Church of Our Lady in front of Týn

The Church of St. Mary of Týn, known as the Church of Our Lady in front of Týn, is one of the architectural jewels of Prague, a Gothic emblem that dominates the skyline of the Old Town. Built from the 14th century, this church represents not only a place of worship, but also a historical and artistic symbol that reflects the city’s political and religious vicissitudes. The first traces of a church on the site date back to the 11th century, when a Romanesque church served foreign merchants who crowded the nearby Týn courtyard. However, the current Gothic structure took shape in 1256, and its development continued over the centuries under the influence of great architects such as Matthias of Arras and Peter Parler. The latter, also known for his work on St. Vitus Cathedral, significantly contributed to the construction of the church, which was completed in the 15th century during the reign of George of Poděbrady. During the Hussite period, the Týn church became a center of great importance for the followers of Jan Hus. The future Archbishop of Prague, Jan Rokycana, was vicar of this church from 1427, and under his patronage, the church became a symbol of the reform movement. During this period, a sculpture of George of Poděbrady was placed on the facade of the church along with a large golden chalice, a symbol of the Hussites. However, this chalice was removed in 1626 during the Catholic Counter-Reformation and replaced by a statue of the Virgin Mary, a symbol of Catholic triumph. The church suffered significant damage in 1679 due to a lightning strike that caused a fire, destroying the old vault. The vault was later replaced by a lower one in Baroque style. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the church underwent several restorations, the last of which between 1973 and 1995 sought to restore the original Gothic appearance. Architecturally, the Church of Týn is a Gothic masterpiece with two twin towers standing 80 meters high, which have become a distinctive symbol of Prague’s skyline. The towers are characterized by Gothic pinnacles, corner turrets, and intricate decorations. The interior of the church houses important Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance works of art, including a main altar from 1649 with a painting by Karel Škréta and a stone canopy from 1493, probably the work of Matěj Rejsek’s workshop. A distinctive feature of the church is the northern portal, decorated with a relief depicting the Crucifixion, attributed to Parler’s workshop. This portal is one of the most important examples of pre-Hussite Czech Gothic sculpture. The Church of St. Mary of Týn is also the burial place of illustrious figures such as Tycho Brahe, the Danish astronomer whose stellar observations without the use of a telescope revolutionized the understanding of the starry sky before the era of Galileo. His tomb is located inside the church, marked by a commemorative plaque.