Panenské Břežany: Discover History and Culture

Panenské Břežany is a destination for travelers who want to experience cultural history not only through representative architecture, but also through specific memorial sites and an unusual exhibition. The first floor of the Upper Castle houses the modern multimedia exhibition “Zločin a trest.” It also includes a replica of the Pankrác guillotine, giving a striking historical focus to a visit. The combination of multimedia presentation and a concrete historical object offers two different ways of engaging with the subject: the exhibition provides context, while the replica creates an immediate, tangible connection.

Castles and Commemorative Culture

The Upper Castle was built around the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries as an economic and administrative center. During the Nazi occupation, it became the seat of State Secretary Karl Hermann Frank. In regional comparison with Central Bohemia and the area around Prague, the Lower Castle is of great architectural, artistic, and urban-planning significance and is considered a unique structure there. During the Nazi occupation, it first housed Reich Protector Konstantin von Neurath and later Deputy Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich and his family.

The Memorial to National Oppression and Resistance in Panenské Břežany commemorates the Nazi occupation of the Czech lands. Its current interactive exhibition is titled “Zločin a trest” (“Crime and Punishment”). The castle park is part of this memorial. Important for planning your visit: the Lower Castle and the adjacent park are not open to the public. This allows you to explore the site with realistic expectations regarding the areas that are accessible and inaccessible.

Chapel of St. Anne and Special Cultural Events

The Chapel of St. Anne provides another architectural highlight. It was built in 1705–1707 according to plans by Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel, is among his earliest works, and is considered a prototype of his radial style. The Chapel of St. Anne is available year-round as a venue for weddings. Thus, alongside commemorative culture, a representative historic setting for special occasions is also a focus. The date of construction and its early place in the architect’s body of work give the building a clear art-historical significance. At the same time, its year-round use as a wedding venue complements the historical visit with a contemporary event function.

Practical Information on Site

The castle with the PNÚO exhibition and the Chapel of St. Anne are accessible to people with disabilities. Accessible toilets and a spacious modern elevator are also available. Free parking is available in front of the castle. Buses must park in the municipal parking lot on Akátová Street. If you would like to study the collections in greater depth, the PNUO library can be used on site after reserving the desired materials in advance. Those who wish not only to visit the exhibition but also to work with reserved materials will find a dedicated access point to PNUO in the library. The research and educational program is intended for grammar-school students, students at secondary schools, and older elementary-school students, explicitly including several school levels.

Further Destinations for Your Research

For further travel planning, you can also explore Velké Popovice, Křenek, Pacov, Nehvizdy, Zlonín, Zapy, Hrusice, and Vodochody.

For the higher-level travel overview: Prague-East District.