Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

The Red Tower, built in the southeast corner of the city wall in the 15th century, was part of medieval New Pärnu’s fortifications and served as the city prison for many years. It is the only surviving defensive tower of the Hanseatic town of New Pärnu and the oldest surviving building in Pärnu. Since the end of 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, visitors can also watch a 10-minute animated film about local history in a modern circular panoramic cinema: “A Ruthless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” At the heart of the film is the view from the visitor’s position, 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 exciting historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panoramic cinema and, if you wish, a short introduction to the Red Tower’s history 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 fit in the small tower 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 plan to visit the tower at the same time, 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 purchasing 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)