Punane torn
The medieval Punane torn (Red Tower) in Pärnu’s Old Town was a prison tower; an exhibition, a town model and a 360° panorama cinema tell the story of Pärnu.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Punane torn was built in the 15th century at the south-eastern corner of the Uus-Pärnu town wall and got its name from the red brick lining. In the Middle Ages it was also called the Prison Tower. In the 18th century the number of debtors held in the tower grew, and in 1783 a Baroque prison project was carried out, in which the upper defensive floor was removed and the tower received a high roof and a vault.
After the state prison was completed in 1892, the tower’s additions were demolished; in 1893 the town archive moved into the tower, which it left in 1907. The tower was then used as a warehouse until a major renovation in 1972 gave it its present form. The roof floor was completed in 2020.
The permanent exhibition is on the ground and first floors: the lower floor tells of the construction of the tower and of its time as a prison; on the first floor, with a model and a screen, visitors can see what medieval Uus-Pärnu looked like in the mid-16th century. On the former defensive floor there is a 360° panorama cinema.
Highlights
- Medieval prison tower on the Pärnu Old Town wall
- Model of Uus-Pärnu in the mid-16th century
- 360° panorama cinema: Pärnu’s history from the Ice Age to the present
- Audio drama tour “Punase vangitorni unustatud lood” (The Forgotten Stories of the Red Tower)
- Courtyard reached from Hommiku Street
Permanent exhibitions
- Punase torni püsinäitus – The ground floor tells of the construction of the tower and its time as a prison; the first floor shows, with a model and a screen, medieval Uus-Pärnu in the mid-16th century.
- 360° panoraamkino „Armutu ja armulik ajalugu. Punases tornis läbi 15 000 aasta“ – On the former defensive floor a ten-minute animated film about the history of the region, from the Ice Age to the present, is screened; the room has space for up to ten visitors.
- Operated by
- SA Pärnu Muuseum
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Pensioners, ISIC and ITIC card holders and students (on proof) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 8 · Children up to 8 years of age enter free. |
| Seniors | €6 |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Visitors with disabilities and their companions enter free, subject to age and severity restrictions (disability card). |
| Students & apprentices | €6Pupils and students on proof. |
| Groups | –Group bookings do not include family tickets, joint tickets or other free admission rights. |
| Families | €17Up to two adults and the minor children of one family. |
| Supporter ticket (valid for one visitor) | €16 |
| Joint ticket for three branches (adult) | €23Pärnu Muuseum, Koidula Muuseum and Punane torn; each house may be visited once. |
| Joint ticket for three branches (reduced) | €17 |
| Joint ticket for three branches (family ticket) | €48 |
| Joint ticket for three branches (supporter ticket) | €46 |
| Audio drama programme “Punase vangitorni unustatud lood” (self-guided tour) | €1 |
| Guide service in Estonian, up to 50 minutes (up to 20 people) | €50A ticket fee for each visitor is added; book at least 3 working days in advance. |
| Guide service in a foreign language, up to 50 minutes (up to 20 people) | €55 |
| Guide service in Estonian, 1–1.5 hours (up to 20 people) | €60 |
| Guide service in a foreign language, 1–1.5 hours (up to 20 people) | €65 |
For student groups: museum lesson €9 per pupil, workshop or special programme €11 per pupil; for kindergarten groups a museum lesson costs €7 and a workshop €9 per child (10–25 children, Estonian only).
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The medieval tower has limits on accessibility: the ticket office, reception and tower model on the ground floor are accessible, but the upper floors cannot be reached by wheelchair. A narrow stone staircase with 23 steps leads to the first floor, and a metal staircase with 18 open steps to the roof floor. The entrance is only from Hommiku Street; the courtyard is paved with stone slabs and the door has a step about 10 cm high. The toilet is narrow and located inside the wall. Visitors with difficulty climbing stairs get up to a 50% ticket discount, and staff help to store clothes and large bags. Sign-language tours are arranged in Estonian and Russian.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 8 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €17 · Up to two adults and the minor children of one family. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly: not available
Educational programmes are offered for children and young people; the staircases are steep and narrow.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Pärnu bussijaam
By city bus to the Pärnu bus station, then on foot to the Old Town.
By car
Parking available
On the left side of Hommiku Street you can park free for one hour, but spaces are often scarce; nearby are the Port Arthur car park building and other car parks.
Drive from Malmö Street onto the one-way Hommiku Street.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Coat check
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The tower can admit only a limited number of visitors at a time, so waiting may be necessary; a ticket bought in advance helps to avoid waiting. If you are coming with more than 10 people, please contact the museum in advance. |