Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century in the southeastern corner of the town wall, the Red Tower was part of medieval Uus-Pärnu’s fortifications and served as the town 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 the end of 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 tower’s attic, a modern circular panoramic cinema screens 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 viewer’s location, spanning the Ice Age to the present day. The film shows geographical changes in the area where the town stands and the town’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panoramic cinema and, if desired, a brief 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 can be reached through the gate on Hommiku Street. You can see the courtyard gallery and tower through the open gate—feel free to come 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 fascinating stories of the Red Tower are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

… The architecture of this medieval tower places significant restrictions on accessibility. Before purchasing 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)