The origins of the castle are shrouded in mystery. Whether Neuscharfeneck was actually founded in the 13th century cannot be said with absolute certainty, as the mention of the knight Johann von Scharfeneck in 1232 in relation to the castle is a forgery. Regardless of this, the castle was probably built in the middle of the 13th century. The links to the neighbouring castle of Altscharfeneck, which was founded before 1219 and was completely demolished, can be traced back to the von Scharfeneck family. In the middle of the 14th century, Neuscharfeneck passed to Johann von Metz, who later called himself "von Scharfeneck" after the newly acquired castle. Count Palatine Rupprecht I obtained the right to open the castle in 1363. Under Count Palatine Frederick I, the castle was remodelled and expanded into one of the most modern fortifications. The monumental shield wall was designed to accommodate cannons. In 1494, the family was raised to the rank of counts. After being conquered and plundered during the Peasants' War in 1525, the castle was restored and finally destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. (Jens Friedhoff)
More recent investigations into the structural development of the imposing castle ruins are still pending. Apart from a few modest remains, the building stock of the complex is essentially determined by the remodelling of the 15th century. The "new construction" includes the extension of the monumental shield wall, whose core masonry probably dates back to the 13th century. The humpback ashlar panelling on the south side of the rock and
parts of the southern curtain wall are also of medieval origin. The elongated residential building of the castle dates back to the 16th century (Dieter Barz; Jens Friedhoff)
Extensive complex. Roughly rectangular main castle, with the lower-lying outer bailey to the west. On the east side of the main castle, a deep and very wide moat. Behind it is the colossal, 58 m long and 12 m wide shield wall. To the south of the rock, the lower castle consists of an older, inner and a younger, outer bailey. To the north of the rock, it encloses a courtyard and the palas, with a kennel in front of it on the north side. On the west side of the outer bailey is a gatehouse with a round tower, the outer gate wall is clad with reused humpback ashlars. (Dieter Barz)