Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and 360° Cinema

Built in the 15th century in the southeast corner of the city wall, the Red Tower was part of the fortifications of medieval 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 the museum’s permanent exhibition and presents the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

On the tower’s attic floor, a 10-minute animated film about local history, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower,” is shown in a modern 360° cinema. At its centre is a view from the visitor’s vantage point, spanning 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 360° cinema screening and, if requested, a short introduction to the history of the Red Tower 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 fit 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 plan to visit the tower at once, please contact us in advance. To ensure that the Red Tower’s fascinating stories do not go unnoticed, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

The architecture of this medieval tower imposes significant accessibility limitations. Before purchasing tickets, 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).