Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP SIGHTS
CHURCH OF OUR LADY BEFORE TÝN
OFFLINE MAP
Its distinctive twin Gothic spires make the Church of Our Lady Before Týn an un-
mistakable Old Town landmark. Like something out of a 15th-century fairytale,
they loom over the Old Town Square, decorated with a golden image of the Viri-
gin Mary made in the 1620s from the melted-down Hussite chalice that previ-
ously adorned the church.
The church's name originates from the Týn Courtyard behind the church.
Though impressively Gothic on the outside, the church's interior is smothered in
heavy baroque. Two of the most interesting features are the huge rococo
altar
on the northern wall and the
tomb of Tycho Brahe
, the Danish astronomer who
was one of Rudolf II's most illustrious court scientists (he died in 1601 of a burst
bladder following a royal piss-up - he was too polite to leave the table to relieve
himself).
As for the church's exterior, the north portal overlooking Týnská ulička is
topped by a remarkable
14th-century tympanum
that shows the Crucifixion. It
was carved by the workshop of Charles IV's favourite architect, Peter Parler.
(This is a copy; the original is in the Lapidárium.)
The church is an occasional concert venue and has a very grand-sounding
pipe organ.
DON'T MISS...
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View of the floodlit spires at night
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Tympanum depicting the Crucifixion
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Tycho Brahe's tomb
