Pärnu Red Tower Museum and 360° Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeastern corner of the city wall, the Red Tower formed part of medieval Uus-Pärnu’s fortifications and served as the city prison for many years. It is the only surviving defensive tower of the Hanseatic town of Uus-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 360° panoramic cinema on the tower’s attic floor, you can watch a 10-minute animated film about the history of the area, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” The film centres on the view from the visitor’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes in the area where the city now stands and the city’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the panoramic cinema and, if you wish, a short introduction to the Red Tower’s history by a museum staff member.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE:

The courtyard of the Red Tower is accessed through the gate on Hommiku Street. From the open gate, you can see the courtyard gallery and the tower; please come on in.

Only a limited number of people can fit in the small tower at one time. For this reason, a purchased 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 ensure that the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not missed, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

The architecture of this medieval tower places significant limits on accessibility. Before buying a ticket, please make 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)