Český Šternberk Castle

Český Šternberk Castle, called the “Pearl of Posázaví”, towers above the central part of the river Sázava. The family that founded the castle still owns it today, and the current owner, Zdeněk Sternberg, lives here.

A tour circuit will lead you through fifteen richly furnished rooms, from the representative Knights’ Hall, to parlours and salons with furniture from various historical periods, to the Hunters’ Hall, which is decorated with a variety of hunting trophies. You will learn about the fate and lifestyle of the most recent generations of the oldest still existing Czech family. Be sure not to miss the former monastery in Sázava, 12 kilometres away. The monastery was the centre of Slavic education from 1032 until its closure in the 18th century. Its greatest treasure is the Sázava Madonna, the only one in the world in which she appears to be disciplining the young Jesus!

Reason to visit

In the castle you can see a unique collection of 545 etchings from the time of the Thirty Years’ War. In the summer, don’t miss a falconry demonstration in the castle courtyard. The fascinating tradition of hunting with trained birds of prey dates back more than 4,000 years, and in 2010 it earned a place on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.