Pärnu Red Tower Museum and 360° 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 New Pärnu and served as the city prison for many years. It is the only surviving defensive tower of the Hanseatic city 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. On the tower’s attic floor, a 10-minute animated film about the history of the area, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower,” is shown in a modern 360° panorama cinema. At its centre is the view from the audience’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 fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a 360° panorama cinema screening and, if you wish, 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 be inside the small tower at one time. For this reason, a purchased ticket allows you to stay in the tower for up to 30 minutes.

If more than 10 people are planning to visit the tower at the same time, please contact us in advance. To ensure 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 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)