The Red Tower is a squat medieval survivor hidden in the modern city centre. It is the last visible remnant of Pärnu's old castle, which makes it more important than its size suggests. The name is a little misleading now, but the tower still carries the weight of the town's Hanseatic and Livonian past.
Inside, a small exhibition and panoramic film presentation introduce medieval Pärnu. It is a short stop, not a half-day museum, but it is exactly the kind of small historical fragment that rewards wandering beyond the beach.