Kremlin

“Kremlin” (actually kreml) is the Russian word for citadel, and that’s exactly what the Moscow Kremlin was: a medieval walled city on a hill above the Moscow River. Long ago, of course, the city grew far beyond the walls, but the citadel remained the seat of government.

Visitors enter the Kremlin through the Trinity Tower on the west side. Beyond the tower on the right is the Soviet-era Palace of Congresses.

Inside the Kremlin walls is a mix of buildings, ranging from somewhat drab Soviet-era government offices to antique churches, such as the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles (second from left) and the Cathedral of the Assumption.

Along with the buildings are monuments (including a large Lenin statue) and the Tsar Cannon, the largest cannon ever built, and the Tsar Bell, the world’s largest bell.

Despite the abundance of buildings, the southeast part of the Kremlin interior is a large garden, almost a small forest, with carefully maintained walkways.

The most famous of the Kremlin’s towers is the Spasskaya (Savior) clock tower, also visible from Red Square, but there are eighteen others, including the Tainitskaya and the Beklemishevskaya, both seen here from the walkway along the south side of the Kremlin interior.

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