Komendantskaya Tower, Defensive tower at Moscow Kremlin, Russia
Komendantskaya Tower is a fortified tower in the Moscow Kremlin complex with distinctive red brick walls and a tent-shaped roof topped by a watchtower section. The structure stands as one of the visible defensive elements within the Kremlin's perimeter walls.
The tower was built in 1495 originally as Kolymazhnaya Tower, named after the nearby royal carriage storage facility. It received its current name in the 19th century due to its location next to the Commandant's residence.
The tower displays the military building style of Moscow with its red brick walls and pointed roofs that shape the city's skyline. You can see how Renaissance elements blended into traditional Russian fortress architecture here.
The tower is easily visible from outside when exploring the Kremlin complex and can be photographed from various positions along the walls. Access is through the main Kremlin entrances where admission tickets are available.
The tower's name did not come from its original purpose but from a later administrative connection to the nearby Poteshny Palace, where the Moscow Commandant lived. This makes it an example of how building names shifted with the city's changing functions over time.
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