Restoration is being carried out in the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve at present. The Kazan Tower is the main restoration object now. It has been used as the main entrance to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery since the 19th century.
The Kazan Tower was built in the middle of the 17th century: its construction was completed in 1659. This tower derived its name from the wooden Kazan Church (later the stone Kazan Cathedral) situated nearby. First the structure had a hip roof, but it was replaced with the figured roof with a spire at the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries. The spire was crowned with a weather vane in the form of an angel that is well-known to modern tourists.
It is worth reminding that the Kazan Tower was closed for restoration in autumn 2014. Wooden scaffolding was erected both inside and outside the building and the weather vane was dismantled.
At present they have already laid the foundation for the walls in the passage. Brickwork of the walls and vaults, wooden structures and window loopholes is being restored. Modern utility systems are being installed in the rooms of the former guard-house. They are also working on the roof. The famous weather vane will be returned to the same place after restoration of its mechanism that stopped to fulfill its direct function in the course of time.
This work is being carried out by the licensed restoration company according to the draft of restoration and adjustment elaborated by the famous design organization “State Unitary Enterprise “Central Scientific and Research Planning Workshops” (Moscow) and approved by the Ministry of Culture of the RF. It is planned to compete the restoration of the Kazan Tower in autumn 2015.
