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Rataje nad Sázavou is situated at an altitude of 383 m on the river Sázava in the Kutná Hora district of eastern Central Bohemia. The municipality has a population of 589 (2004).

The place was first mentioned in a document of 1156, but probably was founded already in the 10th century. In the 13th century, the village had to be rebuilt as the old settlement had been destroyed by a large fire. The German name, Ratais an der Sasau, was used between 1938/39 and 1945; before that, German speakers refered to the place as Rataje, Rataj, or, in older sources, Rattay. The Czech alternative name, Hrazené Rataje, apparently was not official.

Rataje castle goes back to a Gothic stronghold of about the 14th century, of which parts have remained in the northern wall of the castle. The south wing of the castle was built in Renaissance style in the 16th century, the north and east wings were built in Baroque style around 1672. In 1933 the castle was acquired by the municipality of Rataje. It is now used for the municipality's administration, library, museum and post office.