The most beautiful military monuments Russia

The (wooden) Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was built in 1221, and the first building constructed in stone was the imposing Dmitrov Tower, when the Kremlin was renovated in 1374. With the fall of Kazan in 1552, Nizhny Novgorod lost its military importance. Under Catherine II, and in 1785-1790 the kremlin was renovated to give it a more civilian appearance. During the Second World War, the Kremlin was partly destroyed by aerial bombardments, and then rebuilt in the 1950s.

This gigantic cannon located on the Ivanovskaya square was ordered in 1586 by Fyodor I who had his effigy engraved on it. Whatever the czar wanted to compensate, he would not find any more success in this undertaking since this cannon never fired a single cannonball. Moreover, those exposed at its side weigh a ton and are slightly too big to fit in its barrel: the legend tells that it was an initiative of the founders of Saint Petersburg to make fun of Moscow. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest howitzer ever built.

The incredible bunker that Stalin had built during the Second World War to house the government can be visited. Getting there is a real obstacle course, which only adds to the mystery of the place: it is only open 3 hours a day, and you have to register by phone to get in (ask a Russian speaker for help!) But don't let the difficulty put you off: it is one of the most important places in Soviet history, not to be missed!