CHURCH, TAVERN, AND CABBAGE GARDEN . The dull everyday life in a small mediaeval town

An exhibition of the everyday life of a medieval town dweller.

Finds unearthed during archaeological excavations on the territory of the former Uus Pärnu (in English – New-Pärnu) tell stories about the everyday life of the people who lived here 500–600 years ago. Town laws and civic ordinances, together with the restrictions and freedoms that came with the class-based social order, regulated people’s lives in the public space of the city down to what are very personal details in today’s terms. However, the everyday life, view of the world, and daily and yearly rhythms of the mediaeval person were mostly determined by the church – if only because life followed the rhythm dictated by church holidays.

Amidst all the norms and rules, the bourgeoisie of Uus-Pärnu lived their lives within the city walls as best they could – living by trade or handicrafts, sleeping in a wooden or stone house that they owned or rented, dressing according to their class, eating and drinking what they could afford, nourishing their body and soul, and finding entertainment every now and then.

Authors of the exhibition: Margo Samorokov, Katrin Suu
Design: Indrek Aija
Pärnu Museum 2023

All the exhibits belong to the collections of Pärnu Museum.
You can find the items on the stands and the Russian and Finnish translations of the exhibition on the second floor of the Red Tower.

The exhibition is open
from TUESDAY to SUNDAY
10:00-18.00

Contact us:
visit@pernau.ee
+372 443 3488 (during opening hours)