Church of Our Lady before Týn
From Prague-wiki
The Church of Our Lady Before Týn, or Týn Church, (Týnský Chrám in Czech) is a Gothic church, dominating one side of the Old Town Square. It is undoubtedly the most significant church building on the right bank of Vltava river. The two spires of this powerful looking church can be seen from all over Prague and it is considered to be one of the essential dominant features of the historical town centre. It has been the main church of the Old Town since the 14th century. It is now seat of a Roman Catholic Parish, covering great part of the Old Town and comprising also Church of Saint James the Greater, Church of Saint Castulus and Church of Saint Gall.
Contents |
[edit] History
First Church standing on this site was a Romanesque church built in 11th century, which was built there for foreign merchants coming to the near Týn Courtyard. First mention of a church of Our Lady on this site dates to 1135. Later, in 1256 an early Gothic three-aisled church was built here, but this church was much smaller than the present one.
Current magnificent three-aisled basilica, which greatly surmounts the surrounding houses, was founded probably in 1360. 20 years later, the presbytery and the side aisled were completed. It was built in the late Gothic style by an unknown Czech architect under the influence of Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler. In the beginning of the 15th century the west front was built and before the outbreak of the Hussite wars the main nave was vaulted.
The parson of the Týn Church used to be the parson of the Charles University at the same time. This connection and activity of the outstanding preachers of the time (such as Conrad Waldhauser and Jan Milíč of Kroměříž) made this church the intellectual centre of Prague. During the Hussite wars, the church was occupied by Hussites for some time, including Jan Rokycana, future Utraquist archbishop of Prague, who became the church's parson in 1427. After the wars had ended, it was planned to cover the church with a roof, but the wood for the roof was instead used to build a gallows for Hussite leader Jan Roháč of Dubá and his 50 companions. They were executed at the Old Town Square as the last Hussite warriors.
In 1457 the roof of the church was completed, using the wood intended for festive tribunes for the wedding of Czech King Ladislaus the Posthumous with French Princess Magdalena. Ladislus died before the wedding was arranged, so there wasn't need for the tribunes any more. The gable was completed in 1463 and the northern tower in 1466. During the reign of George of Poděbrady, called the "Hussite King", a statue of the ruler and a Hussite symbol of a chalice were placed on the church.
The southern tower was not completed until 1511, under Architect Matěj Rejsek. In 1626, after the Battle of White Mountain, sculptures of George of Poděbrady and the chalice were removed and replaced by Madonna figure.
At the end of the 17th century, the interior of the church underwent light Baroque modifications, but unlike many churches in Prague, the Gothic exterior remained intact. In 1679 the church was struck by lightning, and the subsequent fire heavily damaged the old, late Gothic vault of the nave and presbytery, so it had to be replaced by a lower Baroque vault.
On 29 June 1819 the northern tower was struck by lightning again. I the subsequent fire its bell was melted. The damage was repaired by 1835. In 1876-1895 great renovation works were carried out. Some of the Neo-Gothic alterations were later reversed during extensive exterior renovation works in the years 1973-1995. When this long exterior renovation ended, restoration of the interior started, which is still in progress.
[edit] Architecture
Týn Church is impressive by day, striking by night, lit up against the dark night sky. The towers are 80 metres high. If you take a close look at them, you'll notice they are not symmetrical. This is characteristic of the Gothic architecture of the time and is a representation of both the masculine and feminine sides of the world.
Due to the fire and the confiscations of the wars, the towers have only two bells. The bell in the south tower, a queen among the Prague tower bells, called Marie, is a masterpiece from 1553 and weighs 6 450 kg. It was made by Thomas Jaroš. The north tower was equipped with a bell consecrated to Pieta and St. Agnes of Bohemia in 1992. The bell was struck in the Manoušek family foundary in Zbraslav and weighs 960 kg.
The church itself is 52 metres long and 28 metres wide.
The north is a wonderful example of Gothic sculpture from the Petr Parléř workshop, with a relief depicting the Crucifixion. The main entrance is located on the church's western face, through a narrow passage between the houses in front of the church.
[edit] Furnishing
The interior of the Church is one of the richest you can see in Prague. There are many Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque works of art. There is a Gothic tinny font from 1414, the oldest one in Prague. You can see a Gothic stone baldachin by Matěj Rejsek from 1493 on the pillars.
The early Baroque altarpiece is decorated with painting of the Assumption of Our Lady by Karel Škréta from around 1649 and the sculptures by Jiří Bendl. There are 19 altars in the church altogether.
The church organ, made by Hans Heinrich Mundt in 1673, is the oldest one in Prague. It is one of the most representative 17th century organs in Europe.
There are many tombstones in the church. The most famous person buried there is the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who worked for the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II in the 16th century on his Prague Court. His beautiful marble tomb slab is located at the first pillar on the right side of the nave. A legend says, that also a heart of King George of Poděbrady is buried there, whereas his body rests in the crypt of Czech Kings in the Cathedral of Saint Vitus at the Prague Castle.
