Could a palace in Prague have a connection to a plumbing millionaire from Chicago? Look at this magnificent building. This is the Schu00f6nborn Palace. It may not have the elaborate fountains and gardens of its Viennese namesake but its history is no less captivating. The Schu00f6nborn Palace we see now wasn’t the first to stand on this spot. After its predecessor’s destruction during the Thirty Years’ War, Rudolf von Colloredo built the current palace. He designed the palace with a unique feature. He had lost a leg in the Battle of Lutzen. He didn’t let this stop him from enjoying his residence. He had the steps to the garden terrace built with a gentle incline so he could ride his horse right up to the entrance. Over time, the palace passed into the hands of the Schu00f6nborn family. They were the ones who ultimately gave the palace its current name. Now, here’s where that Chicago connection comes in. After World War I, the palace was acquired by Richard Crane, grandson of a wealthy Chicago plumbing magnate. Crane, the first U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, eventually sold the Schu00f6nborn Palace to the United States Government in 1925 for $117,000. Today, this former residence of Bohemian nobility serves as the home of the U.S. Embassy. It stands as a symbol of the enduring ties between two nations with a shared history. So, the next time you think of plumbing, just remember that it also played a role in shaping the history of this grand palace in the heart of Prague.
Dolní Břežany
Could this grand Renaissance castle have once been a humble medieval fortress? It’s true! This is Dolní Břežany, dominated by