Medieval Konopiste castle in Baroque style. Konopiste - the most expensive castle in the Czech Republic Konopiste Czech Republic

Just 50 kilometers southeast of Prague, near the small town of Benešov, one of the most beautiful medieval castles in the Czech Republic is located, harmoniously combining the features of the Gothic and Baroque styles in its appearance - Konopiste Castle.

History of Konopiste Castle

Medieval castle of the Czech Republic Konopiste was founded by the Benesovites at the end of the 13th century, who apparently received these lands in exchange for their residence in Benesov. There is also a version that the founder of this Czech castle was the Prague Archbishop Tobias, who became the head of Czech politics during the difficult years after the death of King Přemysl Otakar II. It was originally 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 its walls were completely impregnable by the deep moat and earthen ramparts surrounding the castle.

In 1327 Czech medieval castle Konopiste was donated by King John of Luxembourg to Zdeslav from 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 royal power, the Czech king George of Poděbrady often visited the Czech castle of Konopiště, 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 went over to the rebel camp, this Czech castle was besieged by royal troops. True, the inaccessibility of its walls protected the rebels for a long time, and only in December 1468, after an eighteen-month siege, the starving defenders of the Czech medieval castle of Konopiste were forced to surrender. In the next two centuries, this Czech medieval castle changed owners twice, some of whom, the Godeyovskys, carried out a small reconstruction in the spirit of the late Renaissance at the beginning of the 17th century. Under the next owner, Albrecht Waldstein, the medieval castle of Konopiste in 1648 became the prey of the Swedish army, which plundered and destroyed this Czech castle in 1648 during the Thirty Years' War. After this, for some time the Czech castle of Konopiste fell into desolation and decay.

Finally, at the beginning of the 18th century, it was acquired at auction by the Czech nobleman Jan Josef Vrtba, during which another reconstruction of the medieval Konopiste castle took place in the Baroque style, instead of a drawbridge, a large stone bridge was built, decreasing tower height, the southern wing is being built. And in 1887, the Czech medieval castle of 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 elevator, water supply and sewerage), decorating the walls of the castle with hunting trophies, and also creating a beautiful English park with a rose garden, terraces and marble statues around the medieval Konopiste castle . After the creation of independent Czechoslovakia, the Czech castle of Konopiště was nationalized by the Czech state in 1921, which remains in its ownership to this day. Interestingly, the Czech Ministry of Culture spends about $800,000 annually on maintaining the medieval Konopiště Castle and the rich collections stored in it, only part of which is offset by tourism income.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) was the nephew of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph. In 1889, following 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, which he bought in 1887.

He was a man of amazing and tragic fate. In 1900, Franz Ferdinand married for love the Czech Countess Sophia Chotek, who did not have the high origins necessary for the wife of the future emperor, as a result of which he was forced to solemnly renounce his rights to succession to the throne for his future children. For a long time he lived quietly with his wife and three children, daughter Sofia and sons Maximilian and Ernst in the medieval castle of the Czech Republic Konopiste, which he lovingly remodeled, spending almost all his time in hunting fun. But at the same time, Franz Ferdinand took an active part in politics Austro-Hungarian Empire

, developed a plan for the transformation of a country bursting at the seams from national conflicts into the United States of Greater Austria with the formation of 12 national autonomies for each major nationality living in the Empire.

Such a reform would significantly reduce the degree of national contradictions and could significantly prolong the power of the Habsburg dynasty.

Franz Ferdinand did not like the Russians, and even more so the 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, fatal for both empires. Unfortunately, the Archduke's plans were not destined to come true. It was his murder by Serbian terrorists in Sarajevo in 1914 that became the reason for this disastrous war.

In the medieval Konopiště Castle itself, 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. Also in the Czech Republic Konopiště Castle there are fine collections of porcelain, furniture and art objects from the Baroque era.

Operating mode Czech castle

Konopiste is open from April to November according to the following schedule: Separate items are available for inspection. tourist routes along the northern and southern wings of the Czech castle Konopiste at a price 140 CZK from an adult, 90 CZK per child per excursion to Czech language And 210 CZK from an adult and 130 CZK per child with a foreign language guide. The interior chambers of Konopiste Castle can be viewed from 210 CZK along the northern and southern wings of the Czech castle Konopiste at a price to an adult, - for a child, with translation - accordingly 310 and 210 CZK . A family ticket (2 adults and a maximum of 3 children 3-15 years old) without transfer will cost 350 CZK , with translation - into.

530 CZK

How to get to the castle

How to get there by car Getting to the Czech Konopiště Castle by car is not at all difficult - 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, Ceske Budejovice and Benesov ( Linz, Ceske Budejovice, Benesov ), after 14 kilometers, passing Benesov, take the exit with the sign for Konopiste ( Konopiste

) and immediately find yourself right under the hill on which the town of Konopiste is located.

How to get to Konopiste by public transport You can get to the Czech castle Konopiště by bus or train with a transfer in Benešov. Buses to Benešov from Prague depart both from the Florenc bus station ( UAN Florence ) (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 are sent at 9.16 (R637), 9.20 (OS 2521), 10.20 (Os 2523), 11.16 (R 203), 11.20 (Os 2525), etc. Travel time is from 40 minutes to an hour, ticket price -.

71 Krona In general, from the Benešov railway station (the bus station is also located very close) a 2-kilometer-long tourist path, marked with red icons, leads to Konopiště Castle. But if you don’t want to walk at all, you can wait for the bus, which will get to the stop in 5 minutes located 500 meters from this Czech castle. Buses depart from Benesova 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"

My sister and I wanted to visit a couple of famous Czech castles, and we allocated two days for such trips. I had to spend the night there after visiting the castle there, and the next day my plans were to get to. How I love these ancient fortresses! Moreover, for some reason they are pompous royal palaces I’m not impressed, but I would inspect the castles every day!

Konopiste Castle,

From Karlstejn to Konopiste by car

After analyzing everything possible ways driving to Konopiste, I came to the conclusion that a car is the most ideal option. In terms of money, it’s not particularly profitable, but in terms of time, yes. But my beloved sister Anya won’t let me rent a car, she thinks that I don’t know how to drive.

It takes about an hour to get to Konopiste, since the distance between the cities is small, only 70 km. I envy the quality of Czech roads with white envy; we could use those too! But travel on them is partially paid, so you need to buy a vignette. This is a flat sticker that is attached to the front glass from the inside. It can be bought at the post office, at a gas station or at special sales points throughout the Czech Republic. A ten-day vignette costs 310 local crowns (almost 12 euros). The biggest expense on such a trip is car rental. For an economy class car you need to pay from 30 euros per day, you can ask the price and book a car or choose a rental search engine convenient for you yourself.


From Karlstejn to Konopiste by train

It is not possible to get to Konopiste directly. First you need to get to Prague with one transfer, and then either wait for a local bus or walk 2 kilometers. Buses run quite rarely, I couldn’t find the official website, so exact time It is better to find out their departures on the spot.

Train Karlštejn-Benešov

Trains are sent from railway station Kalshtein from four in the morning to eleven in the evening.

There are quite a lot of trains during the day, they come every half hour or hour. The drive, taking into account the transfer time, is approximately 2 hours, plus or minus 15 minutes. In the Czech Republic railway transport is in very good condition, everything has been thought out, repaired or replaced with a new one. Trains arrive at the Benešov railway station, which is called Benešov u Prahy.

Buying tickets

Personally, it’s most convenient for me to buy tickets on Czech railways and then travel safely with a printout. But, as a rule, there are always places available, so you can make a purchase right before the train departs at the station ticket office. There is also a payment option at the terminal at the station.


Price

A trip to Benešov costs 120 Czech crowns (4.55 euros).

Results

I looked for buses, either direct or with one transfer, but neither one nor the other was found. We got there normally by train, were not at all tired, and, full of strength, walked from Benesov to Konopiste. It’s impossible to get lost, don’t worry, there are signs, and the castle is located on a hill, it can be seen from afar. In general, this is a very popular route, so you are unlikely to be alone on the way to the castle. We constantly met groups of tourists.

Czech Republic. 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 a south-easterly 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. Through many modifications, the castle was gradually rebuilt into a romantic castle with a luxuriously equipped interior designed for the daily life of the nobility.

On the territory of Konopiste you can see an amazing park, a Rose Garden, a greenhouse, 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.

Konopiste Castle was founded in the 13th century around 1294. gothic style probably Tobias from Benesov (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 were replaced: the Godeyevskys from Godeyev, after the battle on White Mountain for a 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 from Sternberg, and at the beginning of the 17th century by the Godeyevskys from Godeyev. Konopiste 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 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 the 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.

At Konopiste 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 Estena weapons collection is impressive in its size, which includes bladed weapons and firearms, armor and other items from 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.

Built in the image and likeness of French castles in the 13th century, Konopiste is notable for the fact that late XIX century 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 modern architecture: Dancing House, whose fancy shapes both frightening and fascinating at the same time. It seems that at any moment the building will simply collapse like a toy. But rarely does a tourist pass by it; 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. The result was an interesting building that 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 defeated exactly 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 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 of such 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 adorn 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.

Another popular castle in the Czech Republic is Karlstejn. Unfortunately organized excursions For Russian tourists are not carried out there yet. But it’s not difficult to get to Karlštejn on your own. we will tell you how to do this quickly and safely.

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 with independent search. 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 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 easy 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.

Konopiste

Konopiste on the map of the Czech Republic

Konopiště (Czech: Konopiště) is a castle in the Czech Republic, about 50 km southeast of Prague, near the town of Benesov.

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; it was subsequently reconstructed several times. Konopiste Castle was originally built according to the model French castle as a powerful Gothic fortress of a rectangular shape with round towers at the corners, which made it possible to defend as effectively as possible during sieges. There were 7 towers in total 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 the drawbridge of the castle, 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 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 became 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.

Castle Collections

Konopiste Castle houses a rich collection of works of art and crafts from the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque eras, hunting trophies, historical battle and hunting weapons, armor. The collection of hunting weapons of the 16th-18th centuries is the third largest in Europe; the collection of hunting trophies is also large - about 4400 copies (all were “obtained” by Archduke Franz Ferdinand. However, this is not the final number of his trophies - during his entire life he killed about 256,000 animals).

 

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