Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the ruins of Scharfels Castle in Scharzfeld, researching the area for a book that I am writing about the castles of the Harz. The castle sits 150 meters above the Oder Valley and remained an impregnable fortress for most of its history.
It was only during the,” Seven Years War” that it was finally captured by some 6,000 French troops, during a ten-day siege. The fact that the castle was so successfully defended for 10 days by a force of 100 infantry, 60 gunners and 250 invalids from Hanover against an army of 6,000 goes to show just how well this castle was built and designed. After only four days occupation the French army blew up the castle, and since then it has laid in ruins.
The remains left include some outer walls, old well and the imposing 20 meter high dolomite rock outcrop. Admission is free and it’s open all year round. There is a small restaurant with a terrace giving good views over the local countryside. What I really like is how nature has been allowed to reclaim this one mighty fortress and how the two merge seamlessly together.
Details of the book I am currently writing will be given later, but it is hoped that it will be ready by the autumn.
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