Czernin Palace, Prague

Renowned as Prague's largest Baroque palace, this monumental structure was constructed between 1669 and 1682, resulting in the demolition of two entire streets to accommodate its grandeur. Commissioned by Count Humprecht Jan Černín, a former imperial ambassador to Venice known for his towering self-importance, the palace boasts an impressive 150-meter-long facade adorned with thirty Palladian half-columns and embellished with diamond-pointed rustication, commanding attention over the charming grassy square adjacent to the Loreta.

Since 1918, the palace has served as the headquarters of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and during World War II, it briefly served as the residence of the Nazi governor ("Reichsprotektor"). However, its most infamous moment came on March 10, 1948, during Prague's third—and most mourned—defenestration. Following the Communist coup, Jan Masaryk, the only son of Czechoslovakia's founder and the last non-Communist cabinet member, tragically fell to his death from the top-floor bathroom window of the palace. Masaryk's untimely demise cast a somber shadow over the new regime for many, symbolizing the dark turn of events.