Tsar Kolokol's size and history

The Tsar Kolokol, the largest bell ever cast by humans, measures more than six meters in height and weighs 202 tonnes, a record that has never been surpassed. It has remained motionless on the Kremlin square for nearly three centuries.

Creation by the Motorine family

The bell was cast in 1735 by Ivan and then Mikhaïl Motorine. In May 1737, a fire at Troitski led to cold water being projected onto the still-hot bronze, causing a thermal shock that cracked the bell and detached a fragment weighing 11.5 tonnes.

Background of the project

The project began in 1730 when Empress Anna Ivanovna decided to cast a monumental bell intended to adorn the Cathedral of the Dormition. The goal was to impress and commemorate her reign with an object meant to span the centuries.

Challenges and completion

The first attempt failed, and Ivan Motorine, the master founder, died in August 1735 before seeing his work completed. His son, Mikhaïl Motorine, took over and successfully completed the second casting on November 25, 1735, after two years of a chaotic construction site.

Damage and recovery

The tragedy that sealed its fate occurred in May 1737 when the great fire of Troitski broke out. In the panic of the moment, cold water was projected directly onto the incandescent bronze. The thermal shock caused the bell to crack and a colossal fragment weighing 11.5 tonnes to detach.

Display and legacy

The fragment was buried for nearly a century before the bell was extracted in 1836. Two earlier attempts to extract the bell in 1792 and 1819 failed due to the weight and complexity of the operation.

Current status and significance

The Tsar Kolokol and its detached fragment have been displayed side by side since 1836, transforming an industrial accident into a tourist attraction and a historical curiosity visited by millions of people. The bell's silence has made it one of the most visited symbols of the Kremlin, despite its failure to fulfill its primary function.