Makhovaya (Mokhovaya) Tower

About museum

Makhovaya Tower is the smallest tower of the Smolensk fortress, with a height of 18.5 m and a square plan with sides of more than 8 m. According to one version, the tower's name comes from the name of the garrison commander Ivan Makhovtsev, who defended the city from enemies in the 17th century. The tower is also called Mokhovaya because it is located in an area with a lot of moss. In the 19th century the provincial archive was housed in the tower. After the liberation of Smolensk from the Nazi forces, people who had fled the war lived in the tower. Today the tower houses the "Streletsky Mir" exhibition of the "Smolensk Fortress" museum, dedicated to the lives of Smolensk residents in the 16th–17th centuries. The exhibition features more than 200 artifacts from the museum and private collections. The tower was restored for Smolensk's 1150th anniversary and is located in the city center.