The Selkefelde deserted settlement (495 m above sea level) is located between Stiege and the Albrechtshaus directly in the headwaters of the Selke.
Selkenfelde was first mentioned in a document by Emperor Otto I, which transferred the royal court (curtis) “Quitelingen” with the associated villages, including “Silicanvelth”, to the Servatiusstift in Quedlinburg. Selkenfelde is explicitly referred to as a “villa”, which means village.
In 1203, Emperor Otto IV gave the village of Stiege, and with it Selkenfelde, to Count Siegfried von Blankenburg as a fief in return for military assistance. In 1209/27, the village is again mentioned in Count Siegfried’s list of goods as “villa que dicitur Selekenvelde”. Until the end of the 14th century, the village community still had its own local priest. From the 15th century onwards, there are no more documentary mentions of the village. It can therefore be assumed that it was already deserted around 1500.
To the north-east, the modern defense system “Selkenfelder-Schanze” was built by the Prussians during the “Seven Years’ War” in 1760. It is worth following the signpost “Kanonenplatz” on the B 242 and taking a look at this reconstructed defensive structure.
The municipal employment company of the Harz district rebuilt the facility in 2013 in coöperation with the Lower Monument Authority, the Oberharz forestry company and AFG Harz.
We recommend the parking lot at the “Albrechtshaus” stop as a starting point. From there, walk along the Selketal-Stieg in the direction of Stiege and after approx. 800 m keep right, cross the tracks and a short time later you will reach the stamping point.
