Pärnu Red Tower Museum and 360° Cinema

Built in the southeast corner of the city wall in the 15th century, the Red Tower was 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° cinema on the tower’s attic floor, visitors can watch a 10-minute animated film about the area’s history, “A Ruthless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. At its centre is a view from the visitor’s location, spanning the period from the Ice Age to the present day. The film shows geographical changes in the area where the city stands and the city’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a 360° cinema screening and, if desired, a brief introduction to the Red Tower’s history by a museum staff member.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE:

... Access to the Red Tower courtyard is through the gate on Hommiku Street. From the open gate, you can see the courtyard gallery and the tower—please feel free to come in.

... The small tower can accommodate only a limited number of people at a time. For this reason, 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 the same time, please contact us in advance. To ensure 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 creates significant accessibility limitations. 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)