Kamer-Kollezhsky Val

Kamer-Kollezhsky Val (Камер-Коллежский Вал, lit. Kamer Collegium Rampart) is a ring of streets around the center of Moscow, Russia. It is the third historical ring of Moscow (after Boulevard Ring and Garden Ring), with a total length of 37 kilometers, [Russian: Энциклопедия "Москва", М, 1997] partially integrated into the modern Third Ring circular highway. Kamer-Kollezhsky Val is not a road ring in a strict sense, as it has no crossings over Moskva River.

The rampart was built in 1731-1742 by Kamer Collegium (tax authority, one of 12 colleges of Peter I), originally as an earth wall with 16 (later 18) guarded checkpoints (застава, zastava) for internal passport control and taxing the cargoes. By 1806, it became Moscow's police border, by 1864 - the administrative border between the city, controlled by Moscow City Hall and country, controlled by Zemstvo.

Checkpoints were abandoned in 1852, and all fortifications gradually demolished. Names of streets and squares on the site of old rampart end in Russian words "Val" (Rampart) and "Zastava" (Checkpoint), i.e. Rogozhsky Val. Exceptions:
* "Izmailovsky Val", a part of Kamer-Kollezhsky Val, emerged in 1930s after draining the ponds east of Yauza river
* "Korovy Val" and "Zemlyanoy Val" actually belong to Garden Ring, not Kamer-Kollezhsky Val

Territories around the rampart developed in the second half of 19th century as industrial, working-class neighborhoods.

The Third Ring, built in 1990s, coincides with the rampart in its northern segment; in north-eastern segment (Lefortovo), rampart extends beyond Third Ring; elsewhere, the Third Ring extends beyond the rampart. Likewise, the boundary of Central Administrative District is distinct from both Kamer-Kollezhsky Val and Third Ring.

Footnotes