Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century in the southeastern corner of the town wall, the Red Tower formed part of the medieval fortifications of Uus-Pärnu 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 late 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum, complementing the museum’s permanent exhibition and presenting 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 history of the area, “A Ruthless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” The film centres on the view from the visitor’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes in the area and the town’s development, and takes visitors into the midst of exciting 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 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—feel free to come in.

Only a limited number of people can fit in the small tower at one time. Therefore, 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 once, please contact us in advance. To ensure the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not missed, we also recommend that groups book a guided programme.

The architecture of the medieval tower imposes significant accessibility limitations. Before buying 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).