Alt-Scharfeneck Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Frankweiler, Germany.
Alt-Scharfeneck is a castle ruin in Frankweiler situated on a rocky outcrop at approximately 363 meters elevation where the Grovebach valley begins. The stone remains show foundation walls and wall sections that are still visible today, though most of the original buildings have disappeared over the centuries.
The castle was built between 1100 and 1130 during the Salian dynasty and came under the control of Henry I of Scharfeneck in 1219. By around 1416 the site was abandoned and began to fall into ruin.
The site bears the name Alt-Scharfeneck to distinguish it from a younger castle built elsewhere in the region. Visitors can observe the different masonry techniques that medieval craftsmen used to build these walls.
The castle site is accessible for visitors to explore the preserved foundation walls and wall remains up close. The location on a rocky outcrop offers wide views, but visitors should watch for uneven ground and exposed edges.
Excavations in the 1950s revealed wall sections with characteristic Salian building techniques beneath the soil. However, some stones from the northeast wall had already been reused in 1830 for local fortification works.
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