Kremlin grounds

The Kremlin view from Moskvoretsky bridge

The Moscow Kremlin is a magnificent architectural ensemble. Its monumental walls and towers, golden-domed cathedrals and ancient palaces stand high on the Borovitskiy Hill above the Moscow River. It's like an entire city within Moscow. Russian princes and tsars lived here long time ago. Today it is the official residence of the President of Russia. Moscow Kremlin is the symbol of the Russian state.

Kremlin is the Russian word for "fortress", "citadel". In fact, some other old Russian cities have their own Kremlin as well. But the Kremlin of Moscow is the one known around the world.

Kremlin remembers the first residents of Moscow. The founder of Moscow prince Yury Dolgoruky ordered the construction of the first wooden fortress here in 1156. At that time the site was known as the town of Moscow. The word "kremlin" was first recorded in the 14th century. The Kremlin we see today was built in the late 15th century. Moscow prince Ivan the Great dreamed of building a capital which would equal to Constantinople in grandeur and importance. He called his dream the "Third Rome" and brought architects from Italy. Most of their work is still standing.

"The Kremlin deserved a journey to Moscow"- this is what the French traveler Marquis de Custine wrote in the 19th century. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Kremlin. The highlights include the Cathedral square, Ivan the Great Bell tower, the tsar-cannon, the tsar-bell. You can visit three cathedrals which were built in the 15th-16th centuries. The Assumption cathedral (1479) was the main church of Moscow, all the Tsars were crowned here. The gilded Cathedral of the Annunciation was a domestic royal church; it has preserved several unique icons by Andrey Rublev. Cathedral of the Archangel Michael keeps the graves of the first Russian princes and tsars. There are several separate museums in the Kremlin. The most famous ones are the Armoury chamber housing royal treasures and the Diamond Fund.

The Kremlin is included in our classic tours with Moscow tour guide.

Kremlin towers

The Upper Saviour cathedral