Burgstall Schartenmauer

The Burgstall Schartenmauer stands on a rocky outcrop above the village of Scharten in Upper Franconia. Once a small medieval fortification, it served as an outer ward for the nearby castle of Hofeck. The site belonged to the Berg family from the early 15th century, but by then it had already fallen into ruin. Only scattered stones and the remains of an earthen rampart mark where the walls once stood.

Historians recognise the site as an important example of a vanished frontier stronghold. August Gebeßler’s 1960 survey of the region records the surviving fragments. Even earlier, in 1747, Georg Paul Hönn described the place in his topographical lexicon. The name ‘Schartenmauer’ hints at its defensive purpose.

Visitors reach the site along quiet woodland paths that climb from Scharten. The rocky summit offers a clear view over the surrounding countryside. Broken masonry lies half-buried in the turf, while the outline of the old rampart can still be traced. The atmosphere is one of quiet decay rather than grand spectacle.