Probably, in every city there are places that people call "black". In Moscow, until the 30s of the XX century, such a place was the Sukharev Tower.
Streletsky settlements once stretched along the Zemlyanoy Val, where the city security guards were quartered, which, outside the service, was engaged in crafts and trade. In the 17th century, the Sukharev regiment was located near the Sretensky Gate, named after its colonel Lavrenty Sukharev. It was on that place that the tower was built, which was named Sukharevskaya. The tower was over 60 meters high. Although the legend calls Lefort the architect of this monument, there is a version that the tower was built according to the plans of Peter I.
Society of Neptune
The so-called Rapier Hall was located in the Sukharev Tower, where it can be assumed that fencing was taught. Legend has it that secret meetings of a certain society of Neptune were held there, the chairman of which was Lefort, and the first overseer was Peter I. History has hidden from us the origin and true purpose of this secret society. However, there was a rumor among the people that a black book was kept there, guarded by 12 spirits and "after that it was laid in the wall, where it was nailed down with altyn nails."
Ring of power
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According to legend, the Sukharev Tower kept “Solomon's seal on a ring with the words SATOR, AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS. "You can do different things with this ring: you will turn to yourself with a seal, you will be invisible, you will destroy all charms from yourself, you will receive power over Satan …"
Sorcerer's tower
Tradition says that for some time the tower housed the alchemical laboratory of Jacob Bruce, one of the closest associates of Peter I, who had a reputation as a sorcerer. Here Bruce was allegedly engaged in the preparation of the elixir of living and dead water. Before his death, he allegedly gave a bottle of living water to his valet and ordered to water himself with it soon after his death. When the valet began to carry out such an order, the deceased began to stir; the performer was frightened and, dropping the bottle from his hands, broke it. Bruce was never destined to "resurrect".
Sign for Bonaparte
The day before the entry of Napoleon's troops into Moscow, a hawk, with fetters on his legs, got entangled in the wings of a two-headed copper eagle on the spire of the Sukharev tower. The bird fluttered for a long time until it died. The people who watched this interpreted: "This is how Bonaparte will get entangled in the wings of the Russian eagle."
Treasure
A Moscow legend says that Stalin decided to destroy the Sukharev Tower in order to find some kind of treasure. Therefore, the tower was dismantled very carefully, brick by brick.
There will be no tower
In 1982, the Moscow City Executive Committee decided to restore the Sukharev Tower. A competition of projects was announced, but none of them was accepted and the restoration did not take place. Apparently, the authorities had more weighty reasons for this than simple dissatisfaction with the proposed projects.
