The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is a visiting card of Nizhny Novgorod. It is both similar and not similar to its Kazan, Novgorod, Moscow counterparts: it is more massive than the Kazan Kremlin, less official and pompous than the Moscow one.
This monument of medieval architecture stands on the Dyatlovy Hills. From their tops, the confluence of the Oka and Volga is clearly visible. Probably, it was the view that attracted Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich, who was choosing a place for a new city on the Mordovian lands. It is interesting that the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was “reborn” three times, the history of construction is long and difficult: first it was made in wood, then in stone, and finally, it was rebuilt in brick. The wooden one was laid in 1221, the stone one in 1370 (the initiator of the construction was Dmitry Donskoy's father-in-law), and the brick construction began in 1500.
Monument to V. Chkalov and Chkalovskaya Stairs near the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
It is best to start exploring the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin from the monument to V. Chkalov, a brilliant pilot who was born on the Nizhny Novgorod land. It was he and his comrades who once made a unique flight to America via the North Pole.
From the observation deck near the monument, a magnificent view of the Chkalovskaya stairs opens. She is probably even better known than the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. The staircase was built in 1949 and originally bore the name of Stalingrad (in honor of the Battle of Stalingrad). By the way, residents of the city and captured Germans built it by the method of "people's construction". The staircase looks like a figure of eight and consists of 442 steps (and if you count the steps on both sides of the figure eight, you get a figure of 560 steps). It is on the Chkalovskaya stairs that the best photos in the city are obtained.
Kremlin towers
George tower... It is easy to reach it from the Chkalov monument. Now it is the extreme tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, and once it was a gateway, but already 20 years after the start of construction, the iron gratings were lowered and the passage was closed. Construction began in 1500, the work was supervised by the famous Italian Peter Fryazin or Pietro Francesco, who came to Nizhny Novgorod from Moscow directly from the construction of the Moscow Kremlin.
The building got its name in honor of the not preserved gate church of St. George the Victorious. If you look closely, it becomes clear that now tourists do not see the entire tower, but only its upper part. The lower one was filled up during the construction of the Chkalovskaya stairs.
The church was incredibly richly decorated. Here, at the beginning of the 20th century, ancient icons (for example, Odigitria Smolenskaya) and the gospels were kept.
There is also a version of the origin of the name: some believe that it is named after the founder of the city, Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich, in Orthodoxy George. Presumably, not far from the place where Georgievskaya now stands, in 1221 there was a “traveling tower” of the prince.
Arsenalnaya (Powder) Tower and Prolomnye Gates... Further, all tourists go to the Prolomny gates, located not far from the Arsenal Tower. The name of this tower of the Nizhniy Novgorod Kremlin does not need an explanation, arsenals were located here for a long time: weapons, gunpowder, cannonballs and other "things" useful during military operations were kept.
Not far from the Prolomnye Gate is the Governor's Palace, built in 1841 by order of Nicholas I. Once upon a time, it was governed by A. N. Muravyov, a former Decembrist who was exiled to Siberia and returned from there. It was Alexander Nikolaevich who introduced Alexander Dumas, who arrived in Nizhny Novgorod, with I. Annenkov and his wife, the Frenchwoman P. Gebl (I. Annenkov is a famous Decembrist who was exiled in Siberia, Gebl is his common-law wife who left for him, who later became one of the heroines poem by A. Nekrasov "Russian women"). The love story of these two people impressed the writer, and he made them the heroes of his next novel "Fencing Teacher". Since 1991 the Art Museum has been located in the Governor's House.
Dmitrievskaya tower... The most massive and elegantly decorated. She is also central. Named in honor of St. Dmitry Thessaloniki. The church, consecrated in his name, was located on the lower floor of the tower. Unfortunately, in the 18th century it was covered with earth and lost, but it was rebuilt at the end of the 19th century and a museum was created on the upper floors.
A tour of the Kremlin walls begins from the Dmitrievskaya Tower. There is an opportunity to go around it, learn the history, listen to the legends about the Nizhny Novgorod land. The tour can be taken from 10:00 to 20:00 (May to November).
Storeroom and Nikolskaya towers... They are smaller than Dmitrievskaya, but their story is no less interesting. The pantry was once a warehouse where food and water were stored, which could be needed during a siege.
The pantry is round, over its long history it has changed several names: Alekseevskaya, Tverskaya, Tseikhgauznaya.
Nikolskaya is named after an old church that was lost in the 17th-18th centuries. In 2015, the Nikolskaya Church in the classic Pskov-Novgorod style was erected near the Nikolsky Gate.
Koromyslov tower... An interesting legend is connected with this southwestern tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, which tells how a young Nizhny Novgorod woman “laid down” two enemy detachments with a yoke. Naturally, the girl died, and the residents of Nizhny Novgorod, who had passed the enemy ruin, buried her with honors under the walls of the tower. Near its walls there is a monument depicting a girl with a yoke.
Taynitskaya tower... Once there was a secret passage from her to the Pochayna River. The fortifications of that time had secret passages to the water so that the besieged would not die of thirst. This tower also had another name - Mironositskaya on the green. A stunning view of the temples opens from the top: Alexander Nevsky, Elijah the Prophet, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
North tower... There are wonderful views of the river, the square "Skoba" (modern National Unity), the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, standing on the old Lower Posad. There is a legend according to which it was erected on the site of the death of the Tatar prince, who tried to take Nizhny Novgorod.
Clock tower... This is one of the most famous buildings of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Once there was a "battle clock", that is, a striking clock, the mechanism was controlled by a special watchmaker. And the dial was divided not into 12, but into 17 parts. Unfortunately, both the clock and the mechanism are now lost, but the tower is still worth admiring, especially the wooden clock hut. Once there was a passage between the North and Clock Towers, through which a funicular went. It was easy to get to Nizhniy Posad on it. The first funicular was launched in 1896.
Ivanovskaya tower... This is the largest tower of the Kremlin, and many historians believe that it was from there that its construction began. Many legends and stories are associated with it, but the main thing is not this, but the fact that it was near its walls, at the Ivanovo congress, that Kuzma Minin read to the people of Nizhny Novgorod the letters of Patriarch Hermogenes, who was dying of starvation in the captured Poles. This event became the starting point for the liberation of Russia and the end of the Time of Troubles. This event is depicted in the painting by K. Makovsky "Minin's Appeal to Nizhny Novgorod", which is now in the Art Museum of the city.
White Tower... Not a single tourist has figured out how to get there. We can say that this is a standard Kremlin quest. The name is due to the fact that it was built not of red stone, but of white limestone. Once the entire Nizhniy Novgorod Kremlin was white, but the paint has long since fallen from the walls.
Among professionals who know another name, Simeonovskaya, there is an opinion that the name "white" is associated with the fact that the tower stands on the ground that once belonged to the monastery of St. Simeon the Stylite, destroyed in the 18th century. The lands belonging to the monasteries were usually called "white", that is, free from state taxes.
Conception and Borisoglebskaya towers... These two structures of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin did not survive until the 20th century. They were destroyed by a landslide. In the 20th century, when the reconstruction of the Kremlin began, the towers began to be restored, trying to give them their original appearance. The restoration work went on for over 60 years and, despite the difficulties, the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was saved from destruction.
One legend is connected with Belaya and Zachatskaya. It contains the love of a certain Danilo Volkhovets for Nastasya Gorozhanka, and the jealousy of the architect Giovanni Tatti, and the murder of each other by jealous people. According to legend, a White Tower was erected on the site of Daniel's grave, and a red one, Zachatyevskaya, was erected on the site where Tatti was buried.
Inside the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin: what to see
Another Prolomnye Gate is located between the Ivanovskaya and the Clock Tower. Through them you can go to the territory of the Kremlin. There are many different kinds of buildings inside, but there are few truly unique, authentic buildings. It is worth paying attention to:
Museums and exhibitions
Several museums operate on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin:
- "Dmitrievskaya Tower" - an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Kremlin (open: from 10:00 to 17:00);
- "Ivanovskaya Tower" - the exposition is dedicated to the Time of Troubles (open: from 10:00 to 17:00);
- "Conception Tower" - all finds made by archaeologists are placed here (open: from 10:00 to 20:00);
- Nikolskaya Tower (observation deck).
All ticket offices stop working 40 minutes before the closing of museums and exhibitions.
The prices are not high, there are discounts for children and seniors. Photo and video shooting is paid separately.
If you wish, you can purchase a single ticket to the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. It includes a visit to all three towers and a walk along the wall. For a family, such a ticket is a real savings.
The art museum is also worth a visit. There are over 12 thousand exhibits in his collection. Museum working hours: from 10:00 to 18:00 every day, except Monday.
How to get to the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
You can get to the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin from the city's central station by minibuses No. 34, 134, 171, 172, 81, 54, 190, 43. Stop at Minin Square, entrance through the Dmitrievskaya Tower.
You can also get to the Kremlin through the Ivanovskaya and Northern towers from the side of the River Station, but travelers will have a very steep climb.
The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is a unique, mysterious place. Many historians agree that the main treasures are kept underground. Underground galleries, passages, rooms hidden from view - all this is quite real and, most likely, there is a place to be. Perhaps it was somewhere on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin that the legendary library of Sophia Paleologue or the library of Ivan the Terrible was hidden.
