Kazan Kremlin

Kazan Kremlin
Native name Russian: Казанский кремль
Kazan Kremlin
Location	Kazan, Russia
Built	10th—16th centuries[1]
Europe and North America
Location of Kazan Kremlin in European Russia Show map of European Russia Kazan Kremlin (Europe) Show map of Europe

The Kazan Kremlin (Russian: Казанский кремль, romanized: Kazanskiy kreml; Tatar: Казан кирмәне) is the chief historic citadel of Russia, situated in the city of Kazan. It was built at the behest of Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the former castle of Kazan khans. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000.

History and monuments

The Kazan

, but was pulled down by the Soviets in 1930.

The most conspicuous landmark of the Kazan Kremlin is the leaning Söyembikä Tower, which probably goes back to the reign of Peter the Great. A well-known legend connects the tower with the last queen of the Khanate of Kazan. Another recognizable architectural feature is the Spasskaya Tower, which anchors the southern end of the Kremlin and serves as the main entrance to the Kremlin.

The Spasskaya Tower is named after the Spassky Monastery, which used to be located nearby. Among the monastery's buildings were the Church of St. Nicholas (1560s, four piers) and the Cathedral of the Saviour's Transfiguration (1590s, six piers). They were destroyed by the Communists during Joseph Stalin's rule.

Also of interest are snow-white towers and walls, erected in the 16th and 17th centuries but later renovated; the

. The Palace is believed to be located on the site of a former Khan's palace. Tucked between Presidential Palace and Söyembikä Tower is the palace church built on the foundation of a medieval mosque.

The Northern wall of the Kremlin contains another gated tower, Secret Tower, so named because it used to house a secret water supply well. This tower allows pedestrian access to the Kremlin, but vehicle access is restricted to emergencies only.

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Recent events

The opening of one of the biggest mosques in

said "the Qolşärif mosque is a new symbol of Kazan and Tatarstan... a bridge connecting... our past and future."

The decree on restoring the Kul Sharif mosque (1995) also ordered the restoration of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kazan Kremlin which had been taken away from Orthodox Christians after the

shortly before his death.

In 2005 the first stage of the Kazan Metro also included a station named Kremlyovskaya, whose exits are right next to the Kremlin.

Buildings

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  Kul Sharif Mosque
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  The Söyembikä Tower
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  Annunciation Cathedral
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  House church

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  The Transfiguration tower
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  The Taynitskaya tower
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  The Consistory tower
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  The South-Western tower
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  The South-Eastern tower

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  Spasskaya Tower
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  The Governor's palace
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  Consistory Palace (the northern housing of the Artillery Court)
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  The main housing of the Artillery Court
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  The southern housing of the Artillery Court
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  The eastern wall of the Kazan Kremlin
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  Ruins of Khan's mausoleum

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kazan Kremlin.

• Kazan Kremlin State Museum and Historical Park (official site) (in English)
• World Heritage Patrimony
• Pictures of Kazan Kremlin

55°48′00″N 49°06′20″E / 55.80000°N 49.10556°E / 55.80000; 49.10556