Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panorama Cinema

The Red Tower, built in the 15th century in the southeastern corner of the city wall, was part of the medieval fortifications of Uus-Pärnu 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 its permanent exhibition and tells the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

In the tower’s attic, a state-of-the-art circular panorama cinema shows a 10-minute animated film about the area’s history: “A Ruthless and Merciful History. 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” The film centres on the view from the visitor’s position, tracing the story 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 brings visitors 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 inside the small tower 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 plan to visit the tower at once, 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 programme.

... The architecture of this medieval tower places significant limitations on accessibility. Before buying tickets, 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)