Description of the attraction
The Syuyumbike Tower is located in the central part of the Kazan Kremlin. The tower is named in honor of the Tatar queen Syuyumbike, who was the wife of the last two khans.
There are several versions of the date of the tower's construction: some scholars believe that the tower was built in the 17-18 centuries, others attribute its construction to the second half of the 16th century. Some other scholars claim that it was built before 1552. The strict features of the architectural appearance of the tower make it possible to assume a later period of construction - up to the 1730s. The tower first appears on the plan of the city of Kazan in 1717-1718.
The Syuyumbike Tower is a five-tiered tower. Its total height is about 58 meters. Below there are three tetrahedrons, which decrease in height and width. On their ledges there are two eights, which continue an octahedral tent in the form of a brick pyramid. Even higher are the sentinel and guard units. The structure is crowned with a spire with a golden crescent on an apple. On the three lower floors there are bypass galleries, which are surrounded by decorative parapets. The ornament on each parapet is different. The lower tier of the tower is formed by two pylons, which are connected by a cylindrical vault and form a passage.
The Syuyumbike Watchtower is considered a "leaning" tower. Its deviation from the vertical is 1.98 m. In 1914-16. due to the deviation from the vertical, the Syuyumbike tower was restored. The lower tier was embraced by an iron belt, which slightly spoiled the architectural appearance.
In 1918, at the initiative of the Central Muslim Commissariat, the Council of People's Commissars signed a decree on the return of monuments of national history to Muslims. One of these monuments is the Syuyumbike Tower.
In 1985-1991, the tower was mothballed according to the project of the Tatgrazhdanproekt Institute. The foundation was reinforced with injection piles. The reinforcing restoration of brick facades was carried out using a new, original technique. In 1998, the foundation was strengthened again. This stopped the tilt of the tower. In 2004, a wrought-iron double-leaf gate with images of suns, crescents and signs of the zodiac appeared in the passable arch. The gates are locked with an ax-type lock, decorated with hanging knockers made in the shape of lion heads.
The easily recognizable architectural appearance of the Syuyumbike Tower is the symbol and emblem of the city.
