Liechtenstein memorial in Olšany

Liechtenstein Jubilee Memorial in Olšany is a modest historical stone monument tucked away in the forest near the village of Olšany in South Moravia, Czech Republic, on land that once belonged to the House of Liechtenstein. It is one of dozens of similar markers erected across the family's Central European estates at the close of the 19th century, honoring one of the longest-reigning monarchs in European history.

Why was this memorial built?

In 1898, forestry staff on every estate belonging to the Liechtenstein family raised commemorative stones to mark the 40th anniversary of the accession of Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who ruled from 1858 to 1929. The monument standing near Olšany — in a spot still known locally as Olšany-Blaticko — is one of the surviving examples from that jubilee campaign.

What did these jubilee memorials look like?

A typical jubilejní památník consisted of a stone slab or boulder carved with an inscription, usually in Latin and German, occasionally Czech. Foresters commonly planted the stones within specially arranged groves of oaks, combining pedunculate, sessile, and red oak in a triangular pattern, turning each memorial into a living "jubilee grove" rather than a bare marker standing alone.

Which estate did this land belong to?

The Olšany memorial stood within the forest district administered from Bučovice, one of the Liechtensteins' Moravian estate divisions. Two other memorials from the same jubilee campaign survive within the same district, at Haluzice and Věteřov — together the three form the best-preserved cluster of jubilee monuments in this part of the former estate.

What happened to the monument over time?

Many similar stones elsewhere on former Liechtenstein land did not survive the 20th century intact, and only fragmentary traces remain at several of those sites today. The three memorials in the Bučovice district, including the one at Olšany, were instead singled out for restoration: the stones were placed atop artificially built stone mounds, and the surrounding ground was cleared of overgrowth to give the monuments proper visibility again.

Who was Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein?

Johann II held the throne of Liechtenstein for 71 uninterrupted years, one of the longest reigns of any European monarch. He was known as a generous patron of the arts and as a major landowner, overseeing extensive estates in Moravia — including around Lednice and Valtice — that provided a substantial share of the family's income. Jubilee memorials like the one near Olšany were the local forestry staff's way of marking their gratitude toward their sovereign.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Olšany memorial built? In 1898, to mark the 40th anniversary of the reign of Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein.

Who does the monument commemorate? Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who ruled the principality from 1858 to 1929.

Who built it? Forestry personnel employed on the Liechtenstein family's estates, as part of a jubilee campaign carried out across all of their forest districts.

Are there similar monuments nearby? Yes — two more jubilee memorials from the same campaign survive in the Bučovice forest district, at Haluzice and Věteřov.

Was the monument ever restored? Yes, the stone was placed on an artificially built mound and the surrounding area was cleared of overgrowth, along with the memorials at Haluzice and Věteřov.