Burg Scharfeneck, Medieval castle ruin in Baden, Austria

Burg Scharfeneck is a medieval castle whose stone walls sit atop a hill near Baden, displaying features of typical defensive structures. The remains show how such buildings were designed to control and protect the surrounding area.

The castle was built in medieval times as a fortification to control the Baden region. It later lost its military importance and gradually fell into the ruins visible on the hill today.

The ruin is protected as a historical monument, showing how medieval inhabitants built defended settlements. Walking through the stones reveals how these structures shaped life in the surrounding region.

The site is reached by marked hiking trails through the surrounding landscape, with parking available at the base of the hill. The paths are accessible for most visitors but require good footing and sturdy shoes.

The castle's present name dates only from around 1470, when Ulrich Kamper detached the ruin from the Rauhenstein estate and styled himself "zu Scharfeneck", gaining entry to the ranks of the landed nobility. The name outlived the building: the site was already uninhabited and returned to the Rauhensteiner family in 1517.