SECRET TOWER
1485 Architect Anton Fryazin
38.4 metres high. This tower with its almost square ground plan juts out considerably from the line of the walls. It was the first of the Kremlin fortifications to be constructed on the River Moskva side from which the Kremlin was most often attacked by the Tartar-Mongols. The cube with the traditional arches, the four-faceted tent roof and the watch-tower were added later. Originally the tower had a barbican with a secret passage (hence its name) and a carriage gateway which led to the River Moskva.
In 1770 the Secret Tower was pulled down together with the other towers on the south wall, but it was rebuilt shortly afterwards without the barbican which did not appear until 1862 (designed by Campion!). A platform was added with a cannon which was fired at midday. In 1930 in connection with the widening of the thoroughfare along the embankment the barbican was removed and the gateway blocked up. Traces of it can still be seen on the facade.
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