Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular 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 Uus-Pärnu and served for a long time 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 the end of 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum that complements its permanent exhibition and introduces visitors to the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. On the tower’s attic floor, a new circular panorama cinema screens a 10-minute animated film about the history of the area, “A Merciless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” The film centres on the view from the visitor’s location, tracing the story from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes in the area and the town’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panorama cinema and, if desired, 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; please feel free to come in.
• Only a limited number of people can fit in 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 the same time, please contact us in advance. To ensure the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we recommend that groups also 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)