Konopiste Castle – the summer getaway for the heir to the Habsburg throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este
Built in the 13th century and rebuilt numerous times by its changing owners, by the early 20th century Konopiste had become a favorite summer getaway for the successor to the Habsburg throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este. A particularly avid hunter, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914 – thus triggering the First World War. The Gothic castle has richly furnished apartments, collection of Late Gothic paintings, a gallery of the Archduke's artefacts related to the cult of St. George, a famous collection of the weapons. But many visitors are particularly amazed by the Crown Prince's collection of about 300, 000 hunting trophies.
General informations
The tour of Konopiste takes about 4-6 hours (1 hour drive there + 2-3 hours there + 1 hour drive back).
It is possible to combine the tour of Konopiste with a visit to glass factories.
Notes
The castle is closed on Mondays.