Spasskaya Tower of Kazan Kremlin

The Spasskaya Tower is a fortified structure on the southern wall of the Kremlin with four levels, where the lower section features white stone and two upper stories are built from brick in an octagonal shape. It is crowned with a pointed roof and contains a clock mechanism visible from multiple sides.

The tower was built between 1556 and 1562 by architects Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryay and originally held religious icons connected to military campaigns. It remains one of the oldest preserved structures within the fortification complex.

The tower houses a church dedicated to the Savior, which served as the main military place of worship for the Kazan garrison during the 19th century. Visitors can still sense this religious purpose reflected in the building's structure and decoration.

The tower sits at the southern entrance to the Kremlin and serves as the main gateway to the entire fortress complex. The best views of the clock and architectural details can be appreciated from outside the compound.

The tower's clock features an unusual design from the 18th century where the clock face rotated around stationary hands instead of hands moving across a fixed dial. This mechanical approach makes it a rare example of alternative timekeeping design.