Castle konopiste czech republic on the map. Medieval Baroque castle Konopiste
Konopiste Castle is located 2 km from the city of Benešov, located in the Central Region of the Czech Republic, about 40 km from Prague in a 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 symmetrical towers, numerous entrances and leaning bridges. Through many modifications, the castle was gradually rebuilt into a romantic castle with a luxuriously equipped interior designed for the everyday life of the nobility.
On the territory of Konopiste you can see an amazing park, the Rose Garden, a greenhouse, unique place for shooting, admire a huge collection of antique furniture, hunting trophies and art objects. By the significance and value of its collections, the castle is one of the most interesting in all of Central Europe.
Konopiste Castle was founded in the 13th century around 1294 in the Gothic style, probably by Tobias from Benešov (Tobisem z Benesova). The castle was built on the model of French fortresses: with cylindrical towers, parkan (an unbuilt belt between defensive walls), 4 gates and a drawbridge.
Seven towers gave the castle a majestic appearance. After all the Benesovtsy died out in 1327, the medieval residence became the property of the Sternbergs for 275 years. During the 17th-19th centuries. in Konopiste, a number of influential noble families were replaced: the Godeevskys from Godeev, after the battle on the White Mountain for a short time Albrecht from Wallenstein, the Mikhnovs of their Vatsinov, the Vrtbovs from Vrtba, Lobkowitz and others.
The first changes in the medieval architecture of the city were carried out at the end of the 15th century by Irzhim from Sternberg, at the beginning of the 17th century by the Godeevskys from Godeev. Konopiště acquired baroque features in the 18th century under Vrtbach from Vrtba, and in this form it has survived to this day.
In 1887, Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, the official heir to the Austrian throne since 1896, bought the castle from Lobkowicz. Konopiste, where he liked to hide from court quarrels (due to an unequal marriage with Sophia 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 Josef Motzker, so that it would resemble its original medieval appearance as much as possible.
Franz Ferdinand bought this castle to run away with his beloved, who did not belong to the monarchy. The wedding with her was played only after the prince officially renounced the 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 Sofia, became the victim of an assassination attempt by the Serbian nationalist Gavrila Princip. A month after the terrorist attack, the 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 successor.
Furniture, porcelain, majolica, chandeliers, tapestries, weapons, hunting trophies, art collections and other exhibits of the museum are of great cultural value. 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 Estens Arsenal, one of the largest in Europe.
Franz Ferdinand ordered the completion of the room intended for more than 1000 portraits of St. Jiri, with which he wanted to surpass a similar collection of the English king. The Great Trophy Corridor is a testament to the hunting habits of Franz Ferdinand, who killed nearly 300,000 animals in his lifetime.
The Great Trophy Corridor is a testament to the hunting habits of Franz Ferdinand, who killed nearly 300,000 animals in his lifetime.
In Konopiste Castle, you can see the magnificent collection of hunting and combat 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 that adorn the walls of this Czech castle - about 300,000 copies.
The Estonian weapons collection impresses with 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. St. George's collection and the rarest collection of church antiquities related to the cult of St. Jiri, patron saint of knights.
Castle chapel.
Around the castle is broken unusually beautiful park on an area of 225 hectares where peacocks walk. On the territory there are greenhouses with exotic plants and enclosures with bears. 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 sculptural decoration.
As in the time of Franz Ferdinand, a Himalayan bear lives in the moat (recently there were two). Since the castle lost its defensive significance, water has not been poured into the moat.
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 the miracle modern architecture: dancing House, whose bizarre forms both frighten and fascinate at the same time. It seems that at any moment the building will simply collapse like a toy. But rarely any tourist will pass by him, with bated breath, people climb the vintage stairs. And there, under a transparent dome, you can see the outlines of the greatest creation: the Konopiste castle.
Konopiště castle - photo in autumn sometimes.
The seven-towered, white-foamed handsome man is drowning in the malachite greenery of the surrounding park.
History of Konopiste Castle
Bishop Beneshevich, 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: towers, drawbridges, a monolithic building of the Gothic style. In the future, the castle had many owners who brought something of their own, rebuilt, added new ones. As a result, it turned out interesting building, which combines the Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic styles.
But in the 19th century, the castle passed into the possession of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The potential heir to the throne wished to completely remake both the castle itself and the surrounding area. Franz Ferdinand was an avid collector and his true passion was hunting. The Archduke wanted to perpetuate his trophies and create a unique collection, which will not be equal in the world.
A great lover and admirer of antiquity, he traveled all over the world in order to collect all the marvelous 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. Since then, it has become 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, including sewerage, were carried out in the castle. It should be noted that the duke gravitated toward English terraces, so the garden and park area were laid out in the style of England. As a result, the adjacent area turned into a luxurious garden.
The interesting thing is that whatever Franz Ferdinand took on became an absolute masterpiece. The countess was considered an unworthy party and frankly 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 heir to the throne. The attempt was successful: the crowned couple died. It was this murder that served as a sharp impetus for the outbreak of the First World War, in which hundreds of innocent people died.
Konopiště castle park
The Archduke liked to retire in a shady park located near the castle. Sometimes close associates searched for him for hours, only his wife Duchess Sophia always knew exactly where to find her husband. But she rarely disturbed her husband's peace. Franz Ferdinand ordered to build a park in a purely English style: shady alleys, perfectly trimmed bushes, a luxurious rose garden of rare roses. All over the world, he collected sculptural creations, placing them throughout the park. The rose garden itself stands out in particular, surrounded by hunting sculptures made by Italian craftsmen commissioned by the duke.
Park in the English style near the walls of the castle.
The total area was originally about 350 hectares, but over time it has slightly decreased and now it is 230 hectares. But the picturesque and marvelous garden is more like paradise: spreading crowns of trees cover luxurious flowers from excess sun, dozens of bushes brought from distant countries, peacocks are the lords of greenery. All paths are impeccably cleaned and tiled. Decorative flower beds extraordinary beauty, What simple tourist it may seem that it is simply drawn by animators.
Collections of Konopiste Castle
Within the walls of the castle from the very beginning there were rooms with weapons, rare books, armor, hunting trophies. But after the castle passed to Franz Ferdinand, it turned into a solid museum of collections.
It is especially worth talking about the collection of his trophies. A lover of hunting, the Archduke of Austria sought to perpetuate his achievements in this hobby. He collected more than 300 thousand different copies, under each detailed plate: where, when the animal or bird was killed. These trophies adorn all the walls of the castle, but cause conflicting feelings among animal lovers. After all, behind each exhibit is the life of an innocent animal.
But one way or another, the collection has become unique: there is no other like it in the world. And for connoisseurs, it causes only transcendent admiration.
But after all, the Archduke created not only a collection of trophies. The castle has several rooms where weapons and armor from the 17th-19th century are collected. Possessing a huge fortune, Franz Ferdinand could afford to acquire any rare weapon, even if it belonged to the rarities of another country. Many exhibits were presented as a gift to his ancestors. Therefore, in the castle you can see the rarest expositions that are not found in any museum.
The very decoration of the castle can also be safely attributed to the collections. Tapestries, exclusive and massive chandeliers, luxurious furniture leave an impression for a long time. The rarest sculptures depicting St. George the Victorious (dragon slayer) are connected by an invisible thread into a single composition, if you walk around the entire castle from the bottom up and go around the wonderful garden.
Features and highlights of the castle
Registration in 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 that you can legitimize your relationship right on the territory of the luxurious seven-tower palace. Accommodation is provided in the castle, animators organize a real banquet for the royal family.
Another popular castle in the Czech Republic is Karlstejn. Unfortunately organized excursions For Russian tourists have not yet taken place there. But it is easy to get to Karlstejn on your own. We'll show you how to do it quickly and safely.
And we collect information about Czech cities and their sights.
An interesting fact: not far from the castle in the town of Benešov, they brew their own beer, moreover, according to special recipes. It has a very symbolic name, although the residents themselves consider it "historical humor." , since it was seven bullets that shot the Ferdinand spouses in Sarajevo. To the taste of drink lovers, it will seem very peculiar, but at the same time high-quality and tasty. The inherent bitterness is preserved as additional symbolism.
Beer "Ferdinand Sedm Kuli".
Tourist guide: how to get to Konopiste Castle
The castle is located 40 km from the capital itself. Even if you are in Prague for the first time, it will be very easy to get to it even if you search on your own. However, it must be taken into account that without a guide it is simply impossible to enter the castle. In this it differs from other museums, where you can go without an escort.
Culture and fashion for cycling in the Czech Republic are at a high level. Signpost for cyclists: to Konopiste - 1 km.
All roads in the capital and beyond are marked with special signs, so you should be guided by them. The easiest way is to book a tour at your hotel. But you can take the train Praha Hlavni Nadrazi to Benesov, and from there follow the sign to the castle. Upon arrival, it is clearly visible, so it is easy to get there unaccompanied.
If you have already been to Prague, then you can use the metro: a train to the town also leaves from the Roztyly station. You can also take a bus, but it will take a little longer. A rented car is useful if you speak English or Czech well.
Excursion routes and their cost
The cost of the tour 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 personal apartments of the Archduke. The cost is 13-15 euros. The price already includes a guide service;
- excursion along the left wing and visiting hunting expositions;
- 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 requests of the tourist. You can also order an individual walk through the garden and the entire palace, which in total can be cheaper. The average duration of the tour 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.
Just 50 kilometers southeast of Prague, next to the small town of Benešov, one of the most beautiful medieval castles Czech Republic, harmoniously combining in its appearance the features of the Gothic style and Baroque - Konopiste castle.
History of Konopiste Castle
Medieval castle Czech Republic Konopiste was founded by the Benešovice at the end of the 13th century, apparently having received these lands in exchange for their residence in Benešov. There is also a version that the founder of this Czech castle was the Prague Archbishop Tobiash, who became the head of Czech politics in difficult years after the death of King Přemysl Otakar II. Initially, it was a classic Gothic Czech medieval castle - in the form of a powerful quadrangular fortress with round towers at the corners. Total in Czech medieval castle Konopiste there were seven towers, and the deep moat and earth ramparts surrounding the castle gave complete impregnability to its walls.
In 1327 Czech medieval castle Konopiste was presented by King John of Luxembourg to Zdeslav of the Sternberk family, who also owned the Czech Sternberg castle (the latter, unlike Konopiste, belongs to the Sternberks to this day). During the Hussite wars, the Sternberks supported the royal power, the Czech king Jiri from Poděbrady often visited the castle of the Czech Republic Konopiste, and his first wife Kunguta even gave birth to her first child here in 1425. But in 1465, the then owner of the Czech medieval castle Konopiste Zdenek moved to the rebel camp, this castle of the Czech Republic was besieged by the royal troops. True, the impregnability of its walls protected the rebels for a long time, and only in December 1468, after an eighteen-month siege, the defenders of the Czech medieval castle Konopiste, suffering from hunger, were forced to surrender. In the next two centuries, this Czech medieval castle changed owners twice, one of which, the Godejovskys, carried out a small reconstruction in the early 17th century in the spirit of the late Renaissance. Under the next owner, Albrecht Waldstein, the medieval castle of Konopiste in 1648 becomes the prey of the Swedish army, which plundered and destroyed this Czech castle in 1648 during the Thirty Years' War. After that, for some time, the Czech castle Konopiste fell into disrepair and decay.
Finally, at the beginning of the 18th century, it was acquired at an auction by the Czech nobleman Jan Josef Vrtba, during which another reconstruction of the medieval castle Konopiste in the Baroque style took place, instead of a drawbridge a large stone bridge was built, the tower height, the southern wing is under construction. And in 1887, the Czech medieval castle Konopiste was acquired by the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The new owner is carrying out another radical reconstruction of this Czech castle, equipping it with all the achievements of civilization (electricity, hydraulic lift, plumbing and sewerage), decorating the walls of the castle with hunting trophies, and setting up a beautiful English park around the medieval castle Konopiste with a rose garden, terraces and marble statues. . After the creation of independent Czechoslovakia, the Czech castle Konopiste was nationalized by the Czech state in 1921, which still owns it to this day. Interestingly, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic spends about 800,000 dollars annually to maintain the medieval castle of Konopiste and the richest collections stored in it, only part of which is compensated by tourism income.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) was the nephew of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph. In 1889, after the suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf, the emperor's only son, Franz Ferdinand became heir to the throne of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire. He lived most of his life in the Czech medieval castle Konopiste, bought by him in 1887.
He was an amazing man tragic fate. In 1900, Franz Ferdinand married for love the Czech countess Sophia Hotek, who did not have the high origin necessary for the wife of the future emperor, as a result of which he was forced to solemnly renounce the rights to the throne for his future children. For a long time he lived quietly with his wife and three children, daughter Sophia and sons Maximilian and Ernst in the medieval castle of the Czech Republic Konopiste, lovingly remade by him, spending almost all his time in hunting fun.
But at the same time, Franz Ferdinand took an active part in the politics of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, developed a plan to transform the country, which was bursting at the seams from national conflicts, into the United States of Greater Austria with the formation of 12 national autonomies for each large nationality living in the Empire.
Such a reform would significantly reduce the degree of national contradictions and could significantly extend the power of the Habsburg dynasty. Franz Ferdinand did not like Russians, and even more Serbs, but at the same time he was categorically against the war with Serbia, realizing that such a war would inevitably lead to a clash with Russia, deadly for both empires. Unfortunately, the plans of the Archduke were not destined to come true. It was his murder by Serbian terrorists in Sarajevo in 1914 that became the pretext for this disastrous war.
What to see in the castle
Having admired the seven pointed neo-Gothic towers of the medieval Konopiste castle, do not forget to take a walk in the English park with an area of more than 200 hectares, laid out around the castle, look at the rose garden with unique varieties of roses, admire the numerous sculptures of Italian masters placed in the castle park. A couple of bears live in a small preserved castle moat.
In the medieval castle of Konopiste itself, you can see the magnificent collection of hunting and combat 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 that adorn the walls of this Czech castle - about 300,000 copies. Also in the castle of the Czech Republic Konopiste, there are excellent collections of porcelain, furniture and art objects from the Baroque era.
Working mode
Czech castle Konopiste is open from April to November according to the following schedule:
For viewing are offered separate tourist routes along the northern and southern wing of the Czech castle Konopiste at a price 140 CZK from an adult 90 CZK from a child for an excursion to Czech And 210 CZK from an adult and 130 CZK from a child with a foreign-language guide. The inner chambers of Konopiste Castle can be viewed from 210 CZK adult 140 CZK- to a child, with translation - for, respectively 310 and 210 CZK. A family ticket (2 adults and a maximum of 3 children aged 3-15) without transfer will cost 350 CZK, with translation - in 530 CZK.
How to get to the castle
How to get there by car
Getting to the Czech castle Konopiste by car is not difficult at all - you leave Prague by road D1(E50) direction to Brno, after about 22 km you turn onto the road 38(E55) take exit 21 and head towards Linz, České Budějovice and Benešov ( Linz, Ceske Budejovice, Benesov), after 14 kilometers, passing Benešov, choose the exit with a sign for Konopiste ( Konopiste) and immediately find yourself right under the hill on which the castle of Konopiste is located.
How to get to Konopiste by public transport
You can get to the Czech castle Konopiste by bus or train with a change in Benešov. Buses to Benešov from Prague depart both from the Florenc bus station ( UAN Florenc) (9.05, 11.20), and from Roztyla ( Roztyly) (10.45, 12.35, 13.30, 15.00). Travel time is about 40-50 minutes, ticket price from 40 to 60 CZK. Trains depart from the main station ( Hlavni nadrazi) and depart at 9.16 (R637), 9.20 (OS 2521), 10.20 (Os 2523), 11.16 (R 203), 11.20 (Os 2525), etc. Travel time from 40 minutes to an hour, ticket price - 71 Crown.
In general, from railway station Benešova (the bus station is also located very close) a 2-kilometer-long hiking trail marked with red signs leads to the Konopiste castle. But if you don’t feel like walking at all, you can wait for the bus, which will reach the bus stop in 5 minutes Benesov, Konopiste, located 500 meters from this Czech castle. Buses depart from the Benešov bus station to 9.05, 12.00, 12.15, 14.30, 15.40, 16.40, 17.10 , the ticket costs 12 CZK.
For a more complete practical information website of the Czech castle Konopiste "www.zamek-konopiste.cz"
Basic moments
Initially, the castle was a defensive cylindrical tower with a moat and a suspension bridge. Over time, Konopiste was expanded in the spirit of French Gothic to a powerful fortress: two belts of walls with parkan, seven round towers (four corner ones, one in the center of the eastern and western walls, as well as the main tower with gates - 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, Konopiště was thoroughly rebuilt in the spirit of the Baroque, and in this form it has survived 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, the architects Josef Mocker and Franz Schmorants equipped Konopiste with the latest technology of the late 19th century: water supply, electricity, sewerage were installed in the castle, a mechanical shooting range and hydraulic lift, which was powered by a dam specially built for this purpose on a nearby pond.At the same time, an English park was laid out around Konopiste on 225 hectares with a rose garden, terraces and marble statues.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand is largely responsible for the interior decoration of the castle. To already existing collections of furniture, paintings, tapestries, glass, porcelain, weapons, armor and hunting trophies new owner added his 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 in Konopiste (with the exception of two lost ones), but also to install and hang them exactly in 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 "Esten Armory. It included collections of the Obizzi, d" Este and Habsburg families, accumulated over several centuries and inherited by Franz Ferdinand. Adding to them his own exhibits and copies already available in Konopiste, the Archduke created one of the largest collections of military and hunting weapons and armor in Europe from the 16th-19th centuries, including almost five thousand items, among which there are also very rare specimens.
Also in Konopiste is a rich hunting collection of Franz Ferdinand, collected by him around the world. The number of trophies reaches about 300,000; they decorate all the chambers and corridors of the castle. Each stuffed animal, skin, horns, etc. 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 of the 15th-19th centuries and is on display today in a special castle gallery of St. George.
History of the castle
The castle was built in the 13th century by Bishop Tobias of Benešov and was a building in the Gothic style, later reconstructed several times. Initially, Konopiste Castle was built on the model of a French castle as a powerful Gothic rectangular fortress with round towers at the corners, which made it possible to defend itself most effectively during sieges. In total, the castle had 7 towers: 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 fortifications of the castle were complemented by a moat and earthen ramparts.
The Benešović family was the owner of the castle until 1327, when the castle passed to the noble Sternberk family, who also owned the Český Sternberk castle near the town of Benešov. In the 17th century, the owners of the castle from the Šternberk 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 Jiří 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 bought at an 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, a new entrance to the castle was cut in the eastern tower, the height of the towers was reduced to the level of castle buildings, and a large southern wing was also built.
In 1887, the castle was sold for 2 million gold to Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on whose initiative in 1889-1894 the castle was once again radically rebuilt. The reconstruction of the castle was carried out under the guidance of the architects from Vienna Josef Motzker and Franz Schmoranz. Being a great hunter, the Archduke equipped a mechanical shooting range in the castle, expanded the collection of weapons and armor already stored there, and also created several “hunting corridors” decorated with trophies - thousands of deer horns, boar fangs, 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 (which worked due to a dam built on a nearby pond) and a number of other technical innovations for that time were introduced.
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 place for recreation and hunting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. During his ownership of the castle, in addition to hunting trophies, Franz Ferdinand collected in it a large collection of historical weapons and various items depicting St. George. When Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, his children inherited the castle and its collections.
Since 1921, the castle became the state property of Czechoslovakia. In 1943, the castle became the headquarters of the SS troops in Bohemia and served until 1945 also as a repository of trophy works of art. At the end of World War II, a significant part of the works of art and collectibles were taken out of Konopiste, but by 1946 most of them were returned to the castle. Part of the art objects from the Konopist collection is 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 dollars to maintain the castle, partially compensating this amount through tourism.
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 gallery and the Museum of St. George 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 the family of Franz Ferdinand.
The ticket price is 90-310 kroons, depending on the chosen route of the tour, the language in which it is conducted, and the right of a particular tourist to certain benefits. Tickets for the shooting range, the rose garden and the tour of the St. George collection will cost from 15 crowns (per person) to 80 crowns (per family, tour in a foreign language). When buying tickets for several routes at once, there are discounts for visiting other excursions. More 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 garden, walks around the pond, on weekends you can listen to live music concerts 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 to Benešov, 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 on to the first yellow marker. Further to the castle you can walk along the markers. Travel time from 40 minutes to an hour, ticket price 45 kroons.
By bus
You can also go to Benešov by bus from the Florenc station in Prague. Buses also run from the Roztili metro station, the ticket price is 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 this way - and this is true. You need to move along the paved 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 from Prague in 40 minutes, the path should be kept on Benesov (this is 45 km from Prague), through the points of Kamenice, Senohraby. After 43 km, after the turn to Vaclavice, there will be a turn to the right, after one and a half km you need to turn right again and you are there.
Konopiste Castle is known as the last residence of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His assassination in Sarajevo provoked the outbreak of World War I. The bullet fired at Archduke Gavrilo Princip by the Black Hand organization is now on display in the castle museum as an exhibit.
Konopiště is a beautiful and majestic castle near the city, surrounded by a park with a greenhouse and a rose garden. A luxurious building dominates the area. Prague is 45 kilometers away.
Historical reference
The Konopiště Fortress was built in the 13th century on the model of French castles. Throughout its history, it has changed its appearance many times. The Czech castle performed different functions: it was a defensive structure and a cozy home residence. The modern look of the complex has been preserved since the 19th century, from the time of Archduke Franz Ferdinand d`Este.
Castle Collections
In Konopiste you will get acquainted with a collection of unique weapons of the 16th-18th centuries and the life tragedy of the owner of the fortress. During a tour of the castle, you will have the opportunity to see the hunting corridor with trophies, the arsenal, the library, the luxurious chambers of the Archduke and his family. The interior is impressive with paintings, sculptures, outlandish items and souvenirs from the Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance eras.
The hall with the richest collection of hunting weapons and trophies, including many stuffed exotic animals from overseas travels, deserves special attention. The exposition tells about another hobby of the Archduke.
Castle park with rose garden
After the tour, take a walk through the picturesque English castle park, where luxurious roses bloom, exotic plants grow and peacocks walk.
Working hours
The opening hours of the castle may vary. Check the schedule on the website.
Castle routes and entrance fees
Children under 6 years old are admitted free of charge.
The tour for each route lasts approximately 1 hour.
Up-to-date information For prices for excursions, see the website of the castle.
Parking costs 60 CZK.
How to get to Konopiste?
Take a bus from the Roztyly or Florenc station to the station. Benešov, and then transfer to the train to Konopiste or walk two kilometers on foot. Up to st. Benešov can also be reached by train from the Hlavní nádraží train station.
How can I save up to 20% on hotels?
Everything is very simple - look not only on booking.com. I prefer the RoomGuru search engine. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and 70 other booking sites.