The Moscow Kremlin chimes on the Spasskaya Tower will stop running on the night of November 6 for scheduled maintenance work.
The planned shutdown marks the first time in more than ten years that the famous timekeeper has ceased running. Moscow news outlet Msk1 reported the pause, citing an official directive issued by the Federal Protection Service, the Russian government agency responsible for Kremlin security.
According to records from Glavgosexpertiza of Russia, the national state body for engineering and heritage evaluation, the Kremlin chimes are the oldest operating clock mechanism in Europe. The current clockwork has served on the Spasskaya Tower since 1767.
History of the Spasskaya Tower clock
The Spasskaya Tower stands on the eastern wall of the Kremlin fortress, overlooking Red Square in central Moscow. Serving as the primary ceremonial gateway into the citadel, the tower houses the clockwork and a series of heavy bells inside its upper belfry.
Known in Russia as the kuranty, the chimes strike the quarter hours and ring out across the square. The chimes are also broadcast across the country on Russian state radio and television each year to mark the midnight arrival of the New Year.
Previous restoration on Red Square
The upcoming maintenance follows the most recent large scale restoration of the Spasskaya Tower, which finished in 2015. That comprehensive project focused on the preservation and repair of the exterior red brick walls and the intricate white stone decorative elements decorating the upper tiers of the structure.
During that project, restoration teams also repaired the tented roof of the belfry that covers the bells. Craftsmen also carried out extensive repairs on the four clock faces, applying a new coating of gold leaf to the large numerals and clock hands to protect them against weather damage.
The clock mechanism is scheduled to remain stationary for ten days during the repair work. The chimes are planned to resume regular operation on November 16 once the scheduled maintenance work is complete.
