Liechtenstein Family Vault, Noble family tomb in Vranov, Czech Republic

The Liechtenstein Family Vault lies beneath the crypt of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary at the Vranov u Brna monastery. Its Empire-style entrance, built 1812–1815, has a Doric portal with a princely coat of arms flanked by two seated angels holding lowered, extinguished torches. Fourteen steps lead down through a cast-iron double grille into a three-nave burial chapel on four pairs of Doric columns.

The church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was founded in 1617 by Maximilian of Liechtenstein and his wife Kateřina Černohorská of Boskovice, and its crypt served as the family tomb from the start; Karl I, the first reigning prince, was buried here. The crypt proved too small and damp, so a new vault in Empire style was added in 1818–1821 under Prince Johann I. Confiscated in 1945, it was restored by Prince Hans-Adam II in 2012–2015.

The vault is the only burial place of the rulers of one state lying on the territory of another: all 14 reigning princes from Karl I (1569–1627) to Franz I (1853–1938) rest here. The last burial, the 62nd, was Princess Maria Benedikta in 1992, at her own request; Franz Josef II was buried in Vaduz in 1989.

The vault is not open to the public: by agreement with Czech authorities it stays closed to protect the monument and its sensitive climate. Visitors can see the exterior portal with its Doric columns, tympanum and princely coat of arms guarded by two seated angels with lowered torches, on the square above the church.

The vault is the only burial place of the rulers of one state located on the territory of another: all 14 reigning princes of Liechtenstein, from Karl I (1569–1627) to Franz I (1853–1938), lie here. The last interment, the 62nd, was Princess Maria Benedikta in 1992.