Petrovskaya Tower, Fortified tower in Moscow Kremlin, Russia.
Petrovskaya Tower is a fortified structure forming part of the defensive wall system of the Moscow Kremlin. Rising to approximately 27 meters, this tower stands among the protective fortifications that define the Kremlin's perimeter.
The tower was constructed in the late 15th and early 16th centuries under Ivan III as part of the original Kremlin's defensive system. It suffered damage during the 1812 French occupation and underwent reconstruction afterward.
The tower takes its name from a church dedicated to Metropolitan Peter that once stood within the Kremlin grounds. Today, visitors can still sense this religious connection through the structure's place in the Kremlin's sacred landscape.
The tower is visible from outside when walking along the Kremlin wall and offers good vantage points over parts of the grounds. Visitors should take time to observe the tower's position within the broader wall construction and notice the surrounding structures.
After 1818, the tower was converted into a maintenance facility for Kremlin gardeners, showing how a fortification found new peaceful uses. This unexpected repurposing reveals how defensive structures adapted to serve the everyday needs of the complex.
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