Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and 360° Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century in the southeastern corner of the town wall, the Red Tower was part of the medieval fortifications of Uus-Pärnu and served for many years as the town prison. 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 presents the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. On the tower’s attic floor, a new 360° panoramic cinema shows a 10-minute animated film about local history, “A Ruthless 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 at the site of the town and the town’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of fascinating historical events. The ticket includes a screening in the panoramic cinema and, if desired, 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 can be accessed through the gate on Hommiku Street. From the open gate you can see the courtyard gallery and the tower—please come on in.

Only a limited number of people can fit in the small tower at one time. For this reason, a purchased 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 ensure that the Red Tower’s fascinating stories are not overlooked, we also recommend that groups book a guided visit programme.

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