Located off of Hradcanske Square is this lovely Baroque palace. It is hidden behind the Rococo palace of the Archbishop; notice the narrow lane leading to the side entrance of the palace. Walk down the cobblestone lane and enter through a massive wrought iron gate into the grand world of the aristocratic Sternberg family. Built between 1697 and 1701 for Count Wenceslas Adalbert of Sternberg, The architect is uncertain, but it could be K. Dienzenhofer, G. B. Alliprandi or D. Martinelli.Sternberg Palace is a two-storey building with four tracts around a courtyard. There is a monumental staircase inside, which runs through all the floors. The French roof of the palace was a new architectural feature at the time.
Decorative facadesFacades of the tracts oriented to the courtyard are beautifully decorated. Windows of the second floor are adorned with medallions of Roman imperators and with reliefs, representing legends about Hercules. There is a bronze statue of a lion killing an anaconda in the middle of the courtyard.
Interior of the Sternberg Palace
Interior of the Sternberg Palace is decorated with stuccoes. There are two halls with rounded mirrors on the ceilings, filled with paintings representing suicide of Carthaginian Queen and an unhappy Queen of Halicarnassus. An interesting mythological painting is in the neighbouring hall. The Chinese Hall is embellished with pictures in Chinese style.
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