Pyatnitskie Gate, Medieval gate tower in Kolomna, Russia
Pyatnitskie Gate is a stone tower forming one of the main gateways into Kolomna Kremlin, rising about 95 feet (29 m) tall. It has thick walls, narrow openings along the sides, and a tiered shape that narrows toward the top.
The tower was built in 1525 on the orders of Vasily III as part of a broad effort to fortify Kolomna with stone walls. At that time, the city sat at a strategically important position near the borders of the Muscovite state, making strong defenses a priority.
The gate takes its name from a church once dedicated to Saint Paraskeva Pyatnitsa that stood nearby. Passing through it today still feels like crossing a threshold between the modern city and the older part of Kolomna.
The gate is on the western side of the Kremlin and easy to find on foot by following the outer fortress walls. Walking around the full perimeter gives a good sense of how this tower fits within the rest of the defensive layout.
Of the 16 towers that once made up the Kremlin's defenses, only about 7 remain standing today, and this gate is among the most complete of those survivors. What makes it stand out further is that the passage through the gate is still open, so visitors can actually walk through it as people did centuries ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
