Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeastern corner of the town wall, the Red Tower was part of medieval Old Pärnu’s fortifications and served for many years as the town prison. It is the only surviving defensive tower of the Hanseatic town of Old Pärnu and the oldest surviving building in Pärnu. Since the end of 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum, complementing the museum’s permanent exhibition and presenting the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. On the tower’s attic floor, a state-of-the-art circular panoramic cinema shows a 10-minute animated film about the area’s history, “A Ruthless and Merciful History. 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” At its heart is a view from the visitor’s location, spanning the Ice Age to the present day. We see geographical changes in the area around the town and the town’s development, and find ourselves amid fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panoramic cinema and, if desired, a brief introduction to the history of the Red Tower by a museum staff member.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE:

• The Red Tower courtyard can be reached through the gate on Hommiku Street. From the open gate, you can see the courtyard gallery and the tower—feel free to come in.
• The small tower can accommodate only a limited number of people at a time. Therefore, your ticket allows you to stay in the tower for up to 30 minutes.
• If more than 10 people plan to visit the tower at the same time, please contact us in advance. To make sure the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.
• The medieval tower’s architecture places significant limits on accessibility. Before buying a ticket, please make sure that 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)