The Liechtensteins have restored their family tomb in Vranov near Brno

Vranov near Brno (Brno region) - After a three-year renovation, the restoration of the tomb of the Liechtenstein family in Vranov near Brno was completed today, where about 50 members of the princely family are buried. The work cost approximately 54 million crowns. The result was inspected today by Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein. The tomb will be opened to the public once a year, specifically on November 1st. The tomb is an extraordinary historical monument, said Zdeněk Vácha, director of the Brno Heritage Institute, to ČTK.

The tomb is owned by the Czech state, but the renovations were funded by Liechtenstein. Before the work began, the building was in very poor condition. Rainwater was leaking into it, and the vent channels in the property near the church in Vranov were blocked. Construction work began to be planned as early as 2010. "The poor condition of the tomb had a direct impact on the deteriorating condition of the sarcophagi and also the remains contained within them," Vácha stated. The tomb was commissioned by Prince Maximilian (1578-1643) in the Vranov monastery, which is home to the Pauline order. Burials began in the early 17th century. The last person buried there was Prince Francis I in 1938. Other restored noble tombs in the region include the tomb of the Dietrichsteins in Mikulov and the tomb of the Mitrovský family in Doubravník in the Brno region.

The completion of the renovation today consisted of a mass, the consecration of the tomb, and a tour. Hans Adam II was clearly satisfied with the results of the construction work. He showed interest in the history of his ancestors within the site and greeted the residents of Vranov in front of the tomb. Before leaving, he planted a memorial tree near the church.

The renovation of the Liechtenstein tomb is one of the first major projects linking the Liechtensteins with the Czech Republic. Diplomatic relations between their principality and the Czech Republic were established only in 2009, long hampered by property disputes.

The Liechtenstein family owned extensive properties, particularly in Moravia, before World War II. These were confiscated by the communists, including the famous Lednice-Valtice complex. The legality of this action will still be discussed. The Liechtensteins have not officially requested the return of properties in the Czech Republic. They did not identify as German nationals and, according to historians, did not collaborate with the Nazis. Property was confiscated from Germans and collaborators in Czechoslovakia after World War II based on the Beneš decrees.