Nabatnaya Tower, Fortified tower in Moscow Kremlin, Russia
Nabatnaya Tower is a 38-meter fortified structure on the southeastern corner of the Moscow Kremlin wall with a bell chamber at its top. The tower was built from red brick with decorative stone elements and stands out clearly in the Kremlin skyline.
The tower was built in 1495 as part of the Kremlin fortifications during a period of major construction. Its bell, first cast in 1680 and recast in 1714, served as Moscow's primary warning signal for fires and threats.
The tower's name comes from the Russian word 'nabat', meaning alarm, and reflects its role as a warning system for Moscow residents. The bell that once hung here was central to this function and shaped the soundscape of the city for centuries.
The tower can be viewed from the Kremlin wall walkway, accessible from several Kremlin entrances. The best views of the structure come from outside the walls along the surrounding squares.
After the Moscow Plague Riot of 1771, Catherine the Great ordered the bell's clapper removed, silencing it for roughly 30 years. This punishment shows how much authorities feared the power of this signal.
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