Recently, the trend of spending holidays abroad has gained real popularity among domestic tourists. Sometimes we simply forget that our country has such a rich cultural heritage, many picturesque places and preserved historical monuments. What is worth seeing Smolensk or Veliky Novgorod, walking along the streets of the beautiful city of Yaroslavl? It will take at least a week to explore all the sights of Moscow or St. Petersburg! But today is not about that. I would like to talk about the glorious city of Astrakhan and its main architectural landmark - the Astrakhan Kremlin.
A little about the city
Astrakhan can rightfully be considered the Caspian capital of our vast Motherland. The city is spread over eleven islands of the Caspian lowland, and the famous Volga River also flows through its territory.
When we talk about holidays in Astrakhan, the first thing that comes to mind is fishing and city sightseeing, one of which will be discussed in ourtoday's article.
Fortunately, the Astrakhan Kremlin is not the only attraction, here you can find various religious buildings, a large number of museums of absolutely different categories, estates and even art galleries. The State Musical and Drama Theater deserves special attention.
Description
The Astrakhan Kremlin is one of the main historical sights of Astrakhan, which is a monument of federal significance. Geographically, the Kremlin has a great location in the city, on an island washed by the Volga, Tsarevka and Cossack Erik. It is worth starting acquaintance with the masterpiece of military engineering art of the half of the 16th century from history.
History
The Astrakhan Kremlin is a full-fledged historical and architectural complex, the history of which dates back to 1558. Initially, the fortress was conceived as a completely wooden structure, but due to the difficult relations between Russia and the Turkish-Tatar troops, it was necessary to build a stronger and more reliable defense.
The construction of the Astrakhan Kremlin began during the reign of Ivan VI the Terrible, and ended under his son Fyodor Ivanovich. An interesting fact is that the remains of the brick of the former capital of the Golden Horde served as the material for the construction. The uniqueness of the Astrakhan Kremlin at that time was that it not only performed a defensive function, but was also an important trading point.
To datethe structure is a whole ensemble of buildings, the study of which will take at least several days. The length of the Kremlin is almost one and a half kilometers, and the height of the walls is from 5 to 8 meters. In addition, the building serves as a functioning museum. Since 1974, the flow of tourists has not stopped. Coming here, you will not only admire the architecture of the complex, but also be able to visit the ethnographic museum or an exhibition that is constantly held in the Zeughaus.
Let's take a closer look at the most iconic sights located on the territory of the Astrakhan Kremlin.
Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Monastery is the first building in the city. Initially, a wooden temple was erected here, but later it was replaced by a luxurious stone cathedral. Next to the Trinity Cathedral is the St. Cyril Chapel, named after the first abbot of this monastery, Kirill, who was buried inside.
Assumption Cathedral
Assumption Cathedral is the main cathedral in the Kremlin, as well as a wonderful example of Russian church architecture. This is the first point that catches your eye when entering the territory of the Kremlin. Its golden domes, sparkling in the sun, are able to catch the eye of any tourist. The Assumption Cathedral consists of two floors, the lower tier acts as a tomb for hierarchs, and the upper one is intended for open visits - it is a fairly spacious and bright hall. Astrakhan Cathedral in the Kremlin is worth seeing for every tourist.
St. Nicholas Gate
An equally important landmark on the territory of the Kremlin, located on the side of the northern travel tower. Once Peter I himself entered through these gates, but after a while the Nikolsky Gates were subjected to serious changes and in this form they appear before tourists in our time.
Belfry
The attention of visitors is attracted by an eighty-meter bell tower, proudly towering over the main gates of the Kremlin in Astrakhan. The gate, above which the bell tower is installed, was called “Prechistensky”. The modern bell tower was built in 1910, and it also boasts a clock with an electric motor that strikes every quarter of the hour.
The Bishop's Tower
Each of the towers of the Astrakhan Kremlin deserves special attention, and it is worth noting that there are a huge number of them throughout the territory. If you move forward a little, sticking to the left side of the Prechistenskaya bell tower, described above, you can run into the eastern corner tower, which is called Bishop's. The name came from the Astrakhan diocese. In 1828, a large-scale reconstruction of the walls of the Bishop's Tower was carried out. A photo of the Astrakhan Kremlin is presented below.
Zitnaya tower
The uniqueness of this building lies in the fact that it is one of the few buildings that has survived since the birth of the Kremlin itself. It is also worth noting that the Zhitnaya Tower is the most protected building on the territory of the Kremlin. It is surrounded on one side by a lake, and onthe other is the numerous buildings of the grain yard, called the “little fortress”.
Crimean Tower
If the previous paragraph was about the most protected structure, the Crimean Tower has repeatedly acted as a defensive structure and repelled the Crimean raids. Due to regular battles in its vicinity, the Crimean Tower was rebuilt more than once.
Red Gate
The highest point of the Kremlin hillock and a very important point from a strategic point of view. The tower "Red Gate" is a polyhedron, this design contributes to the all-round defense. Geographically, the tower is located in the northwestern part of the wall. Today you can see spiral staircases leading to the tower that did not exist before - this is the result of a reconstruction in 1958.
Water Gate
According to historical information, there was a hiding place with lattice doors between the Nikolsky and Red Gates. At the time of the reconstruction in 1970, a half-filled entrance was found, the so-called “Water Gates”, since they were the only secret passage to the banks of the Volga for replenishing water supplies.
Artillery (torture) tower
At one time it served as a venue for judicial inquiries and various kinds of torture, in fact, this is where its second name came from. Previously, the Green Yard adjoined it - an old powder magazine, which is the same age as the fortress wall itself.
A tour of the territory of the Astrakhan Kremlin is a great pleasure. Travelers can significantly expand their horizons, learnsomething new and remember the well-forgotten old.
Museum
As we have already said, a separate attraction is considered to be a functioning museum on the territory of the fortress wall. The institution first opened its doors to visitors in 1974 and has been successfully operating to this day. From that moment, work began on the restoration of the main structures, and the complex itself received the status of a reserve.
Most of the exhibitions of the Astrakhan Kremlin are of a military nature, but nevertheless, all tourists are given a unique opportunity to get to know the history of their native state. The creation of this place is directly related to the accession of new territories to Russia. It was these events that opened the way for our country to the Caspian Sea.
Tickets to the museum can be purchased directly at the city box office or on the official website. The entrance fee for adults is 300 rubles, for students - 180 rubles and for schoolchildren 120 rubles. In summer, the demand for visiting the museum increases greatly, so it is better to plan your route in advance. In addition, here you can book a tour of the Astrakhan Kremlin. It is advisable to find out all the details directly on the spot.
How to get there
Let's start directly with this question: where are you from? Out-of-town travelers come from different parts of the country, no one has faced a shortage of rail or air tickets. Direct trains run regularly from Moscow, and the city also has its owninternational airport.
City transport runs regularly from the railway station in Astrakhan. It is necessary to catch a bus following the route "Lenin Square" - "October Square". It is almost impossible to pass the Kremlin due to its convenient location on one of the highest points in the city. Also on the territory of the Kremlin is a huge bell tower, brightly reflecting the sun's rays in clear weather. Stone walls play an equally striking role: since their height reaches eight meters, it is difficult not to notice such a structure.
Conclusion
This article is nearing its logical conclusion. Astrakhan is a unique city in Russia that can surprise you with its beautiful nature, unique activities such as hunting and fishing, as well as numerous art monuments.
As for the main attraction of the city, the local Kremlin occupies an important place in the history of the state and is a great monument of engineering and military art. Everyone should know the history of their country, and the opportunity to see everything with their own eyes will only strengthen the knowledge in our heads. We hope that in this article you managed to find only useful information for yourself. Travel, discover and learn history with us. Good luck!
