Fourth time lucky

As many would know, I have been in Moscow for a week now. Most of it has been frustrating waiting around for test results from the doctors. Today however, there were no scheduled appointments of any kind. Melody and I have both been to Moscow a few times before, but never visited the Kremlin. It was time to rectify this.



Moscow rose to power during the Mongol-Tartar occupation. The Kremlin was originally a wooden fort built in 1156. The first stone building was built in 1366-1368. The outer walls that stand today were built in 1485-1495.


These buildings today are used in government administration.


The Annunciation Cathedral built in 1484-1489.


The Tsar cannon was cast in 1586 by the order of Tsar Feodor Iannovich. The cannon weighs 40 tonnes and it has never been shot.


Another very famous image from the Kremlin grounds is the Tsar Bell. It was cast in 1733-1735, by the order of Empress Anna Ionnovna. It however remained in its mould for the next two years. In 1737 a fire broke out in the Kremlin. The bell got very hot and when cold water was poured on it, it cracked. As a consequence it has never been used. It weighs 202 tonnes.



This building was built in 1959-61 and was called the Palace of the Congresses. In 1992 it was renamed the Kremlin State Palace. It is not used in government but as a theatre.


At the end of our sight seeing there were some very nice gardens in the Kremlin called the Grand Kremlin Park. Melody and I enjoyed lying around in the grass, which is something we rarely ever get to do in Russia. Abigail had a great time checking out all the flowers. Pop over to her blog and have a look. There is a link on the right hand side of the blog.