Spasskaya
Savior TowerThe main ceremonial gate facing Red Square, home of the famous chimes clock heard on New Year’s Eve broadcasts. About 71 m tall.
History & Architecture Quiz
Bing Kremlin Quiz – Test Your Knowledge of Moscow’s Famous Landmark
Twenty towers, three cathedrals, a bell that never rang and a cannon that never fired. Race the chiming clock through twelve questions and see how many ruby stars you can light.
Enter the fortressRising above the Moskva River, the red walls of the Moscow Kremlin enclose more than five centuries of architecture: golden-domed cathedrals where tsars were crowned, palaces of white stone and brick, and a skyline of tent-roofed towers crowned by glowing stars. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks on Earth, and one of the most quizzed.
This Bing Kremlin Quiz covers the fortress’s origins, its towers and cathedrals, its record-breaking treasures and the landmarks just outside its walls that often trip people up. Each answer comes with a short historical note, and the guide that follows explains the stories behind the questions.
About this quiz: it focuses on history, architecture and culture, and takes no position on current affairs. It is an independent educational quiz and is not created by, affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft or Bing.
Chapter I
Take the Bing Kremlin Quiz
You have 25 seconds per question on the chimes clock. Answer quickly for bonus points, or switch on relaxed mode to play without the timer. Every correct answer lights one of the twelve ruby stars along the wall.
The Chimes Challenge
0 points25seconds
Ready to enter the Kremlin?
Twelve questions on history, towers, cathedrals and treasures.
- 100 points for each correct answer
- Timed mode adds up to 100 bonus points for speed
- If the clock runs out, the question counts as a miss
Chapter II
What Is a Kremlin, Anyway?
In Russian, a kremlin is a fortified citadel at the heart of a city. Many historic Russian towns have one, including Novgorod, Kazan, Pskov and Rostov, but the Moscow Kremlin is so famous that “the Kremlin” has become shorthand for the Russian government itself, much as “the White House” is used for the U.S. presidency.
The fortress stands on Borovitsky Hill on the north bank of the Moskva River. Its walls form a rough triangle, bordered by the river to the south, Red Square to the east and the Alexander Garden to the west. Inside are cathedrals, palaces, museums and government buildings, including the official residence of the President of Russia.
20Towers along the walls
2,235 mTotal length of the walls
5–19 mWall height, varying with the terrain
3.5–6.5 mWall thickness
Look closely at the top of the walls and you will see more than a thousand distinctive “swallowtail” merlons, the notched battlements that give the Kremlin its silhouette. They reflect the Italian architects who designed the walls in the late 15th century, and similar battlements can be seen on castles in northern Italy.
Chapter III
The Kremlin Chronicle: Nine Centuries in Brief
- 1156
A wooden fort
Not long after Moscow first appears in the chronicles in 1147, a timber fortress is built on Borovitsky Hill, the seed of today’s Kremlin.
- 1367–68
White stone walls
Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy replaces the wooden walls with white limestone, earning Moscow the poetic nickname “white-stone Moscow.”
- 1475–79
The Assumption Cathedral
Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti builds the Kremlin’s principal cathedral, later the coronation church of the tsars.
- 1485–95
The red brick walls
Under Grand Prince Ivan III, Italian masters including Pietro Antonio Solari and Marco Ruffo build the brick walls and towers that stand today.
- 1586
The Tsar Cannon
Master founder Andrey Chokhov casts an enormous bronze cannon, now one of the Kremlin’s most photographed objects.
- 1624–25
A tower gets its clock
The Spasskaya Tower gains its tall tented top and a striking clock designed by the British clockmaker Christopher Galloway.
- 1712
The capital moves
Peter the Great shifts the capital to St. Petersburg. The Kremlin keeps its ceremonial role, and coronations continue in its cathedral.
- 1737
The broken bell
A fire breaks a huge piece off the newly cast Tsar Bell while it is still in its casting pit. It will never be rung.
- 1812
Napoleon’s retreat
French troops occupy Moscow. As they withdraw, explosives damage several towers and buildings, which are later restored.
- 1838–49
The Grand Kremlin Palace
Architect Konstantin Thon designs a vast new imperial palace facing the river, today used for state ceremonies.
- 1918
Capital once more
The Soviet government moves from Petrograd to Moscow and makes the Kremlin its seat of power.
- 1937
The ruby stars
Illuminated ruby-glass stars are installed on five towers, replacing earlier stars that had in turn replaced double-headed eagles.
- 1990
World Heritage
UNESCO inscribes the “Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow” on its World Heritage List.
Chapter IVBuilt 1491 Built 1495 Built 1490 Built 1491 Built 1488 Built 1485 Built 1487 Built 1516
Eight Towers Worth Knowing
Each of the Kremlin’s twenty towers has its own name and story. Towers marked with a star carry one of the five illuminated ruby stars.
Troitskaya
Trinity TowerThe tallest tower at roughly 80 m including its star. Visitors usually enter through it via the Trinity Bridge.
Borovitskaya
Borovitsky TowerNamed after Borovitsky Hill, whose name is linked to the pine forest (bor) that once covered it.
Nikolskaya
St. Nicholas TowerFaces Red Square near the State Historical Museum. Its Gothic-style upper section dates from the early 19th century.
Vodovzvodnaya
Water-Lifting TowerA round corner tower by the river, named after a 17th-century machine that pumped river water up to Kremlin gardens.
Tainitskaya
Secret TowerThe first tower of the brick walls, named for a hidden well and passage to the river that helped during sieges.
Beklemishevskaya
Moskvoretskaya TowerA slender round tower at the southeast corner, designed by Marco Ruffo to guard the river crossing.
Kutafya
Bridgehead TowerThe only surviving outer bridgehead tower, standing at the far end of the Trinity Bridge and now the main visitor entrance.
Chapter V1475–1479 1505–1508 1484–1489 1505–1508
Cathedral Square: The Golden Heart of the Kremlin
Cathedral Square is the oldest square in Moscow and the setting for coronations, royal weddings and funerals for centuries. Quiz questions often ask which cathedral had which role, so it pays to keep them straight.
Assumption Cathedral
Also called the Dormition Cathedral, it was the main church of the Russian state, where tsars were crowned and church leaders were enthroned.
Archangel Cathedral
Dedicated to the Archangel Michael, it served as the burial place of Moscow’s grand princes and tsars until the capital moved to St. Petersburg.
Annunciation Cathedral
Built by craftsmen from Pskov, it was the private chapel of the royal family, linked to the palace by a passage.
Ivan the Great Bell Tower
About 81 m tall after being heightened in 1600, it was for centuries the tallest structure in Moscow.
Chapter VIBronze Bronze Museum Jewels Palace Palace
Record-Breaking Treasures Inside the Walls
The Tsar Bell
- Cast
- 1733–1735
- Weight
- About 200 tonnes
- Makers
- Ivan and Mikhail Motorin
The largest bell in the world. During a fire in 1737, a slab weighing about 11 tonnes cracked off. It has stood on a pedestal since 1836 and has never been rung.
The Tsar Cannon
- Cast
- 1586
- Weight
- About 39 tonnes
- Maker
- Andrey Chokhov
One of the largest-calibre guns ever cast. Its decorative carriage and oversized cannonballs were added in the 19th century, and there is no record of it being fired in battle.
The Armoury Chamber
- Type
- Treasury museum
- Highlights
- Regalia, carriages, armour
A former royal treasury displaying thrones, crowns, ceremonial carriages and a celebrated group of Fabergé eggs.
The Diamond Fund
- Type
- State jewel collection
- Star piece
- Imperial Crown (1762)
Home to the Great Imperial Crown made for Catherine the Great’s coronation, along with famous diamonds and gold nuggets.
The Faceted Chamber
- Built
- 1487–1491
- Architects
- Marco Ruffo, P. A. Solari
Named for its diamond-cut stone facade, it is one of the oldest surviving secular buildings in Moscow, once used for royal banquets and receptions.
Grand Kremlin Palace
- Built
- 1838–1849
- Architect
- Konstantin Thon
The largest building in the Kremlin, with grand halls such as St. George’s Hall, used today for official ceremonies and receptions.
Chapter VII
Inside or Outside the Walls? The Classic Quiz Trap
Many of Moscow’s most famous sights sit right next to the Kremlin but not inside it. St. Basil’s Cathedral, with its colorful onion domes, is the best-known example: it stands at the southern end of Red Square, beyond the walls.
Inside the Kremlin
- Cathedral SquareAssumption, Archangel and Annunciation cathedrals
- Ivan the Great Bell TowerWith the Tsar Bell at its foot
- The Tsar CannonNear the Senate and Patriarch’s Palace
- Armoury Chamber & Diamond FundThe great treasure collections
- Grand Kremlin Palace & SenateCeremonial and government buildings
Outside, on or near Red Square
- St. Basil’s CathedralBuilt 1555–1561 under Ivan IV to mark the capture of Kazan
- Lenin’s MausoleumSet against the Kremlin wall on the Red Square side
- State Historical MuseumThe red-brick building at the northern end of the square
- GUMThe historic shopping arcade along the eastern side
- Tomb of the Unknown SoldierWith its eternal flame in the Alexander Garden, unveiled in 1967
Before you go
Tips for Acing Kremlin Questions
- Remember the magic numbers. 20 towers, 5 ruby stars, walls built 1485–1495.
- Credit the Italians. Fioravanti, Solari and Ruffo shaped the Kremlin’s cathedrals, walls and towers under Ivan III.
- Match the cathedral to its role. Assumption for coronations, Archangel for burials, Annunciation as the royal family’s chapel.
- Never-rung and never-fired. The Tsar Bell cracked in 1737; the Tsar Cannon is famous for its size, not its battles.
- Watch for St. Basil’s. It is on Red Square, not inside the Kremlin walls.
Want another challenge? Try our Pop Culture Quiz for daily questions on movies, music, TV and celebrities, or test your knowledge of the headlines with the Current Events Quiz.
Chapter VIII
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bing Kremlin Quiz?
It is a free, 12-question educational quiz on the history, architecture and treasures of the Moscow Kremlin, with an explanation after every answer and an optional timer. It is independent and not affiliated with Microsoft or Bing.
What does the word “kremlin” mean?
A kremlin is a fortified citadel at the center of a Russian city. Many towns have one, but the Moscow Kremlin is the most famous.
How many towers does the Moscow Kremlin have?
The Kremlin walls have 20 towers. Five of them, including the Spasskaya and Troitskaya towers, are topped with illuminated ruby stars.
Who built the Kremlin walls?
The present red brick walls and towers were built between 1485 and 1495 under Grand Prince Ivan III, largely by Italian architects such as Pietro Antonio Solari and Marco Ruffo.
Is St. Basil’s Cathedral inside the Kremlin?
No. St. Basil’s Cathedral stands on Red Square, just outside the Kremlin walls. It was built between 1555 and 1561.
Is the Kremlin a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. The Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990.