The Lower Chateau at Panenské Břežany — from Bloch-Bauer’s estate to Heydrich’s residence

Story period: Built after 1828 · seized after 1939 · Heydrich’s residence in spring 1942

Location: Lower Chateau, Panenské Břežany

The Lower Chateau at Panenské Břežany was built in the nineteenth century and later belonged to industrialist Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. After German seizure, it housed first Konstantin von Neurath, then Reinhard Heydrich and his family. Heydrich left here for Prague on 27 May 1942; Kubiš and Gabčík attacked him en route in Libeň. The Upper Chateau, now a memorial, was a different residence associated with Karl Hermann Frank.

The younger of two chateaux

after 1828

The Lower Chateau followed the nineteenth-century purchase of the estate.

Matyáš Friedrich von Riese-Stallburg bought the estate in 1828 and built the Lower Chateau. It was younger than the Upper Chateau, whose origins reach back to the turn of the eighteenth century. Their histories and locations are distinct and should not be confused on the map.

Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer’s summer residence

before 1939

The Lower Chateau was remodelled for its prewar owner.

After the Riese-Stallburg family, the property passed to sugar-industry entrepreneur Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. He had the Lower Chateau adapted as an expensive summer residence. His ownership is part of the site’s history and should not be eclipsed by its wartime use.

Seized for occupation officials

after 1939–spring 1942

The Lower and Upper Chateaux housed different Nazi officials.

After the Protectorate was established, German occupation authorities seized the chateaux. Reich Protector Konstantin von Neurath lived in the Lower Chateau, followed by Acting Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich and his family. Karl Hermann Frank used the Upper Chateau. The memorial’s present location there therefore does not identify Heydrich’s home.

The journey to the attack site

27 May 1942

Heydrich left the Lower Chateau for Prague.

Heydrich drove from the Lower Chateau towards Prague that morning. His route passed the bend below Vychovatelna, where his car had to slow down and Kubiš and Gabčík attacked. The chateau is the documented journey’s starting point, not the attack site itself.

The Lower Chateau’s historical identity is established, but verified building geometry is not available in this collection. Neither the Upper Chateau’s point nor the village centre is substituted.

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