Český Šternberk Castle

Český Šternberk Castle stands on the western bank of the Sázava River, rising above the small town that shares its name in the Central Bohemian Region east of Prague.

When was the castle founded, and where does the name come from?

Zdeslav of Divišov founded the castle in 1241, naming it after the stars on his family's coat of arms — the German word "Stern" means star, giving "Šternberk," or star mountain. Built as an early Gothic stronghold guarding the Sázava valley, it has stayed in the hands of the same family ever since, now represented by the twentieth generation descended from the founder.

How has the castle's appearance changed over the centuries?

The original Gothic fortress was gradually layered over by later rebuilding, and today's interiors owe far more to the Baroque and Rococo periods than to the Middle Ages. In 1760, the Italian master Carlo Brentano covered the state rooms in elaborate stuccowork, a project that turned a medieval defensive structure into something closer to an 18th-century aristocratic residence on the inside.

What is there to see on a tour?

Visitors follow a fixed route through fifteen furnished rooms on the castle's second floor, starting in the ceremonial Knights' Hall and continuing through a series of parlours and studies filled with period furniture before ending in the Hunters' Hall, lined with hunting trophies. The castle also holds one of Europe's largest single-theme collections of copper engravings, depicting scenes from the Thirty Years' War, alongside historical weapons, fine porcelain, and a library running to several thousand volumes.

Why did the castle return to the Sternberg family after 1989?

The castle had been nationalized under communist rule, and the fall of the regime in 1989 opened the door to restitution. Under the Czech restitution law, Český Šternberk was handed back in 1992 to Count Zdeněk Sternberg, son of Jiří Sternberg, restoring formal ownership to a family that had managed the property for generations before losing it.

Why is it ranked among the best-preserved Bohemian castles?

Český Šternberk is regularly cited as one of the best-preserved Gothic castles in Bohemia, though the reason has less to do with an untouched medieval shell than with continuous use. Eight centuries under one family meant the castle stayed inhabited rather than abandoned, so its collections, furnishings and interiors survived largely intact instead of being scattered or lost, the fate of many other Czech castles.

Where is it located, and what should visitors expect?

The castle sits in the town of Český Šternberk on the Sázava River, close enough to Prague to make it a popular day trip. Its medieval layout means narrow stairways and low passages, so it's worth allowing at least an hour for a visit, and the interior can only be seen on a guided tour that runs at set times in small groups.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Český Šternberk Castle? The Sternberg family, continuously since the castle's founding in 1241, aside from a break under communist nationalization; ownership was restored in 1992 through restitution, and the twentieth generation of descendants now looks after it.

Where does the castle's name come from? It refers to the stars on the family's coat of arms — "Stern" is German for star and "Berg" for mountain, together meaning star mountain.

What's worth seeing inside? Fifteen furnished rooms, including the Knights' Hall and Hunters' Hall, plus a collection of Thirty Years' War engravings, an armory, and a large library.

Does the castle still look Gothic? Only partly — the original Gothic structure was reworked inside during the 18th century with Baroque and Rococo decoration, including Carlo Brentano's 1760 stuccowork.