Koromyslova Tower of Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, Defense tower in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
The Koromyslova Tower is a circular defensive structure in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin positioned between the Nicholas and Tainitskaya towers, built with a white stone foundation and brown brick upper levels. The tower extends beyond the fortress walls and contains multiple stories with gun ports designed for firing across a wide area.
The tower was built between 1508 and 1511 as part of the Kremlin's defensive reinforcement and featured four combat stories equipped with gun ports. A wheeled copper cannon was added in 1622 to strengthen the fortification's defensive capability.
The tower's name connects to a local legend about a young woman named Alena who helped defend the city against Tatar attacks in 1520, and a monument near the structure honors this story today. This narrative remains part of how people remember the site's role in the city's survival.
The tower can be accessed through two entrances, with one positioned along the fortress wall and another leading to the upper combat platform. The best time to visit is during the warmer months when the pathways around the fortification are easily walkable.
The circular design of the tower intentionally extends beyond the fortress walls, allowing artillery to fire from multiple angles and protect the surrounding area more effectively. This construction method was a sophisticated defensive strategy used in the fortification's design.
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