Discover Kralovice

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Kralovice and the church complex at Mariánská Týnice offer different ways to explore church and architectural history. In Kralovice, the focus is on a historical mention, a 16th-century renovation and specific architectural features. Mariánská Týnice brings its former pilgrimage function, monastic history and museum into focus. If you are looking for a hotel in Kralovice, these topics can help you decide on the cultural focus of your trip.

Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Kralovice

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is first mentioned in records dating from the mid-13th century. From 1575 to 1581, it was renovated by Florian Gryspek. These two dates are far apart and provide different historical reference points: the early written mention and the later renovation. The architectural features also belong to different parts of the church. The exterior walls of the nave are made of dark red, unplastered bricks; the west entrance has a Renaissance portal. The Gryspek family crypt is located beneath the side chapel. The term “nave” refers to the church’s elongated main space; the description of the brickwork therefore applies to this part of the building. The portal and crypt, on the other hand, refer to other precisely identified areas. This makes it possible to consider the building form, materials and family history separately, rather than grouping them together as a single feature.

Mariánská Týnice: Pilgrimage History and Architecture

Mariánská Týnice was a former pilgrimage site and a former provostry of the Cistercian monastery in Plasy. The monastery acquired Mariánská Týnice in 1230 from its then owner, Roman z Týnce. Its connection to the monastery in Plasy places the site’s former function within an institutional history. The Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary has the floor plan of an isosceles so-called Greek cross. The pilgrimage complex was built according to plans by Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel. This makes it possible to consider the church’s layout and the planning of the complex as related but distinct architectural aspects. Mariánská Týnice has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964; in 2018, it was declared a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This chronology distinguishes its protection as a cultural monument from its later designation as a national cultural monument.

Museum and Trip Planning

The Museum and Gallery of the North Pilsen Region in Mariánská Týnice has permanent exhibitions on the historical development of this region. The museum also offers the interactive children’s route “Muzeem všemi smysly.” The permanent exhibitions focus on regional history, while the route is a specifically interactive offer for children. You can take these different museum topics into account when planning your trip, without conflating them with the churches’ architectural features.

A bus runs from Kralovice to Vysoká Libyně, the starting point of the “Cesta slovanských bohů” educational trail. If you would like to include the trail in your plans, take the bus connection into account and check the timetable before travelling. Your choice of destination can therefore draw on church and museum history as well as a direct connection to an educational trail.

Discover more destinations: Nečtiny, Úněšov, Chříč, Hvozd, Česká Bříza, Manetin, Všehrdy, Třemošná.

For the wider travel overview: Plzeň-Sever District.