Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panorama Cinema

The Red Tower, built in the southeastern 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 late 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum that complements its permanent exhibition and tells the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

On the tower’s attic floor, visitors can watch a 10-minute animated film about the history of the area in a new circular panorama cinema: “A Ruthless and Merciful History. 15,000 Years in the Red Tower”. The film centres on the view from the viewer’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes at the site of the town and its 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 brief introduction to the history of the Red Tower by a museum employee.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE THAT...

... The Red Tower courtyard is entered through the gate on Hommiku Street. From the open gate, you can see the courtyard gallery and the tower—feel free to come in.

... Only a limited number of people can fit in the small tower at a time. For this reason, a 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 missed, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

... The architecture of the medieval tower places significant limits on accessibility. Before buying a ticket, we recommend checking 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)