Posledný gróf z Oponíc

Abstract

The paper reflects on the life, legacy and fate of Count Henrich Apponyi (1885 – 1935), a prominent member of the Hungarian nobility and the last owner of the Oponice estate. The author uses correspondence, the contemporary press and memoir literature to trace his multifaceted career, his social contacts with prominent figures, and his passion for big game hunting and travel, which produced valuable documentary records including unique photographs and his travelogue My Hunting and Travel Journal from India and the Himalayas. The paper also describes the tragic loss of the Apponyi fortune – Henrich's extravagant lifestyle and the political changes after the First World War led him to run up debts and ultimately resulted in the liquidation of the family's extensive holdings, including the historic Apponyi Library. The author maps the estate's journey from post-war ruin and nationalisation to its restoration as a cultural heritage monument.