Pärnu Red Tower – Museum and 360° Panoramic Cinema

Built in the 15th century at 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 the end of 2020, the Red Tower has housed a branch of Pärnu Museum, complementing its permanent exhibition and presenting the history of the former prison tower and medieval Pärnu. In the innovative 360° panoramic cinema on the tower’s attic floor, visitors can watch a 10-minute animated film about the region’s history, “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 in the area where the town stands 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 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 is accessed through the gate on Hommiku Street. You can see the courtyard gallery and the tower through the open gate—feel free to come 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 will be visiting 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 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)