Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panorama Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeastern corner of the city wall, the Red Tower was part of the medieval fortifications of Uus-Pärnu 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 its permanent exhibition and tells the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

On the tower’s attic floor, a new circular panorama cinema shows a 10-minute animated film about the area’s history: “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. At its heart is the view from the viewer’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. The film shows geographical changes at the site of the city and its development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events.

The ticket includes a screening in the circular panorama cinema and, if you wish, a brief introduction to the history of the Red Tower by a museum employee.

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 be inside the small tower at a time. Therefore, 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 make sure the fascinating stories of the Red Tower are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

The architecture of the medieval tower places significant restrictions on accessibility. 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).