Visit of Franz Ferdinand d'Este to Konopiště

Pay a visit to the favoured hunting lodge of Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este. It comes back to life in early August, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este and his family visit his summer residence.

In the end of his stay on 7th August 2010, his favorite dish - fruit dumplings will be prepared for him and visitors. Each visitor, who visit two sightseeing tours on Saturday 7th August, will have the opportunity to taste archduke´s fruit dumplings for free.

Konopiště Chateau is adherented to the successor of the Habsburg throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este and his wife Sophie of Hohenberg nee Chotek. Franz Ferdinand met Countess Sophie Chotek in a ball in Prague in 1895 and gradually he was fallen in love. Because of unlevel condition of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie Chotek, Emperor Franz Josef did not agree to contract the marriage. Archduke fought for the marriage fiercely and Emperor finally allowed it, but on condition that the marriage would be morganatic, their descendants would not have succession rights to the throne and Sophie would not share her husband's rank and other privileges. They got married quietly at Zákupy Chateau on 1 July 1900. Upon the day, Sophie was given the title Princess of Hohenberg and 9 years later the more senior title Duchess of Hohenberg. Franz Ferdinand and Sophie had three children – Sophie, Max and Ernest.

Franz Ferdinand bought the chateau from Lobkowicz family in 1887. Under his rule many changes occured at the chateau, mainly due to endeavour to make the chateau into a peaceful family residence harboring Sophie before displeasing Viennese Court. In 1898, the Viennese architect Karl Mössmer founded a garden of roses and greenhouses on a place of the former baroque garden. Greenhouses have been restored in 1996-2000 and are open to the public.

In June 1914, Franz Ferdinand participated manoeuvres of the Austrian Empire Army in Bosnia. On 28 June, he and his wife Sophie were victims of an assassination committed by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. This event led to a chain of events that eventually triggered World War I.

Today you can visit representative and guest rooms at Konopiště Chateau, the castle chapel, a collection of weapons and hunting trophies, and private rooms of Franz Ferdinand. Private rooms were equipped in accordance with contemporary photographs and inventory books as at the time they were used by Franz Ferdinand and his family.

If you go to Konopiště in a week from 1 to 8 August, you probably meet the Archduke and his family there. You will be transferred to the early 20th century, when Konopiště estate was in full blow.

Visit Konopiště with B-Group