Český Šternberk Castle Český Šternberk Castle ( ) is a Bohemian castle of the mid - 13th century , located within the village with the same name of the Central Bohemian Region in Czech Republic . It is an early Gothic castle which was constructed , named and still owned by members of the same family . Český Šternberk Castle is today a residence that bears a long historical and architectural heritage and represents an attractive tourist destination open to the public . It is considered one of the best preserved Gothic Bohemian castles . Name . The name Šternberk derives from the German language and is the Czech spelling of the German composite word " Sternberg " ( literally meaning " Starmountain " : " Stern " meaning " star " and " Berg " meaning " mountain " ) . It originates from the founder of the castle , Zdeslav of Divisov ' s coat of arms , bearing an eight - pointed golden star . Eventually he changed his surname to Sternberg and the heraldic symbol was accompanied by the motto : " " The star that never falls down " " . History . The castle was initially built in 1241 by Zdeslav of Divisov , later called Zdeslav Sternberg . 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 Český Šternberk 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 Šternberk ' s aristocracy , 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 . With the death of Jan Václav in 1712 , the Holicý branch of the Sternberg family died out and its ownership passed to other families , who in 1751 built the lower palace next to the surrounding wall . The ownership of the castle was returned to the Sternberg family in 1841 when Zdeněk of Sternberg from the Konopiště branch of the family bought it . It remained in Sternberg ' s ownership until 1949 when it was " nationalized " by the Communist government of the Republic of Czechoslovakia . The family moved to a small flat in Prague and Jiří Sternberk , agreed to work as a steward in " his own " property and gave tours within the castle , which became a sightseeing spot . After the fall of Communism and the Velvet Revolution , in 1992 , thanks to the restitution ' s law , Český Šternberk castle returned to Jiří ' s son , the count Zdeněk Sternberg , the current owner of the castle . Architecture . Český Šternberk Castle was originally built as a Gothic castle Eventually it underwent several periods of reconstructions and further fortification and the Gothic architectural features were in parts concealed by the new reconstructions . Especially the interiors of the castle were realized under the Baroque and Rococo styles . In 1760 , the master Carlo Brentano performed the elaborate stuccoing and renderings of the halls ' interiors . The castle offers a rare collection of 545 copper engravings , depicting the entire history of the Thirty Years ' War . Also , historical weapons and hunting trophies are exhibited within the castle ’ s halls . Location . The castle is located within Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic . It stands on top of a steep granite cliff on the western banks of Sázava river in the market town of Český Šternberk , at driving distance southeast of the capital Prague ( as the crow flies ) along D1 motorway . The castle in popular culture . Český Šternberk castle appears in several scenes throughout the Albanian - Czech romantic drama film " The Sorrow of Mrs . Schneider " ( ) . The events of the film take place in 1961 , in Český Šternberk and the role of the count Jiří Sternberg , the father of today ' s owner of the castle Zdenek Sternberg , is portrayed by the internationally acclaimed Italian actor Michele Placido . Count Zdenek Sternberg , happy to meet the Italian actor and after learning that he was interpreting his father in the movie , generously offered free use of the castle ’ s spaces . Anyway he couldn ’ t meet with Michele Placido after falling ill during the filming days . There is a whole considerable scene within Český Šternberk castle , a remarkable dialogue between the movie ’ s main character and count Sternberg ( Placido ) .