Konopiste Castle
Konopiste is considered to be the most beautiful castle in the Czech Republic. It is located 50 km from Prague near the town of Benesov, which combines two styles – Gothic and Baroque. There is a park around the castle, which houses various sculptures and fountains, with an area of about 230 hectares. Nowadays, it has a very attractive appearance, due to its fabulous atmosphere and historical significance, many tourists visit it.
This castle was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. Initially, Konopiste was built as a security facility with 7 cylinder towers, 4 gates and a large suspension bridge. The addition to everything was a moat and earthen ramparts.
In the 15th century, the castle was reconstructed, then it was given a look with Baroque elements.
Throughout the time, he changed his owners several times, but the most famous of them was Franz Ferdinand d'Este. He radically rebuilt the castle to his liking, water supply, sewerage, electricity, and an electric elevator were installed here. Since the duke was a hunter, many of the walls are decorated with his trophies - deer antlers, animal heads and stuffed animals. There is a large collection of weapons here.
Nowadays Konopiste Castle has remained almost unchanged. It is famous for its extraordinary luxury interior. Samples of furniture, porcelain, paintings, chandeliers represent cultural values of the Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance eras. The castle's rooms are open to tourists: reception rooms, bedrooms, a study, a library, a hunting corridor, and a chapel. In the "Pink Room", named after its pink ceiling, you can admire the Bohemian crystal chandelier and Rococo furniture. The Large Dining Room has a frescoed ceiling and is complemented by a 170 kg chandelier. The library has more than 3,000 rare books in Latin, German and Italian. The library is decorated with a portrait of his wife. 15 rooms of Konopiste Castle are provided for exploring the private life of Franz Ferdinand, where he lived with his wife and three children.
In addition to the internal beauty, the territory of the adjacent park, built in the English style with beautiful rose greenhouses, terraces and marble statues, is impressive. Thousands of different types of roses delight the eye throughout the summer and half of autumn. Important peacocks are walking nearby.
Konopiste Castle is very popular with young couples who are going to get married. There is a festive hall where you can arrange an unforgettable holiday.
