Český Šternberk

Market town in Central Bohemian, Czech Republic

Coat of arms

49°48′40″N 14°55′49″E / 49.81111°N 14.93028°E / 49.81111; 14.93028Country

Czech RepublicRegionCentral BohemianDistrict BenešovFirst mentioned1242Area

• Total5.47 km² (2.11 sq mi)Elevation

310 m (1,020 ft)Population

(2023-01-01)^[1]

• Total175 • Density32/km² (83/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code

257 26

Websitewww.ceskysternberk.eu

Český Šternberk (German: Böhmisch Sternberg) is a market town in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 200 inhabitants. It is known for the Český Šternberk Castle, located on the cliffs above the market town.

Geography

Český Šternberk is located about 17 kilometres (11 mi) east of Benešov and 39 km (24 mi) southeast of Prague. It lies in the Vlašim Uplands. The highest point is a hill at 463 m (1,519 ft) above sea level. Český Šternberk is situated at a bend of the Sázava River. The Blanice forms the southern municipal border and flows into the Sázava.

History

Český Šternberk Castle was founded around 1241 by Zdeslav of Divišov, later known as Zdeslav of Sternberg.^[2] The village was founded shortly after as a sub-castle settlement of the castle. The first written mention of the settlement is from 1242 and in 1654, it was first mentioned as a market town. Along with the castle, the settlement expanded to its present form and in 1901, it became linked by railway, which helped the development of tourism.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	494	—
1880	455	−7.9%
1890	453	−0.4%
1900	533	+17.7%
1910	395	−25.9%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	422	+6.8%
1930	438	+3.8%
1950	332	−24.2%
1961	364	+9.6%
1970	274	−24.7%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	215	−21.5%
1991	152	−29.3%
2001	150	−1.3%
2011	157	+4.7%
2021	169	+7.6%

Source: Censuses^[4]^[5]

Transport

Český Šternberk is located on the railway line of local importance Ledeč nad Sázavou–Čerčany. The market town is served by two stops.^[6]

Sights

The main landmark of the market town is the Český Šternberk Castle. It is one of oldest and most valuable aristocratic residences in the country, protected as a national cultural monument.^[7] Today it is open to the public and offers guided tours.^[2]

Notable people

Zdeněk Sternberg (1923–2021), count and owner of the castle; died here

References

^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
^ ^a ^b "Historie obce" (in Czech). Český Šternberk Castle. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
^ "Historie obce" (in Czech). Městys Český Šternberk. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Benešov" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 5–6.
^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
^ "Detail stanice Český Šternberk" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
^ "Hrad Český Šternberk" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-17.