Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the southeastern corner of the town wall in the 15th century, the Red Tower was part of medieval Uus-Pärnu’s fortifications and served as the town 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 tells the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. On the tower’s attic floor, a new circular panoramic cinema screens a 10-minute animated film about the history of the area, “A Ruthless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” At its centre is the view from the visitor’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. The film shows geographical changes in the area where the town now stands and the town’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a circular panoramic 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 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; please feel free to come in.

Only a limited number of people can fit inside the small tower at one time. Therefore, 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 that the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided programme.

The architecture of this medieval tower places significant limitations on accessibility. 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)