Kremlin & Armoury Tour

During this tour you will walk through the Kremlin grounds and visit the Armoury Chamber with its famous collection of Faberge eggs, jewels and royal thrones. The word Kremlin means a fortress or walled town and Moscow’s is the biggest and most famous. The earliest ramparts were of earth and wood, but successive rulers raised and strengthened the defences after every attack. The present brick walls date from the 1490s, though they have been frequently restored. When the court and government moved to St Petersburg in 1712, the Kremlin was demoted to ceremonial status. Twenty five years later, its last wooden buildings burned down.

Each of the 20 towers along the wall has its own history and architectural quirks. Best known is the Spassky Tower, facing Red Square between St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Tomb. Its bells, weighing up to 2 tonnes, are heard regularly on Moscow Radio chiming the quarter hour.