The Tsar Cannon Moscow is a giant bronze bombard cast in 1586 that stands on Ivanovskaya Square in the Kremlin, near the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. It has an 890-millimeter caliber, the largest of any cannon in the world, and the Kremlin museums say it was never fired in war.
The cannon is part of the Kremlin’s artillery collection and is seen with the Cathedral Square ticket. This guide explains what to look for on the barrel, why the carriage and balls are only decoration, and how to see it together with the Tsar Bell.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Царь-пушка |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1586 |
| Architect(s) | Andrey Chokhov (caster) |
| Address | Ivanovskaya Ploshchad, Moscow Kremlin, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Alexandrovsky Sad (Line 4 (Filyovskaya, light blue), about 8 min walk including the way across the Kremlin from Kutafya Tower) Borovitskaya (Line 9 (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray), about 8 min walk including the walk inside the Kremlin) Biblioteka imeni Lenina (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), about 10 min walk including the walk inside the Kremlin) |
| Opening hours | The cannon stands outdoors on Ivanovskaya Square inside the Kremlin and is seen during the opening hours of the Kremlin grounds. Cathedral Square is open daily from 9:30 to 18:00 from 15 May to 30 September and from 10:00 to 17:00 from 1 October to 14 May.
The Kremlin museums are closed on Thursdays (as of October 2026 – check the official site of the Kremlin museums, kreml.ru). |
| Admission | There is no separate ticket for the cannon. It is seen with the Cathedral Square ticket of the Kremlin museums, which gives access to the grounds. Older figures for that ticket range from ₽–₽₽, so check the current price. |
| Best time to visit | The cannon is an outdoor monument, so a clear day gives the best view and photographs. Weekday mornings are calmer in the Kremlin, and the square is often busiest around midday.
Summer hours are longer, from mid-May to the end of September. In winter, snow on the barrel and the balls gives it a stark look. The Kremlin museums are closed on Thursdays. |
| Recommended duration | 10–20 minutes |
| Website | kremlin-architectural-ensemble.kreml.ru/en-Us/artillery-guns/view/tsar-pushka-moskovskogo-kremlya |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Tsar Cannon Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tsar Cannon on Ivanovskaya Square | Included in the standard ticket | An outdoor monument seen with the Cathedral Square ticket that gives access to the Kremlin grounds. |
| Row of old cannon barrels | Included in the standard ticket | The artillery exposition on the same square is included in the same ticket. |
| Tsar Bell Moscow | Included in the standard ticket | The bell stands nearby on the same square and is seen with the same ticket. |
| Cathedral Square and its cathedrals | Included in the standard ticket | Covered by the same ticket; see the Cathedral Square Moscow article. |
| Ivan the Great Bell Tower climb | Separate ticket or institution | A separate timed ticket, covered in its own article. |
| Armoury Chamber Moscow | Separate ticket or institution | A different museum in the Kremlin with its own ticket. |
| Alexander Garden Moscow | Outside / not part of it | The free garden outside the walls where the ticket offices stand. |
Why Visit Tsar Cannon Moscow?
The cannon is a monument to the foundry art of 16th-century Russia, cast by Andrey Chokhov at the Moscow Cannon Yard on the order of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich. It weighs about 39 to 40 tons and is more than five meters long.
Its barrel is covered with friezes, plant ornament, inscriptions and an equestrian image of Tsar Feodor, which gave the gun its name.
It stands only a short walk from the Tsar Bell, so the two giants of the Kremlin can be seen in one stop. The huge cast-iron balls around it are decorative, and the carriage dates from 1835, but the scale is still impressive.
Highlights of Tsar Cannon Moscow
The bronze barrel
The barrel was cast in bronze in 1586 by Andrey Chokhov at the Moscow Cannon Yard. It is about 5.34 meters long, weighs about 39 to 40 tons and has an inner diameter of 890 millimeters, the largest caliber of any cannon in the world.
It is described as a monument to the foundry art of the Russian state.
Tip: Walk around the barrel to see the ornament on all sides, which is easy to miss from the front.
The relief decoration
The barrel's surface carries cast friezes, plant ornament, memorial inscriptions and an equestrian figure of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich, the last Rurik ruler of Russia. His image gave the cannon its name.
The inscription beneath the figure names him as sovereign of all Russia.
Tip: Look for the horseman near the muzzle, which is the clearest of the figures.
The decorative carriage
The present carriage is made of cast iron and was cast in 1835 at the Berdt factory in Saint Petersburg, after the original wooden one burned in the fire of 1812.
It is purely decorative, and the cannon was never meant to be fired from it.
Tip: Look at the ornate wheels and the lion's head on the carriage, which are in a different style from the barrel.
The giant cannonballs
Huge cast-iron balls, each about a ton, are stacked beside the cannon. They are decorative and were not used as ammunition.
Four hollow decorative balls were made at the same time as the cannon, according to the Kremlin museums.
Tip: Look at the size of the balls next to the muzzle to understand why the caliber is a record.
The row of old cannon barrels
In 2012, 14 cannon barrels from Russia of the 17th and early 18th centuries were moved from the Arsenal to Ivanovskaya Square to form a new exposition near the Tsar Cannon.
They belong to the Kremlin museums' collection of artillery, and viewing them is included in the ticket.
Tip: Compare their size with the Tsar Cannon to see how exceptional it is.
Beside the Tsar Bell
The cannon stands on the west side of Ivanovskaya Square between the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and the Twelve Apostles' Church, close to the Tsar Bell.
Voltaire is said to have joked that the Kremlin's two greatest items were a bell that was never rung and a cannon that was never fired.
Tip: Take a photograph of the two giants in one frame from the middle of the square.
Atmosphere
The cannon sits low and wide on its dark carriage, a long green-bronze barrel pointing across the square toward the Arsenal. The cast-iron balls stacked beside it look like boulders next to a house.
Visitors gather around the muzzle, often putting a child beside it for scale, and the sound is the click of cameras and the voices of tour groups. The golden domes of the Assumption Cathedral stand behind the cannon like a stage backdrop.
At midday the square is busy, and in the late afternoon it is calmer. In winter, snow gathers on the barrel and the balls.
History of Tsar Cannon Moscow
The Tsar Cannon was cast in 1586 in the Moscow Cannon Yard by the master Andrey Chokhov on the order of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich, the ruler of all Russia. It was made as a bombard, a large gun of the type used in the late Middle Ages for bombarding fortified towns with stone balls.
The barrel is cast in bronze, weighs about 39 to 40 tons and has an 890-millimeter caliber. It is decorated with friezes, plant ornament, inscriptions and an equestrian image of the tsar. Four hollow decorative cannonballs were made at the same time.
At first the cannon was placed on Red Square near the Spasskiye Gate. In 1706 it was moved into the Kremlin, where it stood first in the Arsenal’s inner yard and then at the main gate with another cannon.
The wooden carriage burned in the fire of Moscow in 1812. In 1835 the cannon was fixed on a new carriage, cast for it at the Berdt factory in Saint Petersburg on the project of an architect, and the two cannons of the group were mounted on new bases. The new cast-iron carriage is decorative and disabled the firing function of the cannon.
In 1843 the Tsar Cannon and other old Russian cannons were placed in front of the former Armoury Chamber, opposite the Arsenal. It later moved to its present place on Ivanovskaya Square, which one source dates to 1860.
The Kremlin museums say that the Tsar Cannon never fired and was never used in a war. Its function was symbolic as well as defensive, showing the might of the state to visitors, including foreign diplomats.
In 2012, 14 cannon barrels of the 17th and early 18th centuries were moved to Ivanovskaya Square to form a new exposition near the Tsar Cannon. Today the cannon is a monument in the Kremlin’s artillery collection and is seen with the Cathedral Square ticket.
Legends and Myths about Tsar Cannon Moscow
Napoleon wanted to take it to Paris
Legend – historically unreliable. A story says that during his occupation of Moscow in 1812, Napoleon considered taking the Tsar Cannon to Paris as a trophy.
The tale appears in popular guides but not in the Kremlin museums' own account, so it is treated as a legend.
Voltaire's joke
Disputed by historians. A saying attributed to Voltaire calls the Kremlin's two greatest items a bell that was never rung and a cannon that was never fired.
The quotation is often repeated, but its origin is uncertain, so it is treated as disputed.
Tickets and Booking for Tsar Cannon Moscow
| Ticket | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral Square ticket | See the official page | Entry to the Kremlin grounds where the Tsar Cannon stands, the cathedrals and the permanent exhibitions; older figures were moderately priced (₽₽). |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
There is no ticket for the cannon itself. Buy the Cathedral Square ticket on the official site of the Kremlin museums, tickets.kreml.ru, at the ticket offices in Alexander Garden or at the self-service terminal near the Assumption Belfry. The online booking window was not confirmed, so check the ticket page for your date; if a date does not show, sales for it may not have opened yet.
- Voucher: a voucher bought from a reseller must be exchanged for a ticket at the Kremlin museums’ offices in Alexander Garden.
- Separate tickets: the Armoury Chamber and the Bell Tower climb are sold separately.
- Entrance: the Kremlin is entered through Kutafya Tower, and the museums are closed on Thursdays.
Payment options for foreign cards were not verified, so carry some cash. Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ. The only official ticket site is tickets.kreml.ru, and it lists all categories.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Tsar Cannon Moscow
20 minutes
Enter the Kremlin through Kutafya Tower, walk to Ivanovskaya Square and see the Tsar Cannon and the old cannon barrels. Step over to the Tsar Bell, which stands nearby.
1.5 hours
See the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell, then the cathedrals of Cathedral Square, starting with the Assumption Cathedral. Finish with a look at the bell tower from the middle of the square.
Half day
Combine the cannon and the bell with Cathedral Square and the Armoury Chamber at a timed session. Leave through Borovitskaya Tower and walk through Alexander Garden.
How to Get to Tsar Cannon Moscow
The cannon stands on the west side of Ivanovskaya Square, between the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and the Twelve Apostles’ Church, in the middle of the Kremlin, which is entered through the Kutafya Tower beside Alexander Garden.
- Alexandrovsky Sad (Line 4, Filyovskaya, light blue): the exit leads directly to Alexander Garden, a 1 to 2 minute walk to the garden and about 8 minutes including the walk across the Kremlin.
- Borovitskaya (Line 9, Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray): about 3 minutes to the garden and the Borovitskaya Tower.
- Biblioteka imeni Lenina (Line 1, Sokolnicheskaya, red): about 3 minutes to the garden.
Buy tickets at the offices in Alexander Garden first, then enter through Kutafya Tower.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The cannon stands on a paved square, and the surrounding ground is mostly level, though the Kremlin has cobbles and slopes. Contact the Kremlin museums before visiting if you need step-free access or assistance, and check kreml.ru for current information.
Food Nearby
There are no restaurants on Ivanovskaya Square, and food options inside the Kremlin are limited. GUM on Red Square, a few minutes' walk from Alexander Garden, has cafes and a well-known canteen-style restaurant, and the Okhotny Ryad mall near Manezhnaya Square has food courts. Check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a camera with a wide lens to fit the whole barrel in the frame, and comfortable shoes for the cobbles. Large bags are usually not allowed in the Kremlin and may need to be left in a cloakroom.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Tsar Cannon Moscow
Side view of the barrel
The full length of the bronze barrel on its carriage, with the golden domes of the Assumption Cathedral behind it.
Best time: Late morning, when the sun lights the domes
Beside the muzzle
A person standing next to the muzzle shows the 890-millimeter caliber and the scale of the balls.
Best time: Early in the day, before groups arrive
Cannon and Tsar Bell
The two giants of the Kremlin in one frame on the same square.
Best time: Afternoon light
Detail of the relief
The cast friezes and the equestrian figure of Tsar Feodor on the barrel, in fine detail.
Best time: Overcast light, to reduce glare on the bronze
Photography Rules
Photography is allowed around the cannon for personal use and is easy outdoors. Rules inside the cathedrals differ, so follow signs and staff instructions. Drone rules around the Kremlin are strict and change, so do not fly one here.
Family Suitability
The cannon is a short, easy stop that suits families, with space for children to look and walk around. Children enjoy standing beside the muzzle and the huge balls. The ground is paved and suitable for strollers outdoors, though the Kremlin has cobbles and thresholds in its buildings.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Stand beside the muzzle to feel the 890-millimeter caliber; a person's size next to it explains the record.
- Look for the equestrian figure of Tsar Feodor on the barrel, which gave the cannon its name.
- Remember that the balls and the carriage are decorative; the cannon was never fired from this carriage.
- Combine the cannon with the Tsar Bell, a few steps away, for two giants in one stop.
- Look at the row of old cannon barrels beside it, which many visitors walk past.
- Visit early in the day, since tour groups gather here around midday.
Explore Nearby Tsar Cannon Moscow
Sights near Tsar Cannon Moscow
Tsar Bell Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: 10–20 minutes
Ivan the Great Bell Tower Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: 1–1.5 hours for the tower
Cathedral Square Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2.5 hours
Armoury Chamber Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours
Moscow Kremlin – about 150 m away (~2 min walk) · typical visit: 3–5 hours for Cathedral Square plus the Armoury Chamber
Alexander Garden Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 30–60 minutes
Metro stations near Tsar Cannon Moscow
Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Stationabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)
Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)
Aleksandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)
Restaurants and cafes near Tsar Cannon Moscow
Stolovaya 57about 500 m away (~8 min walk)
Varenichnaya No. 1about 700 m away (~11 min walk)
WA Gardenabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)
Krasotaabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)
Nightlife near Tsar Cannon Moscow
Rule Taproomabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)
Rhythm & Blues Cafeabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)
Hotels near Tsar Cannon Moscow
Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)
Four Seasons Hotel Moscowabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)
Hotel National Moscowabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)
Events and traditions near Tsar Cannon Moscow
Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)
Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festivalabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)
National Unity Day in Moscowabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)
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FAQ: Tsar Cannon Moscow
Has the Tsar Cannon ever been fired?
The Kremlin museums say it never fired and was never used in war. Some popular sources mention traces of a test, which are unconfirmed.
Is it the largest cannon in the world?
It is considered the largest by caliber, at 890 millimeters. The barrel weighs about 39 to 40 tons.
Who made it?
The master Andrey Chokhov cast it in 1586 at the Moscow Cannon Yard on the order of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich.
Are the cannonballs real?
They are decorative cast-iron balls, each about a ton, and were not used as ammunition.
Do I need a separate ticket?
No. It stands on the Kremlin grounds and is seen with the Cathedral Square ticket. See the booking section.
Where exactly is it?
On the west side of Ivanovskaya Square, between the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and the Twelve Apostles' Church.
Is the carriage original?
No. The original wooden carriage burned in 1812, and the present cast-iron one dates from 1835 and is decorative.
How long do I need?
About 10 to 20 minutes for the cannon and the bell, longer with the rest of Cathedral Square.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026.
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