Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeastern corner of the city wall, the Red Tower was part of medieval New Pärnu’s fortifications and served for many years as the city prison. It is the only surviving defensive tower of the Hanseatic city of New Pärnu and the oldest surviving building in Pärnu. Since late 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum that complements the museum’s permanent exhibition and presents the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

In the innovative circular panoramic cinema on the tower’s attic floor, you can watch a 10-minute animated film about local history: “A Ruthless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. The film centres on the view from the viewer’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes in the area where the city stands and the city’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events.

The ticket includes a screening in the circular panoramic cinema and, if you wish, a short introduction to the Red Tower’s history by a museum employee.
http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE:

• The Red Tower courtyard is accessed through the gate on Hommiku Street. You can see the courtyard gallery and the tower through the open gate—please come in.
• The small tower can accommodate only a limited number of people at a time. For this reason, a purchased ticket allows you to stay in the tower for up to 30 minutes.
• If more than 10 people are planning to visit the tower at the same time, please contact us in advance. To ensure that the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a visit programme.
• The medieval tower’s architecture imposes significant accessibility limitations. Before buying a ticket, please make sure that the narrow, steep stairs and high thresholds will not prevent you from visiting.

Contact us:
visit@pernau.ee
+372 443 3488 (during the tower’s opening hours)