The Kremlin is the most ancient part of the city of Ryazan. It was on this place that Pereyaslavl Ryazansky was founded in 1095, which in 1778 was renamed to its current name. The place for construction was chosen ideally. The Ryazan Kremlin is located on a high platform with an area of 26 hectares and the shape of an irregular quadrangle, surrounded on three sides by rivers. And the traces of an ancient settlement found here date back to one thousand years BC.
A bit of history
Pereyaslavl, according to archaeologists, was founded on the shore of Lake Bystry, in the northern part of the hill. This has been confirmed with the latest technology. Then it began to develop rapidly and by the 14th century it already occupied the entire Kremlin hill. The reason is very simple: by the end of the 13th century, the city changed its status, became the capital city of the principality, since Ryazan, which had such a rank before, was repeatedlydestroyed during the Mongol-Tatar raids. Pereyaslavl, as the history of the Ryazan Kremlin says, very quickly went beyond the hill and grew noticeably to the west and south.
And the Kremlin itself remained the most fortified, central part of the city and was a very powerful fortress with a system of defensive structures traditional for Russia. On the only side, the southwestern, not protected by rivers, a moat was dug, and a rampart was poured around the entire perimeter. Fortified wooden walls with 12 towers were erected on it. The gates of the Glebovskaya tower were the main ones and looked towards Moscow. In the 18th century, Pereyaslavl lost its importance as an outpost in the south of Russia, and most of the military structures were demolished. Only a fragment of a rampart 300 meters long and a ditch in the southwestern part remained by our time.
Further development of the Kremlin
For a relatively long time, the Ryazan Kremlin was built of wood. And only at the beginning of the 15th century, from white stone, not far from the princely court, the citywide Assumption Cathedral was erected. And in the second half of the 17th century, Pereyaslavl saw the heyday of stone architecture.
On the site where the princely palace complex was previously located, the builders erected a whole ensemble consisting of many civil structures: a number of utility and administrative buildings, including a cooper's house, a smithy, the Consistor's and Singer's buildings, the residential chambers of the bishop, which were later called "Oleg's Palace". In the next, 18th century, these possessions were surrounded by a stone fence,put up some gates. At present, a fragment of one of them can be observed near the Consistory Corps.
Monasteries of Pereyaslavl and Cathedral Square
In ancient times, there were two monasteries on this territory - both men's. In the south - Spassky, the most ancient, in the northeast - Dukhovsky. For a long time, there was a city, very rich, cemetery on the territory of the first. In the 40s of the last century, it was liquidated, leaving two burials in memory for the heirs:
- Engraver, Professor I. P. Pozhalostin from the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, who lived from 1837 to 1909.
- Artists and writers S. D. Khvoshchinskaya, who lived from 1828 to 1865.
And in 1959, from near Ryazan, the grave of Ya. P. Polonsky, a major Russian poet who lived in the 19th century, was transferred there. The most important place of Pereyaslavl was the Cathedral Square, on the territory of which were located: clerk's huts - the main institutions of the city administration, powder chambers and a prison yard.
Ryazan Kremlin in the late 19th - early 20th century
By the 19th century, this object gradually lost its central importance. The secularization of the lands of the church was carried out, and after that the economy of the bishop was significantly reduced. By the end of the 18th century, the city center was moved away from the Kremlin, and since then, revival has been observed here only on the days of various religious holidays.
The rest of the time - a quiet and calm outskirts. But at the beginning of the 20th century,thanks to the activities of the scientific and cultural city community, as well as local researchers, the Ryazan Kremlin began to acquire the status of one of the main and important historical sites in the region. By the 800th anniversary of the city, in 1895, this place became the center of grandiose celebrations. In Oleg's Palace in 1914, a museum of church antiquities, the Ancient Storage Museum, was opened, and in 1923, already in Soviet times, the provincial art and history museum.
These historical sites are now
The new stage of the Ryazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve began in 1968, when the local authorities formed an architectural and historical complex here. In addition to the territory of ancient Pereyaslavl, it includes all the architectural and defensive structures of past centuries that have survived to those days.
The area itself was put in order, some of the buildings were restored and turned into museums. Today, this ensemble, together with the picturesque landscape and the most beautiful ancient Russian architecture, adequately represents not only the regional center, the city of Ryazan, but is one of the decorations and pride of all of Russia.
Assumption Cathedral
Every year a lot of tourists come to these places to get to know a little about the past of their country, foreigners - to learn a part of Russian history. So, the central monument here is the Assumption Cathedral of the Ryazan Kremlin, which we have already mentioned briefly. It was built by Yakov Grigoryevich Bukhvostov, the largest architect, in 1693-1699. The cathedral was builta cathedral summer church, but it turned out to be a grandiose structure, which, with its size, 1600 square meters of area and 72 meters in height, surpassed most of the buildings of that time.
The architectural style of the building is the Naryshkin Baroque, which is a magnificent example of the organic synthesis of icon painting, sculpture and architecture. For example, the carving of architraves and portals on white stone has no analogues. Seven tiers of icons with a total height of 27 meters were made by Nikolai Solomonov, a student and follower of Simon Ushakov. The carving of the iconostasis, made by Sergei Khristoforov, is also distinguished by exceptional artistic merit. The columns are made from one tree trunk each. During the summer, the cathedral is open to the public. It even hosts worship services. In 2008, it ceased to be a museum and was transferred to the local diocese.
Glebovsky bridge and ramparts
Looking at the cathedrals of the Ryazan Kremlin, one cannot fail to mention the Nativity Cathedral, which houses the relics of St. Basil of Ryazan, the bishop, as well as the tomb of local princesses: Sophia, the daughter of Dmitry Donskoy, and the sister of Ivan the Third, Anna. On the territory of the Kremlin there is a stone Glebovsky bridge, which was built to the Bell Tower in the 18th century. It has an arched structure. Even earlier, in its place was a wooden bridge made of oak, with a railing and connecting the main part of the city with Ostrog.
As soon as the threat of external attacks disappeared, it was replaced with a stone one. From the southwest of the Kremlin hillthere is another ancient fortification - an earthen rampart. Its length is 290 meters, all that is left. Previously, until the 18th century, it had wooden walls and towers. And behind it was a moat filled with water and up to seven meters deep. And although now the shaft is less high and gentle, it still stands impressively and proudly above the surrounding area.
Oleg's Palace
If you decide to visit the Ryazan Kremlin, excursions will help you to get acquainted with all the interesting places more comfortably and in detail. You will definitely be shown, for example, the largest civil building in terms of area - Oleg's Palace, which was erected on the site where the prince's court was originally located. There used to be chambers of local bishops, their household services, fraternal cells and a house church. Building area - 2530 square meters.
It has three floors, which were not built all at once, but in stages. In the middle of the 17th century, the architect Yu. K. Ershov built the first two, and at the end of the same century, the architect G. L. Mazukhin built the third. In 1780, the length of the building was increased by the architect Ya. I. Schneider, thanks to an extension to the eastern part. And in the next century, the provincial architect S. A. Shchetkin completely rebuilt it. It turned out to be a very beautiful building with a baroque pediment, colored architraves and tower windows. Since then, it has become known as Oleg's Palace.
Singing Corps
Studying the museums of the Ryazan Kremlin, one cannot but pay attention to the monument of architecture of the middle of the 17th century - the Singing Corps. Builtarchitect Yu. K. Ershov, it got its name because of the training of singers held here. Although, in fact, the main purpose of the building is different. These were living quarters for the treasurer and housekeeper, bishops' servants. At the end of the building there was a reception room, which had its own separate entrance. The building is rectangular, two-storey, designed in the architectural style of that time.
Thanks to the porch, made in the style of the architecture of ancient Russia, it has a special elegant look. On the vaults and walls, including in the reception room of the housekeeper, a beautiful painting has been preserved in fragments. Now in this building there is a museum exposition called “According to the custom of grandfather”, which tells about the holidays and everyday life of the Russian people of those times. Many more interesting things are located on the territory of the Ryazan Kremlin. Take the time to look around, and there will be something to remember for a long time.
