Cesky Sternberg - an impregnable castle in the Czech Republic

Cesky Sternberg is a picturesque castle in the vicinity of Prague, towering on a cliff. Unlike other Czech fortresses, it does not have a tragic and difficult fate, but it is definitely worth a visit. The attraction will be interesting to everyone who is fond of history, loves nature and is looking for a place that is easily accessible from Prague.

General information

Cesky Stenberk is a castle towering on a cliff 59 km from Prague. On three sides it is surrounded by the picturesque Sazava River. The Czech castle belongs to the category of castle castles, because for a long time it was one of the main defensive structures in the country.

The attraction is named after its owners - Sternbergs, who founded the residence here in 1241. But in guides, the fortress is often referred to as the Pearl of the Middle Posazavie.

The uniqueness of the Český Sternberg castle in the Czech Republic lies in the fact that it was owned by the same family throughout history. In 99% of buildings in Europe, the owners are constantly changing due to wars, revolutions and bankruptcy.

Interestingly, the current owner of the castle, Count Zdenek (a descendant of the Shtenbergs) still lives in the castle with his family. That is why the atmosphere of comfort and warmth reigns in the fortress.

A photo of Sternberg Castle can be seen in the list of the most popular Czech attractions, and you should definitely visit this place.

Short story

The castle was founded on the territory of modern Czechia in 1241 by Zdeslav from the clan Divisovce, who subsequently changed their name to Sternberg. Until the 15th century, this attraction was considered impregnable, since it was surrounded by a moat and two powerful towers. With the advent of firearms, strong walls lost their advantage, so at the beginning of the 16th century the castle walls were strengthened and the Gladomorna tower was erected.

In the era of the Hussite wars, the castle was practically not damaged, and, surprisingly, the owners managed to maintain their residence. After, in the middle of the 17th century, the castle was reconstructed again, recreating the facades in the Baroque style. At the end of the 19th century, the castle acquired its original appearance, turning into a building in the Gothic style. At the beginning of the 20th century, a beautiful English garden was laid out here. The last reconstruction was already carried out in modern Czech Republic.

It is interesting that Zdenek Sternberg (the heir and owner of the castle), who still lives in the Czech Republic, leads tours of the ancestral nest of his ancestors.

What to see in the castle

The castle has been the residence of the Sternbergs in the Czech Republic for over 800 years, so interesting interior items and beautiful rooms are more than enough.

The first thing that tourists see in Cesky Sternberk Castle is a spacious hall with white walls, on which portraits and landscapes by artists of the court hang. The floor here, like centuries ago, is stone, and upstairs is an oak wood staircase.

• The main hall is the largest room in the castle. Guests were received here, and balls were held in the evenings. This is where the most expensive paintings from the Sternberg collection and rare jewelry are located. In the hall there is a chandelier made of Czech crystal, whose weight reaches 150 kg, and on the floor there is a parquet with the image of eight-pointed stars - a symbol of Sternbergs.
Front hall
• At the front hall there is a small room with a carved fireplace and a huge painting on the entire wall.
• From the main hall you can get either to the local chapel or to the living room. The chapel in the castle is very small, but there is an altar, and tapestries with images of the Sternberg coat of arms are hung on the walls. As a rule, the owners of the castle came here to perform morning and evening communions.
• In a small but richly decorated living room hosted guests. There are 5 armchairs and one sofa for ladies. On the walls - landscape painting and 2 tapestries.
• From the living room you can get into the dining room. This is a rather gloomy and dark room, since the furniture is made of dark wood, and heavy velvet curtains hang on the windows. Here the owners had breakfast and lunch. The room is still used for its intended purpose.

It is interesting that all the chairs in the dining room are of different sizes and heights: they were made for each member of the family, because according to the rules of etiquette all the people sitting at the table should be on the same level.

• The next room is a ladies' room. Only ladies who wanted to powder their nose or chat in private could drop in here during the balls. The walls of the room are painted in bright crimson. Furniture - walnut wood. The highlight of the room is a large mirror in a gold frame that hangs between the windows.

On the second floor there are salons: Golden, Smoking, Women, Men and Knights.

• In the smoking room, the walls of which are covered with striped wallpaper, you can see a collection of elegant smoking pipes and a number of paintings. The Gold Salon, contrary to the name, is rather modest and not “heavy”. The walls are painted with watercolors, and of the gold elements there is only a table and sofa upholstery.
• The Knight’s Hall is a place where a collection of cold steel and firearms is stored, as well as hunting trophies: deer, elk horns, stuffed birds and animals. On the floor lies one of the most curious little things - the skin of a crocodile.
• In a small room near the Knights' Hall you can see the Sternberg tree. Despite the rich history of the castle and the clan, the tree is not at all large, and, moreover, it was made recently (and most likely, for tourists).
Sternberg Tree
• Women's Salon is another place where ladies could relax on time or after the ball. The room has many details of golden color and here stands the only harpsichord in the house.
• The men's salon is designed in the likeness of the female. There is also a lot of gold and porcelain, and portraits of ladies from the Sternberk clan hang on the walls.
• The fifth salon is a children's room in which all the newborn Sternbergs lived. There is not much space here, but it is the brightest and brightest room in the castle. Decorative plates are hung on the walls, and a crib and a pony rocking chair are on the floor.
Children's room
• The last living room on the second floor is the bedroom in which the owners rested. The walls of the room are covered with burgundy wallpaper with monograms, and in the middle there is a massive oak bed. Nearby are two small dressing tables.

After visiting all the halls of the Czech Sternberg, be sure to check out the library. The room is very small, but very comfortable and elegant. It has collected more than 3,000 books (mainly fiction, scientific and literature on the history of the Czech Republic), and the windows offer an impressive view of the surroundings.

Castle park

Czech residents say that it is best to visit the castle park in the fall - at this time of the year it is very beautiful. In a deep moat, preserved to this day, colorful leaves fall. There are practically no flower beds, but they are not needed: the charm of the park lies in perfectly trimmed lawns and graceful sculptures.

Practical information

Where is the castle located (coordinates or address): Cesky Sternberk 1, Cesky Sternberk 257 27, Czech Republic

The entrance to the castle closes 45 minutes before the end of work.

You can visit the Czech Stenberg Castle in the Czech Republic only with a guide or an audio guide. A ticket with an audio guide will cost 180 CZK for an adult and 130 for students and children.

The ticket price for adults with a Russian or English-speaking guide is CZK 230, for students and children - 160.

Czech citizens, and those who know Czech, a ticket will cost 150 CZK for an adult, and 100 for children.

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How to get from Prague

You can get to the castle of Czech Stenberg, Czech Republic from Prague directly. This is one of those rare cases when rail travel to the destination, but there are no minibuses and buses.

You must take the Czech Railways train at Praha hl.n station and get off at Cesky Sternberk zast. The remaining 500 meters between the castle and the railway station will have to be done on foot (the road goes uphill). The cost is 3-5 euros. Travel time: 1 hour 50 minutes. Tickets must be purchased at the train station.

It takes 45-50 minutes to get to the Český Sternberg Castle from Prague. The average cost is 75-80 euros.

Prices on the page are for May 2019.

Useful Tips

1. Czech Sternberg Castle - a great option for a day trip to the Czech Republic
2. Remember that visiting the castle without an escort of a guide (the tour is conducted by a descendant of the Sternbergs) does not work, so you need to agree in advance about visiting the attraction.
3. A photo of the Český Sternberg castle is best done from a neighboring hill.
4. From the railway station to the castle is a regular (not asphalt) road, so do not go to the castle when it rains heavily.
5. On the territory of the Czech Castle Sternberg in the Czech Republic there is a small cafe and a souvenir shop.

Cesky Sternberg - a castle located in a surprisingly beautiful place. Even if the purpose of the trip is not to explore the historical sights, it is worth coming here in order to admire nature.

Video about a trip to the Český Sternberg castle: