The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is one of the finest surviving medieval fortresses in Russia — a long red-brick enclosure that crowns the bluff above the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. Thirteen of the original sixteen towers still stand, connected by walls that you can walk along in places for a panoramic view of both rivers stretching away into the distance. Unlike the Moscow Kremlin, which is sealed off by state functions, this one feels genuinely accessible.
Inside the walls there is an open park with several old cannon on display, an eternal flame, and a cathedral undergoing long restoration. The Archangel Cathedral (Arkhangel'sky sobor) dates from the early 16th century and is the oldest standing building in the city. Entry to the grounds is free. The kremlin is as much a public park as a historical monument, and local residents use it as a shortcut and a promenade.