Konopiště

This significant chateau complex, surrounded by a vast park near Benešov, has left an indelible mark on world history. It is famous primarily as the last residence of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este, and his wife Sophie Chotek. It was the tragic assassination of this couple in Sarajevo that became the immediate pretext for the outbreak of the First World War. Today, the entire complex is protected as a national cultural monument. This state property is managed by the National Heritage Institute, and its rich exhibitions are open to the general public.