Konopiste on the map of the Czech Republic. Medieval Konopiste castle in Baroque style. Where to stay near Konopiste Castle
Hello dear friends! Do you know where Franz Ferdinand, the man whose murder became a turning point in world history, lived? This article will talk about the place that became his home, a museum, a place to relax and hone his hunting skills. All this is Konopiště Castle. It is located 50 km from Prague.
If you are traveling by car, it is worth spending the night in the castle. Because In the huge beautiful park you can walk for quite a long time and have fun. In addition, on the territory of the castle there is a brewery and original beer with scary and funny name. You have to try the beer. But more on that later.
If you are traveling with children, then pay attention: the castle has a huge collection of hunting trophies. If the child is impressionable, he may be afraid of so many killed animals.
Do you think that the office has such cute, original wallpaper with pimples? You are mistaken - these are all the antlers of killed deer and roe deer.
History of the castle
Konopiště Castle was built by order of Tobias of Benesov in the 13th century. At first it was a Gothic style building, reminiscent of French castles.
This was a powerful fortress with seven towers, fortified with ditches and earthen ramparts. Naturally, over its long history the building has been reconstructed several times.
By 1327, the castle became the property of representatives of the Sternberk family. They rebuilt the castle, turning it into a Gothic style building, and a little later added features of Renaissance architecture.
The year 1648 brought ruin and dilapidation to the castle. This is how the building was purchased at auction by Jan Josef Vrtba. Under him, the castle acquired features of the Baroque style, the height of the towers was reduced, and a southern wing was built.
But the most global restructuring awaited the castle in 1887. Then Konopiste was bought by Archduke Franz Ferdinand. A passionate fan of hunting, he equipped a mechanical shooting range on the castle grounds and added many exhibits to the existing collection of weapons.
The castle became a wonderful home for the trophies obtained by the Archduke, stuffed exotic animals, their horns and the like. Under him, running water, electricity, sewerage and even an elevator appeared for the first time on the castle grounds.
Konopiste was considered the favorite place of Franz Ferdinand. Here he collected an impressive collection of historical weapons, as well as objects with the face of St. George. On his orders, an English park was laid out around the castle, the main decoration of which was a rose garden, fountains, elegant marble statues and terraces. After the assassination of the Archduke, the castle became the property of his children.
Why is the castle the most expensive?
Konopiste Castle today - unique place, attracting beauty lovers, avid hunters and anyone interested in history. Therefore, the Czech authorities spend a lot of money to preserve the traditions of Archduke Ferdinand. Keep the park, castle, buildings on its territory, collections, plants and much more in the same excellent condition as during the lifetime of the owners.
- Franz Ferdinand loved to enjoy walks in his park - the park was in excellent condition (as during the life of the Archduke).
- He loved hunting - there is a shooting range on the castle grounds. You can shoot too. The truth is not in animals.
- Ferdinand loved his trophies - here they are. Everything is safe and sound on the walls.
- I loved art objects - here they are. The castle is the largest repository of paintings in the Czech Republic.
- Ferdinand collected a collection of knightly armor. Their condition would still please the Archduke.
- I was collecting a collection of sculptures with St. George the Victorious - everything is in place. You can watch it, walk along the alleys and feel like you are in the castle... Archduke Ferdinand.
As for his death, as you remember, Franz Ferdinand was killed in Sarajevo (7 bullets were fired at him and his family). The death of the Archduke marked the beginning of the First World War. and entailed the collapse of old powers and the creation of new ones, a new division of the territories of Europe and subsequently revolutions in Russia and other countries of the world.
So, so that we don’t think about the terrible things, the Czechs decided to humor us a little. The castle has its own brewery and its own beer. They named the brewery “Archduke”, and the beer... “Seven Bullets” (“Sedm kulí tmavé”).
I don’t know how strong the drink is and whether it can even knock you off your feet. But you need to try it.
During the Second World War, Konopiště was a storage place for captured art objects, some of which are still there today.
Every year the Czech government spends a huge amount on maintaining the castle, part of which is compensated by tourists and weddings in the castle. This historical, carefully preserved place attracts history buffs and fine architecture lovers from all over the world.
What can you see here?
- An extensive collection of works of art from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras.
- Collection of armor. These are mainly gifts from the relatives of Franz Ferdinand. Their family heirlooms.
- That same collection of Franz Ferdinand trophies. There are about 4400 copies. And this is just what is stored in Konopišt! According to legend, the Archduke shot hundreds of thousands of animals.
- No less impressive are the hunting weapons of the 16th-18th centuries. This collection is considered the third largest in Europe.
- Collection of sculptures of St. George the Victorious
From entertainment:
- Shooting range
- Walk in the park
- Beer “Seven Bullets” (Information about beer at the end of the article)
Once upon a time, under the Archduke, the park's territory occupied 350 hectares. Now it is “only” 230 hectares. You will be surprised by the variety of unusual plants planted here. The park is decorated with elegant sculptures.
You will be even more amazed by the proud peacocks walking freely along the paths of the park. A bear also lives here. Fortunately, he is not able to walk along the paths with us, but you can watch him.
Near the fortress there are several other places that attract the attention of tourists.
- One of them is a koi pond.
- The second is the Museum of Legendary Java Motorcycles.
The castle's souvenir shop will help you take home a piece of Konopiste. There you can buy films about the castle, photographs of the rose garden, park and other souvenirs.
Where to stay near Konopiste Castle
And for those wishing to extend their romantic trip, there is an opportunity to stay there overnight. We recommend staying at the hotel Benica Hotel Benesov With free parking, breakfast and swimming pool. Hotel employees speak Russian. The hotel is only 500 meters from the castle.
Now many housing options have appeared on the service AirBnb. We have written how to use this service. If you do not find a free hotel room, then look for accommodation through this booking site.
We offer some good hotel options near the castle
Working hours
- From December 1 to March 24, the castle is closed to the public.
- From March 25 to the end of May from 10.00 to 16.00 (closed Monday)
- From June to August inclusive from 10.00 to 17.00 (closed Monday)
- All September from 10.00 to 16.00 (closed Monday)
- October and November from 10.00 to 15.00. In October the castle is closed on Monday; in November the castle is open only on Saturdays and Sundays
What is the price
Visiting the castle is only possible with a guided tour, which you can take on site.
Excursions are divided into 4 routes:
- Walk through the executive and guest rooms of the south wing
- Inspection of the northern wing These are the oldest halls of the castle in the Gothic and Renaissance style.
- Separate chambers of the Franz Ferdinand family
- Hunting trophies of Franz Ferdinand
Ticket price per person is 220 CZK. If you take several excursions, you will receive a discount :)
There are excursions in Russian. The schedule of all excursions is displayed on the board at the ticket office selling entrance tickets to the castle.
There is an audio guide in Russian. Its cost is 50 CZK.
In addition to the Konopiste castle, it is possible to visit the castle on the same day. Excursions From Prague there are departures to these castles every day. You just need to book in advance.
How to get to Konopiste
- You can reach the castle by train. He leaves with central station Prague and goes to the city of Benesov. From the station (it should be behind you), turn left and reach the bridge over the railway tracks. After the bridge, keep left. The road from the station to the castle is approximately 2 km.
- By car you need to take the D1 highway until the turn to Benesov. Next, follow the signs. Parking for a day at the castle costs 60 CZK.
- Buses to Benešov go from the Roztyly metro station or from the Florenc station. At the end of the path you also need to walk.
Address: Konopiště 1, 256 01 Benešov
Castle website: www.zamek-konopiste.cz
We really hope that our story will serve as a kind of cheat sheet for you when traveling to Konopiste.
Beer “Sedm kulí tmavé” (Seven bullets)
Semi-dark, strong with herbal flavor. Manufactured in the town of Benesov, near Konopiste. The plant is called Ferdinand.
Brewery address in Benesov:
Brewer Ferdinand
Taborská 306, Benešov, 256 01 Czech Republic
www.pivovarferdinand.cz
Beer “Seven Bullets” can also be bought in Prague
Here are the addresses of pubs where you can buy and try it:
Nové Město, Opletalova 24, Prague 1 110 00
Malá Strana: Karmelitská 18, Prague 1 118 00
Opening hours: 11:00-23:00
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Built in the image and likeness of French castles in the 13th century, Konopiste is notable for the fact that at the end of the 19th century it belonged to the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand d'Este.
Czech - amazing country, in which many eras are intertwined. Here you can see a miracle of modern architecture: the Dancing House, whose bizarre shapes both frighten and fascinate at the same time. It seems that at any moment the building will simply collapse like a toy. But rarely what the tourist will pass past him, with bated breath, people climb the vintage stairs. And there, under the transparent dome, you can see the outlines of the greatest creation: Konopiste Castle.
Konopiste Castle - photo in autumn.
The seven-towered, white-foamed beauty drowns in the malachite greenery of the surrounding park.
History of Konopiste Castle
Bishop Benesevich, who lived in the 13th century, visited France several times. Impressed by the development and unusualness of its churches, he decided to build himself a castle in the same style. Initially, the castle was an absolute copy of the French ones: towers, drawbridges, a monolithic building in the Gothic style. Subsequently, the castle had many owners who contributed something of their own, rebuilt it, and added new things. In the end it worked out most interesting building, which combines Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic styles.
But in the 19th century, the castle came into the possession of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The potential heir to the throne wanted to completely remodel both the castle itself and the surrounding area. Franz Ferdinand was a keen collector, and his true passion was hunting. The Archduke wanted to perpetuate his trophies and create a unique collection, which would have no equal in the world.
A great lover and admirer of antiquity, he traveled all over the world in order to collect all the wonderful rarities: trees, weapons, flowers, armor, skins, books.
From one trip, wanting to surprise and pamper his beloved wife and daughter, the Archduke brought a real, brown bear cub. From that moment on, it became a tradition to have bears. And now you can see a Himalayan bear named Yirka on the territory of the castle.
Franz Ferdinand built the first elevator in his castle, which was almost exotic for that era. Also, all communications were installed in the castle, including sewerage. It should be noted that the Duke gravitated towards English terraces, so the garden and park area were laid out in the English style. As a result, the adjacent area turned into a luxurious garden.
The interesting thing is that everything Franz Ferdinand took on became an absolute masterpiece. The Countess was considered an unworthy match and was openly hated at court for her excessive openness of character. The reigning emperor himself did not particularly object to this marriage. But on the condition that the Austrian Archduke renounces the throne in writing.
The royal couple lived happily, the marriage brought three children. But in 1914, during a trip to Bosnia, a tragedy occurred. By that time, Herzegovina and Bosnia were completely occupied by the Austro-Hungarian alliance. Then the underground organization “Mlada Bosna” was created and its members staged an attempt on the life of the heir to the throne. The assassination attempt was successful: the crowned couple died. It was this murder that served as an acute impetus for the outbreak of the First World War, in which hundreds of innocents died.
Konopiste Castle Park
The Archduke loved to retire to the shady park located near the castle. Sometimes those close to him spent hours looking for him, only his wife, Duchess Sofia, always knew exactly where to find her husband. But she rarely disturbed her husband's peace. Franz Ferdinand ordered the park to be laid out in a purely English style: shady alleys, perfectly trimmed bushes, a luxurious rose garden of rare roses. He collected sculptural creations all over the world, placing them throughout the park. Particularly striking is the rose garden itself, surrounded by hunting sculptures made by Italian craftsmen commissioned by the Duke.
An English-style park near the castle walls.
The total area was initially about 350 hectares, but over time it has decreased slightly and is now 230 hectares. But the picturesque and marvelous garden is more like paradise: spreading tree crowns cover luxurious flowers from excess sun, dozens of bushes brought from distant countries, peacocks - the lords of greenery. All paths are immaculately cleaned and tiled. Decorative flower beds like this extraordinary beauty, that to a simple tourist it may seem that it was simply drawn by animators.
Konopiste Castle Collections
From the very beginning, within the walls of the castle there were rooms with weapons, rare books, armor, and hunting trophies. But after the castle passed to Franz Ferdinand, it turned into a continuous museum of collections.
It is especially worth talking about his collection of trophies. A lover of hunting, the Archduke of Austria sought to perpetuate his achievements in this hobby. He collected more than 300 thousand different specimens, under each there is a detailed plate: where and when the animal or bird was killed. These trophies decorate all the walls of the castle, but cause conflicting feelings among animal lovers. After all, behind every exhibit there is the life of an innocent animal.
But one way or another, the collection became unique: there is no other like it in the world. And among connoisseurs it evokes only the utmost admiration.
But the Archduke created not only a collection of trophies. The castle has several rooms where weapons and armor from the 17th to 19th centuries are collected. Possessing a huge fortune, Franz Ferdinand could afford to purchase any rare weapon, even if it belonged to the rarities of another country. Many exhibits were presented as gifts to his ancestors. Therefore, in the castle you can see rare exhibitions that are not in any museum.
The decoration of the castle itself can easily be classified as a collection. Tapestries, exclusive and massive chandeliers, luxurious furniture leave a lasting impression. The rarest sculptures depicting St. George the Victorious (dragon slayer) are connected by an invisible thread into a single composition if you walk through the entire castle from bottom to top and walk around the wonderful garden.
Features and highlights of the castle
Registration at a regular registry office has become familiar to many. But there is a place where you can feel like a real royal couple on your wedding day.
The fact is that all marriages concluded in Prague are considered valid for all countries. This means you can legitimize your relationship right on the territory of the luxurious seven-tower palace. The castle provides accommodation; the animators organize a real banquet for the royal family.
And we collect information about Czech cities and their attractions.
Interesting fact: not far from the castle in the town of Benesov they brew their own beer, and according to special recipes. It has a very symbolic name, although the residents themselves consider it “historical humor.” , since it was with seven bullets that the Ferdinands were shot in Sarajevo. The taste of drink lovers will seem very peculiar, but at the same time high quality and tasty. The inherent bitterness is retained as additional symbolism.
Beer "Ferdinand Sedm Kulí".
Tourist guide: how to get to Konopiste Castle
The castle is located 40 km from the capital itself. Even if this is your first time in Prague, getting to it will be very easy even if you search on your own. However, we must take into account that you simply cannot enter the castle without a guide. This makes it different from other museums, where you can go unaccompanied.
The culture and fashion for cycling in the Czech Republic are at a high level. Sign for cyclists: Konopiště is 1 km away.
All roads in the capital and beyond are marked with special signs, so it’s worth following them. The easiest way is to book a tour at your hotel. But you can take the Praha Hlavni Nadrazi train to Benešov, and from there follow the sign to the castle. Upon arrival, it is clearly visible, so it is not difficult to get there without an escort.
If you have already been to Prague, then you can use the metro: a train to the city also leaves from Roztyly station. You can also get there by bus, but it will take a little longer. A rented car will come in handy if you speak English or Czech well.
Excursion routes and their costs
The cost of the excursion depends on the number of people, the route and the language of the accompanying guide.
There are three types of routes around the castle:
- tour of the Archduke's personal apartments. Cost 13-15 euros. The price already includes a guide service;
- a tour of the left wing and a visit to hunting exhibitions;
- excursion along the right wing with a walk through the hall of the library and arsenal.
The cost of the last two is from 9 euros, depending on the tourist’s requests. You can also order an individual walk through the garden and the entire palace, which may be cheaper in total. The average duration of the excursion is 1 hour.
The castle can be visited from the beginning of April to the end of October at any time, in November only on weekends. Every Monday is an official holiday.
One of the most beautiful castles located in the vicinity of the city of Benesov. It is included in the version of our website.
This 13th century castle gained its popularity thanks to its original architecture and rich collection porcelain, antique furniture and hunting trophies. Sometimes it is called a “hunting” castle. Also, the castle became world famous due to the fact that its last owner was the Austrian heir, whose murder played an important role in the outbreak of the First World War.
Despite numerous reconstructions and restorations, the castle has retained its Gothic style and its resemblance to French castles, as originally intended. Outwardly, it resembles a rectangular fortress with o round towers. Today the castle is surrounded by a large English park with terraces, sculptural compositions and a rose garden.
The last owner of the castle was Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was very fond of hunting and amassed a collection of historical weapons. During his life, he killed many animals, more than 200 thousand to be exact. And the tradition of raising bears in the area has been preserved to this day.
Geographically, the attraction is located approximately 50 km from Prague. In order to get to your destination, the easiest way is to take a train or bus to the city of Benesov, from which the castle is separated by only 2 kilometers.
Photo attraction: Konopiste Castle
Konopiště Castle is located 2 km from the town of Benešov, located in the Central region of the Czech Republic approximately 40 km from Prague in southeast direction. The residence of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, is one of the most beautiful Czech castles.
Konopiste Castle, founded as a Gothic fortress, was inspired by French fortresses with symmetrically placed towers, multiple entrances and leaning bridges. Thanks to many modifications, the castle was gradually rebuilt into a romantic castle with a luxuriously equipped interior designed for Everyday life nobility.
On the territory of Konopiste you can see amazing park, Rose Garden, Orangery, a unique place for shooting, admire the huge collection of antique furniture, hunting trophies and art objects. In terms of the significance and value of its collections, the castle is one of the most interesting in all of Central Europe.
Konopiště Castle was founded in the 13th century around 1294 in Gothic style, probably by Tobias of Benešov. (Tobisem z Benesova). The city was built on the model of French fortresses: with cylindrical towers, a parkan (an unbuilt belt between defensive walls), 4 gates and a drawbridge.
Seven towers gave the castle a majestic appearance. After all the Benesovites died out in 1327, the medieval residence became the property of the Sternbergs for 275 years. During the 17th-19th centuries. in Konopišt a number of influential noble families changed: the Godeyevskys from Godeyev, after the battle on White Mountain on short time Albrecht from Waldstein, the Mikhnovs from Vatsinova, the Vrtbovs from Vrtba, Lobkovitsy and others.
The first changes to the medieval architecture of the city were carried out at the end of the 15th century by Jiřim of Sternberg, at the beginning XVII century- Godeevsky from Godeev. Konopište acquired the features of the Baroque style in the 18th century during the reign of Vrtbakh from Vrtba, and in this form it has survived to this day.
In 1887, the castle was bought from the Lobkoviches by Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, the official heir to the Austrian throne since 1896. Konopiste, where he loved to hide from court quarrels (due to an unequal marriage with Sofia Chotek), began to turn into a future imperial residence. Being a great romantic, the Archduke gave the order to rebuild the castle in the historical style according to the design of Joseph Motzker, so that it would resemble its original medieval appearance as closely as possible.
Franz Ferdinand purchased this castle to escape with his beloved, who did not belong to the monarchical dynasty. The wedding took place only after the prince officially renounced his right to the crown.
In June 1914, Franz Ferdinand took part in the maneuvers of the Austrian army in Bosnia and on June 28, 1914, together with his wife Sophia, became the victim of an assassination attempt committed by the Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. A month after terrorist attack Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I declared war on Serbia.
After the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in 1921, the castle was transferred to the ownership of Czechoslovakia, and then the Czech Republic, as the legal successor.
Furniture, porcelain, majolica, chandeliers, tapestries, weapons, hunting trophies, art collections and other exhibits of the museum represent the values of a huge cultural significance. The collection of historical weapons and armor from the collection of the D'Este family is very popular.
Franz d'Este was an avid hunter and collector. During a tour of the castle, you can admire a rare collection of weapons in the so-called Esten Arsenal, one of the largest in Europe.
Franz Ferdinand ordered the completion of a room intended for more than 1000 portraits of St. George, with which he wanted to surpass a similar collection of the English king. The Great Trophy Corridor is a testament to the hunting passions of Franz Ferdinand, who killed almost 300 thousand animals during his life.
The Great Trophy Corridor is a testament to the hunting passions of Franz Ferdinand, who killed almost 300 thousand animals during his life.
In Konopiště Castle you can see the magnificent collection of hunting and military weapons and armor of the 16th-19th centuries, collected by Archduke Franz Ferdinand, numbering more than 4,500 items. There is also a large collection of hunting trophies decorating the walls of this Czech castle- about 300,000 copies.
The Esten weapons collection is impressive in its size, which includes cold and firearms, armor and other items of the 15th - 19th centuries, which have no analogues in Europe.Extremely valuable exhibits contain the so-called. The St. George collection and a rare collection of church antiquities related to the cult of St. George, patron saint of knights.
Castle Chapel.
The surroundings of the castle are unusually laid out beautiful park on an area of 225 hectares where peacocks walk. There are greenhouses with exotic plants and enclosures with bears on the territory. All together it seems to immerse visitors historical monuments into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. A particularly beautiful part of the park is the Rose Garden with its sculptural decorations.
As in the time of Franz Ferdinand, a Himalayan bear lives in the moat (recently there were two of them). Since the castle lost its defensive significance, water has not been poured into the moat.
Basic moments
Initially the castle was defensive tower cylindrical in shape with a moat and suspension bridge. Over time, Konopiste was expanded in the spirit of French Gothic into a powerful fortress: two belts of walls with a park, seven round towers (four corner towers, one in the center of the eastern and western walls, as well as the main tower with a gate - the very first tower that has survived to our days days).
Each era brought something new to the appearance of the castle. In the 17th century, its Gothic appearance was changed under the influence of the Renaissance; In the 18th century, Konopiste was thoroughly rebuilt in the Baroque spirit, and it has remained in this form to this day. The last large-scale reconstruction of the castle was carried out under Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este von Habsburg. According to his wishes, architects Joseph Mocker and Franz Schmoranz equipped Konopiste with the latest technology late XIX century: water supply, electricity, sewerage were installed in the castle, a mechanical shooting range and a hydraulic elevator were installed, which was driven by a dam specially built for this purpose on a nearby pond. At the same time, an English park on 225 hectares with a rose garden, terraces and marble statues was laid out around Konopiste.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is largely responsible for the interior decoration of the castle. To the already existing collections of furniture, paintings, tapestries, glass, porcelain, weapons, armor and hunting trophies, the new owner added his own extensive collections, and all this splendor has been almost completely preserved to this day. Franz Ferdinand, being a passionate collector and hunter, also took care of the accurate cataloging of his collections. As a result, in our time, thanks to a detailed catalog and photographs, it was possible not only to return all the objects to Konopiste (with the exception of two lost ones), but also to install and hang them in exactly the places that they occupied during the life of the Archduke.
Three of the collections presented in the castle are considered the most significant. Firstly, this is a collection of weapons and armor, sometimes called the d'Este Armory. It included collections of the Obizzi, d'Este and Habsburg families, accumulated over several centuries and inherited by Franz Ferdinand. By adding his own exhibits and specimens already available in Konopišt, the Archduke created one of the largest collections of military and hunting weapons and armor of the 16th-19th centuries in Europe, including almost five thousand items, among which there are also very rare specimens.
Also in Konopišt is the rich hunting collection of Franz Ferdinand, collected throughout the world. The number of trophies reaches about 300,000; all the chambers and corridors of the castle are decorated with them. Each stuffed animal, skin, horns, etc. are provided with an exact indication of the place and time when the trophy was obtained. So the Archduke tried to put his passion at the service of science.
Another pearl of the castle collections is the collection of St. George. It includes objects of art, crafts and folk crafts with the image of St. George. The collection includes about four thousand artifacts from the 15th to 19th centuries and is displayed today in the special castle gallery of St. George.
History of the castle
The castle was built in the 13th century by Bishop Tobias of Benesov and was a building in the Gothic style; it was subsequently reconstructed several times. Initially, Konopiste Castle was built on the model of a French castle as a powerful Gothic fortress of a rectangular shape with round towers at the corners, which made it possible to defend itself most effectively during sieges. There were a total of 7 towers in the castle: 4 in the corners, 1 in the center of the northern wall and 2 in the center of the short western and eastern walls. The castle's fortifications were complemented by a moat and earthen ramparts.
The Benesovici family was the owner of the castle until 1327, when the castle passed to the noble Sternberk family, which also owned the Cesky Sternberk castle near the town of Benesov. In the 17th century, the castle's owners, the Sternberk family, rebuilt the castle in the late Gothic style and later in the late Renaissance style. During the Hussite Wars, the castle was subjected to a long siege by the royal troops, which lasted 17 months, and in 1468 it was conquered by the troops of King George of Poděbrady.
In 1648, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was captured and plundered by the Swedish army, after which it fell into disrepair. The dilapidated castle was purchased at auction by the Czech nobleman Jan Josef Vrtba (Czech: Vrtba). At the beginning of the 18th century, the castle was once again rebuilt by the Vrtba family in the Baroque style. Instead of a drawbridge, a stone bridge was erected, and a hole was made in the eastern tower new entrance into the castle, the height of the towers was reduced to the level of the castle buildings, and a large southern outbuilding was also built.
In 1887, the castle was sold for 2 million in gold to Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on whose initiative the castle was once again radically rebuilt in 1889-1894. The reconstruction of the castle was carried out under the leadership of architects from Vienna Joseph Motzker and Franz Schmoranz. Being a great fan of hunting, the Archduke equipped a mechanical shooting range in the castle, expanded the collection of weapons and armor that had previously been stored there, and also created several “hunting corridors” decorated with the trophies obtained - thousands of deer antlers, boar tusks, stuffed foxes, exotic animals and birds. In addition, under the Archduke, water supply, sewerage, electricity were installed in the castle, a hydraulic elevator was installed in the central wing of the castle (powered by a dam built on a nearby pond) and a number of other technical innovations were introduced for that time.
At the same time, an English-style park with terraces, a rose garden and marble statues was laid out around the castle. Konopiste Castle was a favorite holiday and hunting spot for Archduke Franz Ferdinand. During his ownership of the castle, in addition to hunting trophies, Franz Ferdinand collected a large collection of historical weapons and various objects depicting St. George. When Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, his children inherited the castle and its collections.
Since 1921, the castle has become state property of Czechoslovakia. In 1943, the castle became the headquarters of the SS troops in Bohemia and served until 1945 as a storage facility for captured works of art. At the end of World War II, much of the art and collectibles were removed from Konopiste, but by 1946 most of them were returned to the castle. Some of the art objects from the Konopišti collection are currently kept in Prague.
After World War II, the state-owned castle was opened to tourists. Currently (at the beginning of the 21st century), the Czech Ministry of Culture spends about $800,000 on maintaining the castle, partially compensating for this amount through tourism.
For tourists
The castle is open from April to October from Tuesday to Sunday: from 9.00 to 17.00 (16.00 in some months).
In November from Tuesday to Sunday: from 9.00 to 15.00.
Break in the work of the ticket office, shooting range and St. George's Museum from 12.00 to 13.00.
The castle offers several tour options:
1 - Guest rooms and Hunting corridor (south wing)
2 - Armory, chapel, library (old part of the castle)
3 - Living rooms of Franz Ferdinand's family.
The ticket price is 90-310 CZK, depending on the chosen excursion route, the language in which it is conducted, and the right of a particular tourist to certain benefits. Tickets to the shooting range, rose garden and viewing the collection of St. George will cost from 15 CZK (per person) to 80 CZK (per family, tour in a foreign language). When purchasing tickets for several routes at once, discounts apply to other excursions. More full information on the official website of the castle.
It should be noted that the castle tries to make money on almost everything, so it offers a wide selection additional services, such as falconry in front of the castle, walks in the gardens, walks around the pond, live music on weekends and much more.
There is also the possibility of holding various business receptions and weddings.
How to get there
Address: Konopiště 1, 256 01 Benešov
GPS: 49.779444,14.656667
Phone: +420 317 721 366
By train
In order to get to Konopiste by train, you need to buy a ticket in Prague for the train going to Benesov, from there it is 2 km to the castle. Immediately at the station you need to turn right, cross the bridge over the railway and move further to the first yellow marker. Then you can walk to the castle along the markers. Travel time is from 40 minutes to an hour, ticket price is 45 CZK.
By bus
You can also go to Benesov by bus from Florenc station in Prague. Buses also run from Roztili metro station, the ticket costs 45 CZK and the journey time is about 45 minutes. You can get to the bus station. Sometimes drivers stop the bus on the way to the forest, claiming that it is easier to get to the castle - and this is true. You need to follow the asphalt road into the forest, then continue along the yellow markers and in 25 minutes you will be there.
By car
By car you can get there from Prague in 40 minutes, the route should be towards Benesov (this is 45 km from Prague), through the points of Kamenice and Senograbi. After 43 km, after turning to Vaclavice, there will be a right turn, after one and a half km you need to turn right again and you are there.