Konopiste Castle:Located 30 miles (48km) from the Czech capital, Konopiste Castle is a great day trip from Prague.
Situated to the southeast of Prague, Konopiste is best known for its thousands of hunting trophies and its former owner, Frans Ferdinand d'Este (of WWI fame). Ferdinand d'Este renovated the chateau in the late 19th century, and much of it is still preserved as it was then.
The interior of Konopiste Castle is well worth a visit, but the real treat is walking around the grounds. Beautiful gardens, a lake, and a wide variety of birds of prey all contribute to the ambiance at Konopiste Castle.
Guided tours of Konopiste Castle are available in English and Czech.
Note: Konopiste castle is closed from January to March and on Mondays.
Transportation from Prague to Konopiste:Trains from Prague to Konopiste: Trains run regularly from Prague's Hlavni Nadrazi Station to Benesov u Prahy, about 2.5km from Konopiste. From there, you can walk or take a bus (around 8Kc) to Konopiste castle. The train from Prague to Konopiste costs 64Kc and the trip takes 50m each way.
Buses from Prague to Konopiste: Buses run regularly from Prague's Florenc bus station to a stop about 0.5mi from Konopiste. From there, you can walk to Konopiste castle. The bus from Prague to Konopiste costs around 35-55Kc, and the trip takes 40-60 min. each way.
Driving from Prague to Konopiste: Take the D1 expressway south and exit at the Benesov cutoff. Turn right at the sign for Konopiste. Driving from Prague to Konopiste takes around 45 min. each way. Parking outside the castle costs 50Kc.
Private Tours of Konopiste: The easiest way to get to Konopiste is to go through a tour operator in Prague. They will drive you (usually in a small van) to the castle and pick you up at a given time. This allows you to avoid the walk from the train or bus station to the castle.
Other Short Trips from Prague:
Labels: Czech Republic, Konopiste Castle
