Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and Circular Panorama Cinema

Built in the 15th century at the southeast 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, complementing the museum’s permanent exhibition and presenting the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu.

In the innovative circular panorama cinema on the tower’s attic floor, visitors can watch a 10-minute animated film about the local history: “A Merciless 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 in the area where the town now stands and the town’s development, and takes viewers into the midst of 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:

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

Only a limited number of people can fit inside 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 plan to visit the tower at the same time, please contact us in advance. To ensure that the fascinating stories of the Red Tower are not overlooked, we recommend that groups also book a guided programme.

The architecture of this medieval tower places significant restrictions on accessibility. 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)