Brought up with military discipline and a sense of duty in the court of Vienna, Francis Joseph became the ruler of a great empire at the age of 18. Many years passed before he was also crowned king of Hungary. At that time, the royal family was given the Palace of Gödöllő as a coronation gift. The King’s suite was in the central part of the palace, with a small garden in front made especially for him.
His sense of duty and working capacity were legendary. He would rise at dawn, have a light breakfast and set to work.
The King was very fond of hunting. Gödöllő was a perfect location for this, since there was a lot of game in the nearby forest. He especially liked hunting deer and wild boar. A few of his trophies can be seen on the walls of the Palace.

Éva Oravec-Kis