Chiesa di Santa Maria di Týn
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The Church of Our Lady before Týn is one of the most important Gothic churches in Prague. Its two towers dominate the Old Town Square.
From its origins to Gothic
Already in Romanesque times there was a small church here. In the 1200s it was replaced by a smaller Gothic church. Today's church was born in the mid-1300s as the main church of the Old Town.
The Hussites and their church
In the 1400s the church passed to the followers of Jan Hus. Jan Rokycana was parish priest here, and he is buried here. In those years the gable and the first tower were built.
The second tower was finished in 1511. In 1679 a fire damaged the church: the nave was lowered and covered with Baroque vaults.
An art gallery
The church is 52 metres long and the central nave is 44 metres high. Inside there are Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque works, including paintings by Karel Škréta.
The church is best seen from the square, behind the houses of the Týn school. In the evening the towers are lit up and can be seen from many places in the city. For many visitors they are their favourite memory of Prague.
