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 New Pärnu’s fortifications and served for many years as the city prison. 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 presents the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. On the tower’s attic floor, a state-of-the-art circular panoramic cinema screens a 10-minute animated film about the area’s history, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” At the heart of the film is the view from the visitor’s location, spanning from the Ice Age to the present day. We see geographical changes in the area where the city stands and the city’s development, and find ourselves amid exciting historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panoramic cinema and, if desired, a brief introduction to the Red Tower’s history by a museum staff member.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE:

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 be inside the small tower at a time. Your ticket therefore 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 visit programme.

The medieval tower’s architecture places significant restrictions on accessibility. 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)