Ruin of unfinished Gothic church / Nedokoncený gotický chrám - Panenský Týnec (North-West Bohemia)
N 50° 17.768 E 013° 55.001
33U E 422840 N 5572117
Ruin of monumental unfinished Gothic church, a part of former complex of St. Claire convent, is the key architectural dominant of village Panenský Týnec near town Louny (North-West Bohemia).
Waymark Code: WM843A
Location: Ústecký kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 01/24/2010
Views: 192
Visible from afar, ruin of monumental unfinished Gothic church (...according the project in size of cathedral), is the key architectural dominant of village Panenský Týnec. The ruin originates from the end of XIVth century (1382), when the church's construction started. Following Hussite wars broke the work on the building and this work discontinued finally forever...
The history and fortune of village Panenský Týnec is deeply interconnected with the Convent of St. Claire, which was centuries the most important village's object. And the Convent gave to the village also adjective in its name...
The village's name "Týnec" is derived from the word "Týn" or an old Celtic word "Taun" which means "palisade-fortified". The adjective "Panenský / Virgin" was later added thanks to nuns of the Order of St. Claire from the above mentioned local convent. The first written mention of Týnec comes from 1115 and is related to Kladruby monastery and the village itself was mentioned in 1186.
The powerful Czech noble house of Žirotín had a cardinal influence on the development of the region. The first known representative of the house, Jan of Žirotín, allegedly built Žirotín Castle between 1230-1253. His son Habart founded and richly donated the newly-established Convent of the order of St. Claire as a thanksgiving because his wife nad been healed by St. Agnes of Bohemia, who represented and protected the order. We also suppose St. Agnes of Bohemia lived here at the end of her life. Members of the house of Žirotín intended to built a three-nave Gothic church that was not finished unfortunately.