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Český Šternberk Iconic Castle

www.hradceskysternberk.cz Accessibility: 54 km from Prague

by train from Prague — by bus from Prague 2 h 2 min by car from Prague 37 min

Target group: Pleasure seekers: without children, families with children

Český Šternberk Castle, built in a picturesque landscape, on a long rocky ridge above the river Sázava, is among the best-preserved Czech castle complexes. It is remarkable in the fact that it was built in 1241 by the same aristocratic family which owns it today. The castle walls therefore tell the 780-year-long story of a single family. A Castle as the History of a Single Family The construction of the castle itself gave the family a new name. When Zdeslav of Divišov, who had a star on his coat of arms, had the castle built on a rock, he gave it the name Sternberg, and it has belonged to the Sternberg family ever since. The family was born there and has lived there for twenty generations! The castle’s appearance is also unique. For centuries it has preserved its exterior Gothic form, while its interiors have slowly been transformed, giving it a striking early Baroque Chateau appearance. Český Šternberk is therefore a Baroque Chateau walled by a medieval castle. On a tour of the castle’s interior, as you pass through fifteen rooms with rich furnishings from various time periods, you will appreciate its authenticity, because the Sternbergs lived and worked here until 1949. For this reason, indoor plumbing, modern bathrooms, central heating and electricity were installed in the 1920s and 30s. After the communist coup, the castle was nationalised, but even this despotism did not disrupt the continuity of the Sternbergs’ life in the castle. The expropriated owner, Jiří Sternberg, managed to stay at least in the capacity of castle warden. And it is primarily for that reason that almost everything in the castle remained as it was. Today, the first floor of the castle is occupied by the family of his son, current owner Zdeněk Sternberg, so it is not unusual to run into him somewhere on the extensive grounds.

A Unique Collection of Copper Engravings On a castle tour, you will also come across other unique rarities, such as the unique Šternberk collection of 525 copper engravings from the Thirty Years’ War, one of the largest monothematic collections of engravings in Europe. You can also see the Knight’s Hall, library,

salons and dining room, which now serves as a family gallery, as well as Jiří Sternberg’s study. You will also be amazed by the Baroque stuccowork of Carlo Brentano. Take a look at the mysterious dungeon, a projected bastion with a sharp edge deflecting enemy projectiles to the sides. It is among the best-preserved buildings of late Gothic fortification architecture, and its significance extends beyond the Czech Republic. The tower is accessible as part of a themed tour – a guided walk around the castle’s surroundings. This will also take you to the St. George Chapel, on the nearby Vražda hill and to Baroque statues spread around the area. Children will enjoy a tour of the Sternberg family residence accompanied by a turnkey in historical costume. Another extraordinary experience is the tour Daily Life in a First-Republic Castle, where you will catch a glimpse of an aristocratic family’s lifestyle of the time, together with their troubles and joys.

City nearby: Kutná Hora, the Middle Ages in their purest form Kutná Hora is an ideal place for castle tours, a town full of unique landmarks, Gothic churches, town houses, palaces and winding streets. This town with a long history of silver mining and coin minting, the treasury and a gem of the Czech Republic, is listed by UNESCO. Its streets, which preserve their medieval appearance to this day, conceal all kinds of magic. Be sure not to miss the Gothic St. Barbara’s Church, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist in Sedlec, or the nearby ossuary below the cemetery of the All Saint’s Church, the Italian Court royal palace and the Hrádek palace with an exhibition of the Czech Museum of Silver and Medieval Mine.

www.hradceskysternberk.cz Small Museum of Technic: jawyodsazavy.cz/ Sázava Monastery: www.klaster-sazava.cz/cs Glass Art Centre – Sázava: www.cestyskla.cz/ Kutná Hora: destinace.kutnahora.cz Central Bohemia: www.centralbohemia.cz