Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built in the southeastern corner of the city wall in the 15th century, the Red Tower was part of medieval Uus-Pärnu’s fortifications and served as the city 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. In the tower’s attic, 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 the heart of the film is the view from the viewer’s location, 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 fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the circular panoramic cinema and, if desired, a short introduction to the Red Tower’s history by a museum staff member.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE THAT...

... 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; 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 once, please contact us in advance. To make sure the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not missed, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

... The architecture of the 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)