Amtmannscherf

Nestled in the serene Käsbachtal, just before the Käsbach flows into the Scherfbach, lies Amtmannscherf. Amtmannscherf is more than just a farm; it’s a story etched in stone and timber. Amtmannscherf whispers tales of knights and noble families, echoing through centuries of history. The name itself, Amtmannscherf, hints at its intriguing past. Once simply known as Scherf or Scherve, it was the seat of the von Scherven knights. The first recorded mention of this lineage dates back to 1216 with Lambert von Scherve. Later, in 1259, Udo de Scherve appears in historical records, followed by Engelbert von Scherf in 1327. Amtmannscherf is believed to be the successor to the Motte Wiebershausen, a medieval castle located in the Scherfbachtal. Around 1500, with no male heir to continue the von Scherven line, the estate passed through marriage to the Freiherren von Steinen. These barons also served as Amtmänner, or bailiffs, for the Amt Miselohe and other Bergisch districts, giving Amtmannscherf its current name. The estate came with significant privileges, including rights to tithes in Oberodenthal and fishing rights in the Scherfbach. In 1596, Ludwig von Metternich married Maria von Steinen, bringing Amtmannscherf under the Metternich family. The name von Steinen returned through the marriage of Anna Margareta von Metternich zur Scherfen to Gottfried von Steinen. Yet another family entered the Amtmannscherf narrative in 1758 when Clemens August von Weichs married Clementine Auguste von Steinen. The estate then became part of the Weichs zu Rösberg lineage. The original castle building was demolished in 1830 and replaced with the structures that remain today. The castle tower met its end in 1840. However, remnants of the old castle walls were incorporated into the new construction, a tangible link to Amtmannscherf’s medieval past. Today, Amtmannscherf operates as a horse farm. It stands as a listed building, number 46 on Odenthal’s registry of architectural monuments. Amtmannscherf is a testament to the passage of time, a place where the whispers of history mingle with the rhythms of modern life.