Beerfelder Galgen, Historic gallows in Beerfelden, Germany
The Beerfelder Galgen consists of three sandstone pillars arranged in a triangle and connected by crossbeams, standing about five meters tall on a hill near the Airlenbach road. The structure is made entirely of local red sandstone that has weathered over centuries.
The structure was built from stone in 1597, replacing an earlier wooden version that had stood at the site. It served the High Court of Oberzent under the rule of the Counts of Erbach until the early 19th century.
Seven linden trees once surrounded the execution site, reflecting ancient Germanic customs about how such places should be arranged. They shaped what visitors saw when they approached the structure.
A parking area sits right at the site, making it easy to reach and serving as a starting point for several hiking trails into the surrounding Odenwald region. The hilltop location offers clear views and helps hikers get their bearings.
Passing Cossacks during the Napoleonic Wars converted the iron bands of the structure into horseshoes in 1814. This unexpected transformation left a physical trace from a turbulent period of warfare.
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