Český Šternberk Castle — Attraction in okres Benešov

Člověk si to tu zamiluje za každého počasí a roční doby. Jeden z nejpůsobivějších, nejvýznamnějších, ale i nejlépe dochovaných opevněných sídel v Čechách byl založen jako raně gotický pevný hrad v letech 1241-1242 Zdeslavem z rodu Divišovců. Od těch časů - po dobu téměř osmi stoletís - je v držení rodu Sternbergů, což je v našich končinách nejen obdivuhodné, ale i zcela ojedinělé. V pozdějších dobách vlastnili hrad Götzové, Roggendorfové, Olbramovicové, Sternfeldové a znovu Šternberkové až do roku 1942. Poté vlastnil hrad československý stát a do rukou Šternberků se hrad vrátil v roce 1992. V současné době náleží Zdeňku Sternbergovi, který zde trvale žije a za dob minulého režimu tu byl zaměstnán jako kastelán. Objekt si zachovává vnější gotickou podobu, i když byly interiéry raně barokní přestavbou přeměněny na zámecké. Hrad má jednu prohlídkovou trasu, která je umístěna ve druhém poschodí hradu a zahrnuje 15 bohatě zařízených místností.

Zajímavost: Na nebezpečném hřebeni jižně od hradu byla po obléhání v roce 1467 - v období prudkého vývoje těžkých palných zbraní - postavena předsunutá bašta, před kterou se dosud dochovaly pozůstatky obléhacích prací. Tvořila ji víceboká bateriová věž s výrazným břitem otočeným k jihu a uzpůsobeným ke srážení nepřátelských střel do stran a důmyslnou dispozici střílen v patře, určených k palbě z lehkých děl. Bašta je jedním z nejlépe dochovaných objektů pozdněgotického fortifikačního stavitelství a svým významem ve vývoji středoevropských opevňovacích staveb 15. století přesahuje rámec Čech.

You will love it here in every weather kind and season. One of the most impressive, the most significant, but also the best preserved fortified settlements in Bohemia was founded as an early Gothic solid castle in the years 1241-1242 by Zdeslav from the Divišovci family. Since those times - for almost eight centuries - it is owned by the Sternberg family, which is not only admirable but also quite unique in Czech. In later years, the castle was owned by the Götz, Roggendorf, Olbramovic, Sternfeld and back by Sternberks families until 1942. Afterwards, the castle was owned by the Czechoslovak state and returned to the hands of Šternberk family in 1992. At present it belongs to Zdeněk Sternberg who lives here and during the communist regime was employed here as a castle manager. The building retains an exterior Gothic appearance, even though the interiors were converted into palatial by early Baroque remodeling. The castle has one tour route, which is located on the second floor of the castle and includes 15 richly decorated rooms.

Interesting facts: On the dangerous ridge south of the castle, after the siege in 1467 - during the period of rapid development of heavy firearms - a forward bastion was built, before which the remains of the siege works have been preserved. It was made up of a multi-bay battery tower with a distinctive blade facing south and suited to shield enemy missiles to the sides, and a sophisticated shot-out on the floor serving as a base for lighter artillery guns. Bastion is one of the best preserved buildings of the late Gothic fortification and its significance in the development of the Central European fortifications of the 15th century goes beyond the...

Nice castle but the tour is boring.

The castle is really nice from the outside. Probably because the owners still lives here so it's basically a house in shape of castle. And that's the problem of the tour.

You are only allowed to visit one floor during the tour. You won't get to windows to see the view. You only go from one room to another seeing all achievements of the family of Šternberks. And that's the worst part. I don't know if it was just the girl who guide us but she talked about Šternberks like masters of Universe. They did this, they did that... based on her info it sounds like they are the most important family in the world. Hearing "Our master Šternberk" in every second sentence is too much.

Sure I appreciate you can enter someone's house but it just don't worth the price. There are better places in Czechia for less (like Sazava monastery). The tour won't take you to any outside places, just a few boring rooms.

Much better is to go to "Hladomorna" which is free and there is...

Lovely castle, with many stories to tell of small events that happened, like the boy that broke one of the lights with a sword that can still be seen - it's just a shame that everything is in Czech (which is expected in Czech Republic), I only had a document describing each room in English, which does not nearly cover all the stories and history shared in Czech, someone in the tourist group translated additional context only after the tour. The paintings are magnificent and very well preserved, there's a 3500+ book library with interesting books - I still don't know what the biggest book had to do with Maria Theresa though, cause unfortunately that was never translated. Well preserved toys and miniature silver collection on display, but the portraits of the family in the opulent golden frames are probably the reason to visit the castle - there's also a family tree with copied miniatures of the family members' paintings that's...