Princess and Heir of Franz Ferdinand Fights to Repeal a Law and Gain a Castle - Konopište (Central Bohemia)
N 49° 46.774 E 014° 39.406
33U E 475289 N 5514179
The article in New York Times (February 19, 2007) informed readers about dispute in a case of legal claim of Princess von Hohenberg in restitution of Chateau Konopište (but only from her side...).
Waymark Code: WMMNXC
Location: Středočeský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 10/16/2014
Views: 57
The article in New York Times (February 19, 2007) informed readers about dispute in a case of legal claim of Princess von Hohenberg in restitution of Chateau Konopište (but only from her side...).
Chateau Konopište, located about 50 km southeast of Prague, has become famous as the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir of the Austro-Hungarian throne, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered World War I. The bullet that killed him, fired by Gavrilo Princip, is now an exhibit at the castle's museum.
In 2006, Princess Sophie von Hohenberg, a descendant of Franz Ferdinand, claimed for the restitution of the castle to her family, which was never recognized as part of the House of Habsburg, on the ground that the provisions of Article 208 of the Treaty of Saint Germain, and the Article 3 of Law no. 354 of 1921 in Czechoslovakia, do not apply to them. She filed a lawsuit in December 2000 in Benešov, the nearest city, for the Castle and its dependencies comprising 6,070 hectares (15,000 acres) of woodland and including a brewery.
Eventually, in 2009, Sophie von Hohenberg lost this juridical battle and her claims were refused by court. Reason was simple - the Chateau was acquired by state as result of the WWI and decline of Empire and restitution claims for this property was against the law...