Menshikov Tower

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  • Address
    Arkhangelsky per, Kitay Gorod
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  • Transport
    underground rail: Chistye Prudy

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Lonely Planet review

Hidden behind the post office, this famous tower was built in 1704-06 by the order of Menshikov at his newly founded estate. The tower - one of Moscow's first baroque buildings - was originally 3m taller than the Ivan the Great bell tower. A 1723 thunderstorm saw it hit by lightning and seriously damaged by fire. Trouble plagued the owner as well. Menshikov fell from grace after the death of Peter the Great and he was exiled to Siberia. The tower was neglected for several decades. When finally repaired in the 1780s, it lost much of its height and elegance. Today, it houses the working Church of Archangel Gabriel.