The village of Panenská Břežany.
History of the village of Panenské Břežany
Panenské Břežany was the property of the Benedictine monastery at St. George at Prague Castle, until its abolition under Joseph II.
The first verified written report about the fortress in Panenské Břežany dates from 1441. Today's baroque castle was built in the first half of the 18th century, but the exact date is not known. It is a simple rectangular building, highlighted only by a balcony in the facade. The chapel of St. located in the park is an architectural addition to the castle. Anny, rebuilt in 1705 - 1707 by J. Santini. After the dissolution of the monastery, the castle was bought in 1820 by August Ledebour-Wicheln, whose ownership was succeeded by Johann Somsich in 1823 and then by Matyáš Friedrich Riese-Stallburg in 1828. In 1909, the manor Emil Gerstel bought the castle and he lived here until his emigration in 1938. The castle was then occupied by the Nazi leader K.H. Frank. After the liberation, the castle became the property of the state and was adapted as a retirement home...
The short history of the lower castle in Panenské Břežany begins around 1840, not long after Matyáš Friedrich von Riese-Stallburg became the owner of the estate. More precise time data about the construction are not yet known, it is only known that the construction dragged on and exhausted the owner financially.
Therefore, the entire complex incl. the estates were taken over by the Economic and Credit Bank in 1901 and sold in 1909 for the benefit of creditors. The castle was bought by Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, who, however, no longer influenced the external appearance of the building. Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer went into exile after the collapse of the First Republic. Reich Protector von Neurath and after him Reinhard Heidrich settled in the castle.
After the war, the castle was nationalized and modified. It housed the Research Institute of Metals. It is now again in private ownership and restoration work has begun.
The castle is a large single-storey building with a colonnaded balcony on the east side, highlighted by a clock tower and surrounded by a park. Both the castle and the adjacent park are closed to the public.