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 Uus-Pärnu’s fortifications and served for many years as the city prison. 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, complementing its permanent exhibition and telling the story 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.” At its centre is the view from the visitor’s location, spanning from the Ice Age to the present day. The film 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 circular panoramic cinema and, if you wish, a short introduction to the history of the Red Tower 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 in.

Only a limited number of people can be inside the small tower at one time. For this reason, your 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 make sure the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

The architecture of this medieval tower imposes significant accessibility limitations. Before purchasing 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)