The Moscow Kremlin — Attraction in Tverskoy District

Although still used for coronation ceremonies, the Kremlin was abandoned and neglected until 1773, when Catherine the Great engaged Vasili Bazhenov to build her new residence there. Bazhenov produced a bombastic Neoclassical design on a heroic scale, which involved the demolition of several churches and palaces, as well as a portion of the Kremlin wall. After the preparations were over, construction was delayed due to lack of funds. Several years later the architect Matvey Kazakov supervised the reconstruction of the dismantled sections of the wall and of some structures of the Chudov Monastery, and built the spacious and luxurious Offices of the Senate, since adapted for use as the principal workplace of the President of Russia. During the Imperial period, from the early 18th and until the late 19th century, the Kremlin walls were traditionally painted white, in accordance with fashion. French forces occupied the Kremlin from 2 September to 11 October 1812, following the French invasion of Russia. When Napoleon retreated from Moscow, he ordered the whole Kremlin to be blown up. The Kremlin Arsenal, several portions of the Kremlin Wall and several wall towers were destroyed by explosions and the Faceted Chamber and other churches were damaged by fire. Explosions continued for three days, from 21 to 23 October 1812. However, rain damaged the fuses, and the damage was less severe than intended. Restoration works were undertaken in 1816–1819, supervised by Osip Bove. During the remainder of the reign of Alexander I, several ancient structures were renovated in a fanciful neo-Gothic style, but many others, including all the buildings of the Trinity metochion, were condemned as "disused" or "dilapidated" and...

The Kremlin along with the Red Square is an important UNESCO World Heritage Site. It the epicentre for tourism and should be considered must-see sightseeing in Moscow.

Note: There are three separate tickets for sightseeing at the Kremlin. There is a General entry ticket (500 RUB) for the 'Cathedral Square' churches along with (250 RUB) for the Ivan the Bell Tower and (250 RUB) ticket for a visit to the Armoury.

Note: You can purchase tickets online in advance or at the ticket office located in the Alexander Garden near the entrance through the Trinity Tower.

From outside, the Kremlin Walls and Towers are impressive to see. These were built near the end of the 15th century during the time of Ivan III. They were designed to be defensive and decorative by Italian architects Gilardi, Ruffo and Solari who were invited to Moscow and tasked with giving the wall an attractive feel.

Inside the Kremlin Walls, visitors are treated to a cluster of historic churches at the area known as Cathedral Square. These include the Cathedrals of the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel as well as the Church of the Deposition, Church of the Twelve Apostles and the Patriarch's Palace, Ivan the Great's Bell Tower and the Armoury. You will also find assortments of cannons, the huge Tsar Bell and Cannon as well as the Taynitsky Garden.

All in all, there is easily 1/2 to 3/4 a day worth of sightseeing at the Kremlin. Entry queues can be quite long so do consider being ready for an early arrival in order to get ahead of the waves of tourist groups planning to...

The Moscow Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of the city made up of more than 15 buildings, 20 towers, and more than 1.5 miles of walls that are up to 21 feet thick. It's the official residence of President Vladimir Putin, although he doesn't actually live there.

While there are actually many kremlins throughout Russia, Moscow's is, by far, the most famous.

On a recent trip to Russia, I paid $10.50 for a ticket to visit a section of the Kremlin. Here's what it looks like inside. Although the Kremlin is the president's official residence, Putin doesn't actually live there. vladimir putin kremlin President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. ALEXEI DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images Whereas the US president lives in the White House, the president of Russia doesn't live at the Kremlin.

Instead, Putin's Moscow home is the Novo-Ogoryevo residence, tucked away behind high walls patrolled by guards in a ritzy suburb west of the city.

The Kremlin is protected by an elite military regiment known as the Presidential Regiment. kremlin Presidential Regiment guards moscow A changing of the guard ceremony at the Moscow Kremlin. Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images Getting accepted into the Presidential Regiment is no easy task.

According to Russian newspaper Russia Beyond, applicants must adhere to certain BMI standards, measure between 5 feet 7 inches and 6 feet 2 inches, and be able to hear a whisper from nearly...