Address: Moscow Kremlin, between Troitskaya and Srednaya Arsenalnaya towers
Build date: 1516 year
Tower height: 13.5 m.
Coordinates: 55 ° 45'09.1 "N 37 ° 36'46.1" E
Content:
Short story
The construction work for the construction of the Kutafya Tower was supervised by the talented Italian architect Aloiso Fryazin, who arrived in Moscow at the invitation of the ambassadors of Prince Ivan III. Thanks to his skillful actions, the Kremlin was transformed beyond recognition - the beautiful towers, one after another, became its integral part.
And so in 1516, the 13.5-meter high Kutafya tower became another creation of the Italian architect... And it is called a barbican because it is a fortification that provides additional protection to the entrance to the fortress. In the serf architecture of Ancient Russia, such a gate fortification (translation of the word “barbican” from Arabic) was called a diversion arrow.
View of the tower from st. Manezhnaya
Despite its low height, the Kutafya tower was reliable in terms of defense against intruders. Those who wanted to take the fortress under siege were in for a surprise - in moments of danger, access to the tower was limited by a gate, which was closed with the help of the lifting part of the bridge. In addition, during the construction of the tower, mashikuli and loopholes of the plantar battle were provided for in its design.
The reliability of the Kutafya Tower can be judged by the fact that it was surrounded by a ditch and the Neglinka River flowing in Moscow. And when in the XVI-XVII centuries the water in the river rose to a considerable height, the tower became protected from all sides. It was possible to get into it only from the side of the city, but only along the inclined bridge.
View of the tower from Troitsky bridge
Features of the architecture of the Kutafya tower, the history of its name
The Kutafya tower did not differ in architectural sophistication - it was a simple, low structure with two battle tiers and hinged loopholes. The top of the structure ended with two-horned teeth and a tent roof in the form of a tent. However, in 1685, the appearance of the tower underwent some changes - its upper part was turned into an openwork crown with white stone details, and many years later, already in the 18th century, the vault that covered it was dismantled.
In the 19th century, the Kutafya Tower was reconstructed several times. So, in 1868 its gates were walled up, and instead of them there was a through passage from Moscow to the Troitsky bridge. At the beginning of the 20th century, changes also affected the side passages - in 1901 they were opened, and in 1930 they were laid again. And today the Kutafya Tower has no open side passages. You can find it next to the Trinity Tower.
Tower view at night
Historians believe that it was the simplicity of the design of the baby tower that became the reason for its name Kutafya... For example, in Dahl's dictionary the word "kutafya" is deciphered by the phrase "ridiculously dressed." And in the colloquial speech of ordinary Russian people, the word "kutafya" was understood as a plump, clumsy woman.
But if we disassemble the word "kutafya" in parts, it is easy to see that its root is "kut" (in other words - angle). Indeed, a small building of the Moscow Kremlin with the name Kutafya is located at the end of the Trinity Bridge, as if in a corner. However, at one time the tower had another name - it was Predmostnoy, since both it and the bridge were being built at the same time.
Tower inside
Today historians see some threat to this valuable cultural monument of ancient Russia. The fact is that several years ago, in the vicinity of the Kutafya Tower, the construction of modern pavilions began, which by their appearance can distort the historical appearance of the Moscow Kremlin ensemble. In addition, such interference is fraught with the exclusion of the Kremlin from the protection lists of UNESCO.
