Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, Russia, overlooking the Moskva River and adjacent to Red Square. The term kremlin, from Russian for “fortress inside a city,” is also used as a metonym for the Russian government. The Kremlin’s walls and towers enclose a terraced group of buildings that have served political and religious functions for centuries.

Within the walls are several important structures. The complex includes cathedrals of historical significance, notably the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Archangel Cathedral, and the Annunciation Cathedral, which formed part of the old Russian ecclesiastical center. The Armory, a former royal treasury, houses state regalia and national treasures. The Grand Kremlin Palace, designed by Konstantin Thon and completed in the mid-19th century, serves as a ceremonial and administrative residence. The Spasskaya Tower, with its iconic clock, is a symbol of the Kremlin and of Moscow. The surrounding walls and towers create a fortified perimeter that remains a defining feature of the complex.

Historically, the site has been a political seat since medieval times. The existing walls were constructed in the late 15th century by Italian architects and have undergone subsequent restorations. The Kremlin was the residence of Russian rulers, later a center of Soviet power, and since 1991 has been the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. In 1990 the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the historic centre of Moscow.

Today the Kremlin is both a working government complex and a major tourist destination, with access to some areas by guided tour. It remains a potent symbol of Russian state authority and history.