Red Tower - the oldest architectural monument of Parnu, virtually the only surviving medieval fortification. In the 14th century, the city of Pärnu joined the Hanseatic alliance of trading cities. The city prospered, playing an important commercial role. It is believed that in the same century, the city was built around a fortified wall with lots of towers. In the southeast corner is a red tower - the only extant. There is speculation that this fortification was built later - in the first half of the 15th century.

Originally the tower inside and outside was lined with red brick, why it is likely got its name. Red or prison tower was used as a place of detention of criminals. The prison was located in the lower underground level, the maximum depth is 6 meters.

From 1617 to 1710, and it became a fortress Parnu Sweden. The new rulers to direct their efforts to strengthen the fortifications. Fortifications designed by renowned expert Eric Dahlberg, have increased the area of ​​the fortress in 2, 5 times. Part of the old buildings were demolished, existed bastions of left only the North-West North-East and the Red Tower.

Red Tower was a prison from the 16th century. In 1624, the tower was a four-story building with a prison floor. In the years of the Russian Empire, is also home to the city jail. In this tower served their sentences, some participants of the Pugachev rebellion, and Stepan Danilovich Yefremov - military Ataman of the Don Cossacks in 1753-1772 gg., Participated in 1762 in a palace coup, which resulted in the Empress became Catherine II.

However, repeated escapes of prisoners from the tower showed that this place is not really suitable for the maintenance of criminals. In 1818, the Russian government demanded that the city stopped using the tower as a prison, as the closest residential buildings made it difficult to find quality health of prisoners, and demanded to build a new jail. However, the implementation of this solution was spread over many years. Only in 1892 it was built a new prison building. In the same year Chief of the prisons of the Russian Empire, who arrived on a visit to Pärnu, approved the act, which confirms the compliance of the new prison building with modern requirements.

Well, in the Red Tower decided to put the city archives. For this purpose, the tower was reconstructed as a result of which it acquired the appearance that we see today. The tower was the archival premises until 1908. In 1973-1980 it has been carried out the restoration of the tower, where the red brick veneer was not restored.

Today, the Red Tower is a great place to visit with family or friends. Today the building of the tower is an art gallery and workshop of craftsmen. Here you can buy unique souvenirs and handmade products, including souvenirs made out of used glass. You can also cast your own souvenir glass or try to make a stained-glass window. In the courtyard of the Red Tower every summer Hanseatic fair, workshops and other cultural events.