Borovitskaya tower (Pretechenskaya)

In 90th years of the XV century works on building of the Kremlin strong hold were headed by P'etro Antonino Solary. Written sources mark, that the Kremlin got a grandiose scale and a majestic severity exactly at that times.

The thoroughfare Borovitskaya tower was put in pawn on a place of the most ancient exit from the Kremlin, from its western party, in 1490. Convenient descents conducted to the river Neglinnaya from its gates. Basically the Borovitskaya tower was used for economic needs the Zhitniy and Konyushenniy court yards which were nearby. Its thoroughfare gates were as though "back" gates of the Kremlin.

The tower name reminds us that in former times  the dense pine forest rustled on this Kremlin hill. Some researchers connect the name of a tower with that in days of Dmitry Donskoy this whitestoned part the Kremlin was built by inhabitants of Borovsk - large shopping centre of that times.

In XV century the tower was covered by a wooden tent. It was also connected with the other coast of the river Neglinnaya by the bridge. In XVII century, 1666-1680, powerful tower was built on by three decreasing up tetrahedrons that gave it the pyramidal form. Tower top was topped by a high stone tent.

On each side of the thoroughfare gates you can see apertures in the form of keyholes where drawbridge chains through the river Neglinnaya were put in an antiquity.

In 1658 the Borovitskaya tower was renamed by the imperial decree in Pretechensky, by the name the church standing nearby. But the new name was not accustomed. In XVIII century whitestoned pseudo-Gothic details were entered into a tower decor.

In 1812, because of the explosion made by receding French armies of the next Vodovzvodnaya tower the Borovitskaya tower was also hurt - the top of its tent fell down. In 1816-1819 a tower was repaired under the guidance of O.I.Bove. In 1821 when the river Neglinnaya was concluded in a pipe, the Borovitsky bridge was broken.

There is a ruby star that was established on a tower in 1937. Height of the Borovitskaya tower to the star - 50.7 meters, with the star-54.05 meters.