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The Petrovskaya Tower, 27 metres tall, stands on the southern side of the Kremlin, and like its neighbours, once played a vital role in the defence of the citadel. Originally nameless, it received its title from the Church of Metropolitan Peter, which stood nearby. The church was later demolished, but the tower has retained its name to this day. During the Polish invasion of 1612 the tower was destroyed by cannon fire, but was subsequently restored. In 1812, the Petrovskaya Tower was blown up on Napoleon's orders, although it was rebuilt again just 6 years later by the architect Beauvais. After the Kremlin became obsolete as a fortress, the tower was used as a service building by the Kremlin's gardeners.
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