Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the southeastern corner of the town wall in the 15th century, the Red Tower was part of medieval New Pärnu’s fortifications and served as the town prison for many years. It is the only surviving defensive tower of the Hanseatic town of New 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 tells the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. In the innovative circular panoramic cinema on the tower’s attic floor, visitors can watch a 10-minute animated film about the region’s history: “A Ruthless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. At the heart of the film is the view from the visitor’s position, from the Ice Age to the present day. We see geographical changes in the area where the town now stands and the town’s development, and find ourselves in the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a circular panoramic cinema screening and, if desired, a short introduction to the history of the Red Tower by a museum employee. http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn PLEASE NOTE THAT... ... The courtyard of the Red Tower can be accessed through the gate on Hommiku Street. You can see the courtyard gallery and the tower through the open gate—please come on in. ... The small tower can accommodate only a limited number of people 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 the same time, please contact us in advance. To ensure that the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme. ... The architecture of the medieval tower presents significant accessibility limitations. Before buying a ticket, 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).