The Porokhovaya Tower (Powder Tower) is one of the The Kremlin, built between 1508 and 1515. The tower is circular in shape and stands 18 metres tall. It is located on Minin and Pozharsky Square in Nizhny Novgorod.[1][1] Its name derives from its primary purpose: it served as a storage facility for gunpowder and ammunition. In local folk tradition, the Porokhovaya Tower is also known as the Spasskaya Tower.[1][1] In peacetime, the tower was also used to store grain and other provisions.[1]

The Kremlin and its towers

The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin stands on the Volga and has the shape of an irregular polygon. The perimeter of its walls is approximately 2,045 metres; the walls reach heights of between 12 and 22 metres and a thickness of up to 4.5 metres. The ensemble comprises thirteen towers: five are rectangular and serve as gateway entrances, while the remaining eight are round and enclosed.[2] The Porokhovaya Tower belongs to the group of round towers.

History

Construction of the stone kremlin was carried out from 1508 to 1515 on the site of earlier timber-and-earthwork fortifications, the origins of which date to the mid-fourteenth century.[2] The Kremlin retained its defensive function until 1697, after which it was converted into an administrative centre.[2] Under Catherine II, a large-scale reconstruction was undertaken: the roofed section with the battlements of the main tower was demolished, and the moat was filled in; these works altered the outward appearance of the entire complex, including its towers.[2] During restoration work on the Porokhovaya Tower, antique cannonballs and powder flasks were discovered inside.[1] The 2021 restoration returned the Kremlin to its historic appearance and opened a circular walking route along the walls for visitors.[2]

Current condition

At present, guided tours focused on the military history of the Kremlin are held in the Porokhovaya Tower.[1] The Kremlin as a whole serves as a cultural, administrative, and tourist centre of Nizhny Novgorod: the Porokhovaya Tower is a listed cultural heritage site of Russia of federal significance, with registry number 5210024010.[1] The complex houses the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin Museum, the Centre for Contemporary Art, as well as the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the city's Mayor.[2]

Sources

  1. commons.wikimedia.org — Category:Porokhovaya Tower of Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin — The Porokhovaya Tower is a listed cultural heritage site of Russia of federal significance, with registry number 5210024010.
  2. vfokuse.mail.ru — Towers of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin: history, legends, and interesting facts (archive)
  3. bolshayastrana.com — Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin: history, description, location, interesting facts — Bolshaya Strana (archive)
  4. experience.tripster.ru — Unusual tours and excursions around the world (archive)