Moscow Kremlin
The Kremlin is the stronghold of Moscow and its historical center. Most of the city had been inside the Kremlin walls until the 16th century. Afterwards, the Kremlin became the official Tsars residence with just several most powerful nobles and a head of the Orthodox church, who lived inside. Italian architects built the present Kremlin fortifications at the end of the 15th century. Moscow Kremlin fortress was one of the most fortified in Europe, even more than the ones in Milan and Krakow. The red brick walls with 20 towers were never captured by the enemies.
This picture of Tsar bell I took while I was waiting my clients from the special tour to the Grand Kremlin and Faceted Palaces, 1 hour before we saw our Patriarch in the Cathedrals Square.
The famous Tsar Bell stands on a huge pedestal nearby Ivan's The Great bell tower. This bell is a masterpiece of Russian craftsmen at first half of 18 century, who made attempt to cast the third time the largest bell in World Tsar Bell (number 3) with by ambitious project - weight 200 tons, height - 6 meters and diameter - 6,3 meters. For example, the previous Tsar Bell, which was casted in middle of 17th century was largest active bell in human history and had the weight about 130 tons, but it was broken in 1701 during a fire in Moscow Kremlin.
In 1734 our Empress Anna I (Ioanovna), who took Russian throne after death of Peter I (she was his niece), ordered and commissioned production of the new Tsar Bell fulfilling the dream of her grandfather, Tsar Alexei Michailovich. At first she turned to foreign craftsmen, but received excuse for this ambitious project. Only Russian craftsmen Ivan Motorin and his son agreed to make attempt to cast it and they called about 200 experienced craftsmen and the new Tsar Bell, which was finally casted in 1735, was decorated with bas-relief portraits of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, empress Anna Ioannovna, and also adorned with vegetation ornament in the baroque style and images of saints, angels and inscriptions telling the story of the bell.
By official version which you can learn in all guide books and even from the official Kremlin guides, in May 1737 the bell was still on casting pit underground, but terrible fire came out from a terrible Troitskiy (Trinity) fire broke out in Moscow and spread to the Kremlin buildings. When the flames on the scaffolding around the bell were being extinguished, cold water fell on the bell itself. The difference in temperature caused it to crack, and a huge piece of 11,5 ton broke off. This is official version, but not trustful for professional bell ringers who after long researches proved that it must was a mistake of craftsmen during casting process and only the mistake of craftsmen who made the wrong forms could course appearance of many cracks around the basement of the bell after the metal started to cool down inside the form. More information about the Tsar Bell, history of Russian bells and traditional styles of bell ringing in Russia you can learn at the exciting tour to the museum of bells.
PS: The broken Tsar Bell remained in the earth for almost 100 more years and was lifted up and placed on a large stone pedestal in middle of 19th century by famous French architect Auguste Montferrant who also built the famous Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Note: These Moscow Photos are to help you familiarize yourself with Moscow's Sightseeing and my services. The photos in my albums are protected by international copyright law. You may keep my photos in your personal albums or, you may use these images as personal wallpaper on your computer, but, they are not for distribution (commercial or non-profit). If you would like to buy a specific photo, feel free to make your request via E-mail. I do hope you enjoy my work as photographer. Many of these photos were taken during excursions with my clients. You can find my pictures in Internet under nickname "ArtLook" (short from Arthur Lookyanov) at the follow websites:
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