Church of Our Lady before Týn

The Church of Our Lady before Týn

The Prague audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation before the Church of Our Lady before Týn, whose silhouette, at once charming and forbidding, dominates the Old Town Square. With its towers bristling with points, it is one of the most recognisable emblems of the capital.

A Gothic jewel built in four stages

Replacing a former Romanesque church, Our Lady before Týn was built in four stages spread between 1380 and 1511. This Gothic building is distinguished by its tall, narrow proportions and its two twin towers crowned with sharp spires, which reach eighty metres. Over the centuries, it was a high place of the religious history of Prague, notably linked to the Hussite movement.

What there is to see

Inside, the church houses a rich baroque decor, adorned altars and the tomb of the astronomer Tycho Brahe, who lived in Prague. Its soaring vaults and its atmosphere of contemplation invite silence. From the square, its two spires, especially illuminated in the evening, compose one of the most striking images of Prague, to be contemplated with respect.

Practical information

The Church of Our Lady before Týn stands on the Old Town Square, in the heart of Prague. An active place of worship, it is visited with respect for the contemplation of the faithful; access is generally free during opening hours, which may vary according to services. Appropriate dress is appreciated.

When was the Church of Our Lady before Týn built?

In four stages spread between 1380 and 1511, replacing a former Romanesque church.

Which famous figure is buried there?

The astronomer Tycho Brahe, who lived in Prague, rests in the Church of Our Lady before Týn.