Beklemishevskaya Tower: history of construction

Beklemishevskaya Tower is located near the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge, which stands above the Moscow River, because of what it is also known as the Moskvoretsky Tower. Why did this building get such a name? In fact, Beklemishevskaya it became in the end of XV century, after it was erected. The name of the tower was given to the nobleman Beklemishev, who lived near the wall of the Kremlin, which was on the outbuilding.

Who built the Beklemishev Tower?

At that time, for the construction of various buildings, foreign architects were approached. Beklemishevskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin was erected on the project of Mark Fryazin, as it was called by the Russians. In fact, the name of the architect is Marco Ruffo. For some reason, it is commonly believed that the surname of Fryazin means belonging to the genus. However, at that time the "Friars" was a common name for someone who was of Western European origin. It is because of this that this (albeit mutated) word has become a surname for people, for example, from Italy, France or Spain, who lived in the XV-XVI centuries in Russia.

Architectural view of the building

The location of the main cylinder is on a plinth of white stone, which has a semicircular shaped roller in the connection area of the elements. Beklemishevskaya tower of the Kremlin is equipped with four tiers, so that a roundabout can be possible. The building provides a well and an auditory cache in order to prevent a tunnel. At the end of the XVII century, the building was completed with an octagon, which had a narrow tent and two rows of rumors. It should also be noted that the tent in the tower lacks internal overlap.

History of the building

That same boyar named Beklemishev died in 1525. He was executed because he participated in a mutiny that was directed against Prince Vasily the Third. Then the courtyard and the tower were given for the maintenance of the prison for the conclusion of the nobles, who were objectionable.

In addition to this function, the Beklemishevskaya Tower was also a defense structure. Since its location is connected with the angle in the southeast of the Kremlin's triangle, it stood in the way of the first blows of the enemies. This is due to the fact that the attacks of opponents, as a rule, occurred through the waters of the Moscow River. To this end, and built observation platforms, auditory caches under the ground - for the timely detection of a tunnel.

At the beginning of the XVIII century, according to the orders of Peter I, who was expecting an attack on the city of Swedish troops, several shafts of earth were poured under the towers of the tower, bastion buildings were erected, and several loopholes were planted to install weapons of more impressive size and power. Despite the fact that during the revolution the building was destroyed, in a few years it looked as before.

The next time of reconstruction was in 1949, when the loopholes returned to their original dimensions. As for the remaining elements, the Moskvoretsky tower was almost not restored, unlike other similar ones in the Kremlin.

How to find this building? It is located at the intersection of the Kremlin embankment and Vasilievsky descent.