Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panorama Cinema

The Red Tower, built in the southeast corner of the town wall in the 15th century, was part of the medieval fortifications of Uus-Pärnu 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 the end of 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum, complementing its permanent exhibition and introducing visitors to the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

On the tower’s attic floor, a state-of-the-art circular panorama cinema screens a 10-minute animated film about the area’s history, “A Ruthless and Merciful History: 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. At its centre is the view from the visitor’s location, spanning from the Ice Age to the present day. We see geographical changes in the area where the town now stands and the town’s development, and find ourselves amid fascinating historical events.

The ticket includes a screening in the circular panorama cinema and, if you wish, a brief 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.

... 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 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 also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

... The architecture of this medieval tower places significant limits on accessibility. Before buying 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)