Steinkirche Scharzfeld, Cave church in Scharzfeld, Germany
The Steinkirche Scharzfeld is a natural cave carved into a dolomite rock face, created for religious use and containing a carved stone altar within. The cave spans roughly 28 meters in length and 8 meters in height, opening like a giant niche from the surrounding cliff.
The site was used by reindeer hunters more than 10,000 years ago during the Magdalenian period as a seasonal hunting shelter. In medieval times, it was transformed into a space dedicated to religious worship and prayer.
For centuries, this site served as a gathering place for religious worship, with the natural rock walls forming a sacred space where communities came to pray. Visitors can still see the carved stone bench where worshippers once knelt during services.
The site is open year-round and can be reached from Scharzfeld by following a marked hiking trail. A parking area near the B243 bridge provides a convenient starting point for your visit.
Inside the cave stands a vertical shaft that once held a bell, which was later moved to the neighboring village church. That bell still bears marks from its original location, connecting the two sites across time.
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