Water tower

The tower is part of The Tsar’s Courtyard complex that was built during the rule of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich. This building was constructed to provide the Tsar’s residence with water and also was the gateway from Kolomenskoe to the neighbouring Dyakovo village. The tower is built of red oversized brick.

There was a spring under the Water tower. With the help of special mechanisms (a pump or a system of scoops), the water was lifted to the upper level, where a huge barrel was placed. From that level it was delivered through the upper wooden pipes to the palace and other buildings of the Tsar’s Courtyard. The upper part of the tower seems to have indicated its function. The bridgings of the tier where the barrel was located are also barrel-shaped.

Today, the permanent exhibition ‘Tsar’s water facilities’ dedicated to the history of water supply in Moscow of the XVII-XX centuries is displayed in the tower.

Did you know that…

• One of the Water tower’s bricks has a stamp with a unicorn on it;
• For a long time the tower used to be the museum-reserve depository.