The tower was used both as a watchtower and as a bell tower. Twenty-one bells are suspended in the bell tower and at least two dozen bell ringers were needed to set the bells into motion.
The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was one building marked for destruction by Napoleon, but his attempts to raze the bell tower failed. In this way, the bell tower has also achieved the status as a symbol of survival under duress. This elegant structure is one of the Kremlin's famous attractions. Both the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell are located nearby.
