Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panorama Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeastern corner of the town wall, the Red Tower was part of medieval New Pärnu’s fortifications and served as the town prison for many years. It is the only surviving defensive tower of the Hanseatic town of New Pärnu and the oldest surviving building in Pärnu. Since the end of 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum, complementing its permanent exhibition and presenting the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. On the tower’s attic floor, a modern circular panorama cinema screens a 10-minute animated film about local history, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. The film centres on the view from the viewer’s position, from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes at the site of the town and the town’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panorama cinema and, if desired, a short introduction to the history of the Red Tower by a museum staff member. http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn PLEASE NOTE THAT... ... The Red Tower courtyard is accessed through the gate on Hommiku Street. From the open gate you can see the courtyard gallery and the tower; feel free to come in. ... Only a limited number of people can fit in the small tower at one time. Therefore, a ticket allows you to stay in the tower for up to 30 minutes. ... If more than 10 people plan to visit the tower at once, please contact us in advance. To ensure the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a visitor programme. ... The architecture of this medieval tower places significant limitations on accessibility. Before buying a ticket, we recommend making sure that the narrow, steep stairs and high thresholds will not prevent you from visiting the Red Tower. Contact us: visit@pernau.ee +372 443 3488 (during the tower’s opening hours)