It was given its present name, the Middle Arsenal Tower, after the Arsenal was completed in the mid-18th century. The Komendantskaya Tower was completed in 1495. The height of the tower on the side of the Alexander Garden is 41.25 m.
Historical information
The Middle Arsenalnaya Tower is a Kremlin tower, built in 1495. It is located on the northwestern side of the Kremlin wall and overlooks the Alexander Garden. It is situated on the spot of a corner tower dating from the reign of Dmitry Donskoi.
It was given its present name, the Middle Arsenal Tower, after the Arsenal was completed in the mid-18th century. Originally, it was called the Faceted Tower because of the shape of its facade.
In 1680, an open lookout with a small pyramid-shaped top was added to the tower. In 1821, when the Alexander Garden was laid out, an ancient-style grotto was built at the foot of the tower, designed by Osip Bove.
The Komendantskaya Tower was completed in 1495. The height of the tower on the side of the Alexander Garden is 41.25 m. It used to be called Kolymazhnaya after the Kremlin’s coach yard, where carriages and coaches had been kept.
It was given its present name, the Commandant’s Tower, in the 19th century when the commandant of Moscow took up residence in the Kremlin’s Poteshny — or Amusement — Palace. Like all Kremlin towers, it was supplemented with a tent roof and watchtower in 1676–1686.
