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 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 the end of 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum that complements the museum’s permanent exhibition and introduces 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 shows a 10-minute animated film about local history, “A Cruel and Merciful History. 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. At its centre is the view from the viewer’s location, spanning from the Ice Age to the present day. The film shows geographical changes in the area where the city stands, the city’s development, and some fascinating historical events.

The ticket includes a screening in the circular panorama cinema 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 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. Therefore, a purchased ticket permits a stay in the tower of up to 30 minutes.

If more than 10 people are planning to visit the tower at the same time, please contact us in advance. To make sure 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)