Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeast corner of the town wall, the Red Tower formed part of medieval Uus-Pärnu’s fortifications 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 that complements the museum’s permanent exhibition and tells the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. In the innovative panoramic cinema on the tower’s attic floor, you can watch a 10-minute animated film about the history of the region, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” The film centres on the view from the visitor’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes in the area and the development of the town, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events.

The ticket includes a panoramic cinema screening and, if desired, 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 one 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 ensure that 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 presents significant accessibility challenges. 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)