Týn Church, Prague, Czechia

Týn Church (Czech: Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem, the Church of Our Lady before Týn) is the Gothic church whose two spiky towers, about 80 meters high, dominate Prague’s Old Town Square. Often called Týn Cathedral by visitors, it is in fact a parish church, built from the mid-14th to the early 16th century on the site of an older Romanesque church; its name comes from the Týn, the enclosed courtyard behind it where foreign merchants paid customs. In the 15th century it was the main church of the Hussites in Prague.

The church is hidden behind the houses on the square: you enter through a narrow passage under the arcades of the former Týn School. Inside, the Gothic nave is filled with Baroque altars, including the main altar with paintings by Karel Škréta (1649), the oldest organ in Prague (1673) and the tomb of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who died in Prague in 1601.

Týn Church is an active parish, so it is open to visitors only at set times, and entry is free, with a small donation welcome. The best view of the towers is from the middle of Old Town Square or from the tower of the Old Town Hall opposite, and the church is also a popular venue for concerts.

Key points:

• Official name: Church of Our Lady before Týn.
• Towers: about 80 m high.
• Highlights: Škréta’s main altar (1649), Prague’s oldest organ (1673), the tomb of Tycho Brahe.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–12:00 and 15:00–17:00, Sunday 10:00–12:00, closed on Mondays; times may change because of services.
• Entry: free, donation welcome.
• Nearby: Old Town Square, Old Town Hall and the Astronomical Clock.