia.
Cathedrals - There are many surrounding the Kremlin,
the most famed being 14th Century Assumption Cathedral, home
of the Russian Orthodox Church and The Italian influenced
Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, burial place of the early
Tsars.
The Armoury - a glamorous museum space, housing a collection
of Imperial treasures including over fifty Faberge eggs.
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