High above the River Sazava, Cesky Sternberk Castle is surrounded by fortified walls, and towers over the small town of the same name. As well as admiring Cesky Sternberk Castle’s imposing exterior, visitors can tour the 15 lavishly decorated rooms inside. Rooms are decorated to reflect different historic periods. Entrance is with a mandatory guided tour; both Czech and some other language tours are available, including English. Although it’s not far from Prague, it’s a little out-of-the-way, so many travelers visit on a guided tour from Prague. Such tours often include other attractions in Bohemia, such as Kutna Hora, Konopiste Castle, and Chateau Zleby.
Cesky Sternberk is south-east of Prague. It takes less than an hour to drive, and it’s also possible to take a bus from the capital. It is also connected by rail, but it’s necessary to change in Cercany, so the journey takes about two hours.
The castle is attractive in any season. While most travelers tour the Czech countryside in the summer, the castle is especially pretty when surrounded by snow in winter. However, the interior is only open to the public by prior arrangements between November and March.
The town of Kutna Hora is 23 miles (37 kilometers) northeast of Cesky Sternberk, and is a must-visit destination in Bohemia. While it’s best known for its Sedlec Ossuary—a church filled with the bones of thousands of plague victims—there are other attractions in the town, such as the ornate, tent-spired St. Barbara’s Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.