Šternberk Castle, Castle in Šternberk, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic

Šternberk Castle stands on a spur of the Lower Jeseník above the town of Šternberk in the Olomouc Region, at about 300 metres elevation. Its buildings include a Renaissance wing with the Vizitka Hall and its wooden barrel vaults, a cylindrical tower, and a chapel decorated in the style of Charles IV's court. A landscape park laid out by Albert Esch in 1907–1909 surrounds it.

Zdeslav of Šternberk founded the castle in the mid-13th century after receiving the surrounding lands from King Ottokar II Přemysl in 1253 for defending Olomouc against the Cumans; it is first mentioned in 1269. In 1397 Peter of Kravař acquired it, and in 1430 Hussites occupied it. The Berka of Dubá family rebuilt it in Renaissance style, and from 1695 it belonged to the Liechtensteins until 1945.

The castle's name comes from the Šternberk family, who founded it in the mid-13th century; the town below grew from their settlement. The Renaissance wing, added by the Berka of Dubá after a fire, holds the Vizitka Hall with its wooden vaulting. The Liechtenstein princes kept the castle until 1945, and their furnishings, paintings and tapestries remain on show.

The castle stands on a spur of the Lower Jeseník at about 300 metres above sea level, above the town of Šternberk in the Olomouc Region. It is open to the public and managed by the National Heritage Institute's Olomouc office. A large reconstruction of several castle parts, including the forest park, was completed between 2019 and 2022.

The castle's collection includes historical furniture, paintings, sculptures and tapestries assembled when the Liechtenstein residence was fitted out as a luxury seat after the 1886 regotisation by Vienna architect Carl Gangolf Kayser. A forest park laid out by Albert Esch between 1907 and 1909 surrounds it.