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| ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA | CZECH REPUBLIC |
| Středočeský kraj | Central Bohemia region |
| Okres: Benešov |
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Konopiště is part of the municipality Benešov and is located about 2 km west of
its city centre. The village is named after Konopiště castle. Until after the end of World War II, the municipality of
Konopiště also included the villages Pomněnice, Chlístov, Žabovřesky and Zbožnice.
During the war, the municipality in 1943 became part of the military training ground Beneš and its inhabitants had to move out.
The villages of Konopiště and Pomněnice were incorporated into Benešov in 1961, while Chlístov
including Žabovřesky) became an independent municipality and Zbožnice became part of the municipality of Václavice.
Konopiště castle
was apparently established in the 1280s by the bishop of Prague as a Gothic fortification in
the style of a French castle with a rectangular plan and round towers protruding from the corners, making the most
effective defence possible. In 1468, it was conquered
by the troops of George of Poděbrady after a siege that lasted almost two years.
In the early 17th century, alterations in Renaissance style were made. After 1725, the castle was transformed into a
Baroque style château. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria bought Konopiště in 1887 with his inheritance
from the last reigning Duke of Modena. He had it repaired between 1889 and 1894 into a luxurious residence, suitable for
a future Emperor, which he preferred to his official residence in Vienna. The extensive
225-hectare English-style park, with terraces, a rose garden and statues, was established at the same time.
Since 1921, the castle has been the property of the Czechoslovak and later Czech state.
Currently, the descendants of Franz Ferdinand are claiming for the restitution of the castle to
their family (which was never recognized as part of the House of Habsburg), on the grounds that the provisions
the Treaty of Paris / Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919) do not apply to them.
[https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konopi%C5%A1t%C4%9B_(Bene%C5%A1ov);
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konopiště]
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