Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeastern corner of the town wall, the Red Tower was part of the medieval fortifications of Uus-Pärnu and served for many years as the town prison. 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 its permanent exhibition and presenting the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. In the tower’s attic, a modern circular panoramic cinema screens a 10-minute animated film about the local history, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” At its heart is a view from the visitor’s location, spanning from the Ice Age to the present day. The film shows geographical changes in the area where the town stands, the town’s development, and brings viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panoramic cinema and, if desired, a short introduction to the Red Tower’s history by a museum staff member.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE:

The Red Tower courtyard can be reached through the gate on Hommiku Street. From the open gate, you can see the courtyard gallery and the tower; please come on in.

The small tower can accommodate only a limited number of people at a 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 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 architecture of this medieval tower imposes significant accessibility limitations. 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).