Kremlins

Kremlins are fortified citadels at the core of many Russian cities. The term Kremlin comes from the Old Russian kremlĭ meaning fortress or citadel and is used to describe the central, walled complex within a city. The most famous example is the Moscow Kremlin, but numerous other cities have their own kremlins, some of which are part of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Architecturally, kremlins typically consist of a surrounding wall with towers that enclose a walled precinct containing palaces, government buildings, and religious structures such as cathedrals. They historically served defensive, administrative, and ceremonial functions, hosting the residence of rulers as well as key religious institutions. Over time, many kremlins became the administrative centers of their regions, and in some cases the seat of national government. The Moscow Kremlin includes the Grand Kremlin Palace, multiple cathedrals, and the Spasskaya Tower, and functions as a symbol of state authority as well as a major tourist site. In Kazan, the Kazan Kremlin houses the Qol Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral, illustrating the blend of religious and political architecture found in many kremlins.

Other notable kremlins include the Detinets of Veliky Novgorod, the Pskov Kremlin (Krom), Tobolsk Kremlin, and the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Today, kremlins are primarily cultural and tourist attractions, though the Moscow Kremlin also remains the seat of the Russian president and the central government in practice. The term “the Kremlin” is often used metonymically to refer to the Russian executive government.