The red tower – the oldest architectural monument of pärnu, almost the only surviving medieval fortification. In the 14th century the city of pärnu became part of the Union of the Hanseatic trading cities. The city flourished, playing an important trading role. It is believed that in this century around the city fortress wall was built with many towers. In the Southeast corner was the Red tower – the only one extant. There is an assumption that this fortification was built later – in the first half of the 15th century.

Originally the tower inside and outside was faced with red brick, why most likely got its name. Red or Prison tower was used as a place of confinement for criminals. The prison was located in the lower underground level, the maximum depth was 6 m.

With 1617 and 1710 pärnu became a fortress of Sweden. The new rulers directed their effort at strengthening the fortifications. The building, designed by renowned specialist Eric Dahlberg, increased the territory of the fortress in 2, 5 times. Some old buildings were demolished and the existing bastions left only the North-Western North-Eastern and the Red tower.

Red tower has been a prison since the 16th century. In 1624 tower was a four-storey building with the prison floor. In the years of the Russian Empire was the city jail. In this tower served sentence some members of the Pugachev revolt, and also Stephen D. Efremov - the army ataman of the don Cossacks in 1753-1772, participating in 1762 in a Palace coup, which became Empress Catherine II.

However, repeated escapes of prisoners from the tower showed that this place is not really suitable for the detention of criminals. In 1818, the Russian government demanded that the city stopped using the tower as a prison, as close to finding houses hampered high quality protection of prisoners, and demanded to build a new jail. However, the implementation of this decision has stretched on for many years. And only in 1892 was built a new prison building. In the same year the chief of General Directorate of prisons of the Russian Empire, arrived in pärnu for a visit, approved the act, which affirmed the compliance of the new prison building to modern requirements.

Well, in the red tower decided to place city archives. For these purposes, was the reconstruction of the tower in which she came into view, which we can observe today. The tower was the archive room until 1908. In 1973-1980 was carried out the restoration of the tower, where the red brick facing was not reconstructed.

In our days the Red tower is a great place to visit with family or friends. Today in the building of the tower houses an art gallery and a workshop of artisans. Here you can buy unique Souvenirs and handmade goods, including Souvenirs made from used glass. In addition, you can cast a souvenir glass yourself, or to try to make the stained glass. In the courtyard of the red tower is held every summer Hanseatic fair, workshops, and other cultural events.