Prince Wolfgang and Princess Gabrielle von und zu Liechtenstein visited the town of Strání on Thursday, October 3rd. They accepted a private invitation from Thomas and Eva Dänemark (Houstova), a native of Strání who has been living in Vienna for a long time but remains a true Strání local at heart. During their visit, the guests explored three locations in Strání connected to the Liechtenstein family. Their itinerary included the Květná 1794 glassworks, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the hunting lodge.
The first stop was the glassworks, where the distinguished guests were welcomed by children from the local arts school, led by headmistress Anna Přikrylová. Prince Wolfgang and Princess Gabrielle then toured the new museum exhibition, recently installed in the glassworks villa. Both visitors appreciated the panels showcasing the history and the display of historical glass.
"It is important to constantly remind ourselves of history. I had no idea that it was one of our ancestors, Alois I, who founded the glassworks. I also like the exhibition of historical glass; there are truly beautiful pieces here," Prince Wolfgang expressed his satisfaction during the tour.
The most impactful part of the visit for everyone involved was the tour of the manual glassmaking process. Princess Gabriella even tried her hand at glassblowing. Both members of the Liechtenstein family showed immense interest in every detail of the production. They attentively observed each step of the manufacturing process with great enthusiasm. Neither the prince nor the princess held back their praise.
"I have never seen manual glassmaking before. I had no idea how much effort goes into creating a handmade glass to serve its purpose," remarked Prince Wolfgang, who will celebrate his 90th birthday this year.
"It was a great honor for us to welcome such distinguished guests. Both the prince and the princess showed genuine interest in the fate of the glassworks," expressed Josef Anovčín, the executive director of the glassworks.
The group then made a brief stop at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, originally built in 1748 by the estate owner, Prince Václav of Liechtenstein, on the site of an ancient church and cemetery. Although the original church was destroyed by fire in 1893 and replaced with a new structure, the visit prompted reflections on the former Liechtenstein estate owners, who greatly contributed to the development of the town.
The final destination of the visit was the hunting lodge, which Gundakar of Liechtenstein transformed into its current Renaissance style sometime after 1650. Today, the lodge serves as a restaurant and guesthouse, with halls and spaces available for gatherings and celebrations.
Prince Wolfgang of Liechtenstein (Wolfgang von und zu Liechtenstein) was born in 1934 as the fourth child and second son of Prince Karl Alois of Liechtenstein and his wife, Elisabeth of Urach. From 1996 to 2001, he served as the ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to Switzerland. In 2010, the reigning Prince Hans-Adam II awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for his loyal advocacy of the nation’s and the royal house's interests, as well as his significant contributions to the country's development. He is also a board member of the Friends of Yad Vashem organization in Liechtenstein.
Princess Gabrielle, née Countess Gabriela Basselet de la Rosée (*1949), is the daughter of Count Franz Xaver Basselet de la Rosée and his wife, Eleonore von Lobkowicz. The couple has two children: Princess Stephanie Elisabeth Eleonore (*1976) and Prince Leopold Franz Karl (*1978).
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