Description of the attraction
The main entrance to the Kazan Kremlin is the Spasskaya Tower. The tower is located in the eastern Kremlin wall. Close to it is the 1st May square. The tower is a 16th century monument. The tower was built by architects Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryay, masters of the Pskov school. At all times it was the main Kremlin tower.
The tower got its name in honor of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The icon was located above the gate of the tower and was an exact copy of the icon from the banner of Ivan the Terrible. This banner is currently on display at the Armory. It was installed during the battle for Kazan at the place where the Spasskaya Tower was later built. As it is written in the "Kazan History", in 1552, after the conquest of the city, Ivan the Terrible himself inspected the destroyed fortress and chose a place. Three wooden churches were immediately erected on it: in the name of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, in the name of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and in honor of two saints: Cyprian and Justinia. They were erected on a vow in one day.
In 1555, a stone church was finally built in the name of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. Ivan the Terrible was dissatisfied with the pace of construction. He sent Pskov architects and 200 master masons to Kazan. The Pskov masters moved the new white-stone walls one hundred meters from the old wall of the Bulgar fortress. Previously built outside the walls of the Kremlin, the church was attached to the Kremlin and appeared in front of the Spasskaya Tower. The church got its name from the tower.
The tower was a rectangular white stone structure and had two tiers. Blocks of white hewn limestone can still be seen at the base of the tower. The thickness of the walls in this place is 2.25 meters. The tower had a hipped wooden roof with a watchtower and archery galleries.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the tower and the adjacent church were repeatedly burned, destroyed and rebuilt. In 1694, after a fire, the tower was restored and built on - it had two more octagonal tiers and a brick tent. The alarm bell, announcing the fire, was then moved to the Spasskaya tower from the adjacent small two-tier turret. According to the architectural features, it can be assumed that the tower was restored by Moscow masters. The height of the tower is 47 m. From the height of the token platform (about 30 m.) There was a magnificent view of the entire city.
In the 18th century, a striking clock was installed on the tower, and at the clock the dial rotated around fixed hands. In 1780, a new classic watch was installed. Music sounded from the tower every day at 12 o'clock.
In 1815, after another destruction by fire, the temple was abandoned. In the first half of the 19th century, the temple was restored through the efforts of the commandant of Kazan, Baron Pirkh, and the military leadership of the Kazan garrison by order of Nikolai I.
In 1930, the church in front of the Spasskaya Tower was demolished. In 1963, a gilded star appeared on the tower and a new chime was installed.
The rest of the Church of the Savior on the inside of the tower has retained almost its original appearance. Only the dome is missing. The windows of the church overlook the main street of the Kremlin. It has retained the 16th century décor in the typical Pskov style. The image of the Savior Not Made by Hands was transferred to the Church of the Yaroslavl Miracle Workers. There she is at the present time.
