Konopiste Castle Private Tour from Prague

Four couples from Texas traveled to Prague for a few days prior to a riverboat cruise. Wanting to see a bit of the countryside but having limited time, we opted for the 4 hour Konopiste Castle Private Tour. We were picked up promptly at 10 am at our hotel and headed about 30 miles southeast of Prague. An accident on the highway held us up a bit, but our guide entertained us with information. He accompanied us on the tour of the chateau with the local guide and made sure we had a good experience. We knew Archduke Franz Ferdinand had decorated the chateau to his own liking and that he was an avid hunter, but we were almost overwhelmed by the sheer number of mounted trophies on the walls! His collection of armory and medieval weapons were also impressive. Despite these, the chateau appeared to be a pleasant, lived-in home for the family. Seeing the home of the man whose assassination brought on WWI was memorable.Our guide took care to keep us hydrated and to stay in the shade as much as possible in the searing heat. He also checked on the highway conditions before we left the chateau. He and our driver opted for a different return route through several charming towns, and we were able to make it back to Prague in good time.