ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA	CZECH REPUBLIC
Středočeský kraj	Central Bohemia region
Okres: Benešov

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Český Šternberk is situated at an elevation of 310 m on the the river Sázava, about 18 km eastnortheast of the district town Benešov and about 46 km southeast of Prague. As of 1 January 2023, the municipality has a population of 175.

The first known written mention dates from 1242. The settlement originated below the castle, which was built around 1241. In 1651 it was mentioned as a market town for the first time. In 1901, it became linked by railway, which helped the development of tourism. The status of a township/market town (městys) was returned to the village in 2006.

Český Šternberk castle is the landmark of the town. It is located on a rock ledge on the left bank of the river Sázava overlooking the town. The castle was initially built in 1241. The development of new firearms in the 14th century posed an unexpected threat to the defensibility of the castle. Its 13th century architects hadn't foreseen the danger of long-range firearms and its reinforcement became a necessity. During this period the castle's fortifications were improved through the construction in the north of a three-story tower, which was connected to the castle by a rampart. In 1467 the castle was seized by the royal armies of George of Poděbrady. Later, the ruined castle was regained by the lords of Šternberk, who, by the turn of the 15th to 16th century, had reconstructed the castle, renewed its defensive system and expanded it with the construction of a new cylindrical tower in the south and the Dungeon in the north. The castle managed to survive the looting of the rebels in 1627, during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). The castle remained in the ownership of until 1949 when it was nationalized by the Communist government of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. After the 'Velvet Revolution', i.e. the fall of Communism in the Czech Republic, the castle was restituted to the family.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%8Cesk%C3%BD_%C5%A0ternberk, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%8Cesk%C3%BD_%C5%A0ternberk; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%8Cesk%C3%BD_%C5%A0ternberk_Castle]