Pärnu Red Tower Museum and Circular Panoramic Cinema

Built into the southeastern corner of the city wall in the 15th century, 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 complementing the permanent exhibition of Pärnu Museum, presenting the story of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

On the tower’s attic floor, a novel circular panoramic cinema screens a 10-minute animated film about the history of the area: “A Merciless and Merciful History. 15,000 Years in the Red Tower.” The film centres on the view from the visitor’s location, from the Ice Age to the present day. It shows geographical changes in the area where the city stands and the city’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of exciting historical events.

The ticket includes a circular panoramic cinema screening and, if you wish, a brief introduction to the history of the Red Tower by a museum employee.

http://www.parnumuuseum.ee/torn

PLEASE NOTE:

... The courtyard of the Red Tower can be 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.

... Only a limited number of people can fit in the small tower at one time. For this reason, a ticket allows you to stay in the tower for 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 fascinating stories of the Red Tower are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

... The architecture of the medieval tower imposes significant accessibility restrictions. 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)