Red Tower (Punane Torn) description and photos - Estonia: Parnu (Topic)

Red Tower (Punane Torn) description and photos - Estonia: Parnu. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Punane Torn.

Photo and description

The Red Tower is the oldest architectural monument in Parnu, practically the only surviving medieval defensive structure. In the 14th century, the city of Parnu became part of the union of Hanseatic trading cities. The city flourished playing an important commercial role. It is believed that a fortress wall with a large number of towers was built around the city in the same century. In the southeastern 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 clad inside and outside with red bricks, which, most likely, got its name. The Red Tower or Prison Tower was used as a detention center for criminals. The prison was located in the lower underground tier, the maximum depth of which was 6 meters.

From 1617 to 1710, Parnu became a fortress in Sweden. The new rulers directed their efforts to strengthen the defensive structures. The fortifications, designed by the renowned expert Eric Dahlberg, increased the territory of the fortress by 2.5 times. Some of the old buildings were demolished, of the existing bastions, only the North-West North-East, as well as the Red Tower were left.

The Red Tower has been a prison since the 16th century. In 1624 the tower was a four-story building with a prison floor. During the years of the Russian Empire, there was also a city prison here. Some participants of the Pugachev uprising, as well as Stepan Danilovich Efremov, military chieftain of the Don Army in 1753-1772, served their sentences in this tower, participated in a palace coup in 1762, as a result of which Catherine II became empress.

However, repeated escapes of prisoners from the tower showed that this place is not quite suitable for keeping criminals. In 1818, the Russian government demanded that the city stop using the tower as a prison, as the proximity of residential buildings made it difficult for the quality guard of the prisoners, and demanded the construction of a new prison. However, the implementation of this decision dragged on for many years. And only in 1892 a new prison building was built. In the same year, the head of the Main Directorate of Prisons of the Russian Empire, who arrived in Parnu on a visit, approved an act confirming the compliance of the new prison building with modern requirements.

Well, in the Red Tower they decided to place the city archives. For these purposes, the tower was reconstructed, as a result of which it acquired the form that we can observe today. The tower was an archive room until 1908. In 1973-1980, the tower was refurbished and the red brick cladding was not restored.

Today, the Red Tower is a great place to visit with family or friends. Today, the tower houses an art gallery and a craft workshop. Here you can buy unique souvenirs and handicrafts, including souvenirs made from used glass. Alternatively, you can cast a glass souvenir yourself or try to make a stained glass window. In the courtyard of the Red Tower, the Hanseatic Fair is held every summer, master classes, and other cultural events.

We also recommend reading Zambezi National Park description and photos - Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls

Topic: Red Tower (Punane Torn) description and photos - Estonia: Parnu.