The Red Tower is Pärnu's oldest architectural monument and practically the only surviving medieval defence structure. In the 14th century, Pärnu became a member of the Hanseatic trade union. The town prospered and played an important trading role. It is believed that in the same century a fortress wall with many towers was built around the town. In the south-eastern corner was the Red Tower, the only one that has survived to this day. There is an assumption that this fortification was built later - in the first half of the 15th century.
Initially, the tower was faced with red bricks inside and outside, which is probably why it got its name. The Red or Prison Tower was used as a place of confinement for criminals. The prison was located in the lower underground tier, the maximum depth of which was 6 metres.
From 1617 and until 1710. Pärnu became a fortress of Sweden. The new rulers focused their efforts on strengthening the defences. The fortifications, designed by the famous specialist Erik Dahlberg, increased the territory of the fortress by 2.5 times. Some of the old buildings were demolished, and only the North-West North-East Tower and the Red Tower were left from the existing bastions.
The Red Tower has been a prison since the 16th century. In 1624, the tower was a four-storey structure with a prison floor. During the Russian Empire, it was also the site of the city prison. Some participants of the Pugachev uprising were imprisoned in this tower, as well as Stepan Danilovich Efremov, the army ataman of the Don Army in 1753-1772, who took part in the palace coup in 1762, as a result of which Catherine II became Empress.
However, repeated escapes of prisoners from the tower showed that the place was not quite suitable for holding criminals. In 1818, the Russian government demanded that the city stop using the tower as a prison, as the close proximity of residential buildings made it difficult to provide quality security for the prisoners, and demanded that a new prison be built. However, the implementation of this decision dragged on for many years. It was not until 1892 that a new prison building was constructed. In the same year, the head of the Main Prison Department of the Russian Empire, who came to Pärnu on a visit, approved the act, which confirmed the compliance of the new prison building with modern requirements.
Well, it was decided to house the city archives in the Red Tower. For this purpose, the tower was reconstructed, as a result of which it acquired the look we can see today. The tower was an archive room until 1908. In 1973-1980 the tower was restored, but the red brick cladding was not restored.
These days, the Red Tower is a great place to visit with family or friends. Today, the tower building houses an art gallery and an artisans' workshop. Here you can purchase unique souvenirs and handcrafted items, including souvenirs made from used glass. You can also cast your own glass souvenir or try your hand at making a stained glass window. The courtyard of the Red Tower hosts the Hanseatic Fair, masterclasses, and other cultural events every summer.
