Scharfenstein Castle – the Whisky Castle

Just about 10 kilometres from our guesthouse, Scharfenstein Castle sits on a rocky spur above the Leine Valley. The castle was built around 1200 by the Counts of Gleichen and has had an eventful history – from its destruction during the Peasants' War in 1525, through its time as a Mainz administrative seat, to its present use as a whisky castle.

The centrepiece is the Whisky World: in the vaulted cellar, barrels of Nine Springs Single Malt mature, distilled using the soft spring water of the Neunspringe in Worbis. The interactive exhibition with whisky cinema, aroma and cask rooms, and the tower bar can be explored on your own or during a guided tasting.

The castle terrace rewards visitors with a wonderful panoramic view over the Eichsfeld, the Leine Valley and the Ohmgebirge – on clear days all the way to the Brocken in the Harz Mountains. Regional specialities are served in the Restaurant 12HUNDERT9 and the Bistro Ringmauer. Those wishing to stay overnight will find stylishly furnished rooms in the boutique hotel.

The car park at the castle also serves as the starting point for the premium Scharfenstein hiking trail (12 km), which leads through forests and past viewpoints around the castle.