Hohenwerfen Castle, Austria.
Is a medieval rock castle located in the Pongau district of Salzburg, Austria. Nestled between the northern Limestone Alps it is similar in its construction to Hohensalzbug Castle, which was built at about the same time. Hohenwerfen Castle was built between 1075 and 1078 atop a 113 metres high rock, 623 metres above sea level. Good visible from the north and the south, Hohenwerfen Castle was meant to secure the route across the Eastern Alps across the Salzach River. The fortress was extended on several occasions until it reached today’s dimension. In 1938 Archduke Eugen of Austria, who owned Hohenwerfen Castle since 1898, was forced to sell it to the Salzburg Reichsgau administration. During World War II the castle was used as NSDAP Gauleiter school. After WWII the fortress went to the state of Salzburg. Until 1987 it was used as training camp by the Austrian police, since then the castle is open to the public.
Is a medieval rock castle located in the Pongau district of Salzburg, Austria. Nestled between the northern Limestone Alps it is similar in its construction to Hohensalzbug Castle, which was built at about the same time. Hohenwerfen Castle was built between 1075 and 1078 atop a 113 metres high rock, 623 metres above sea level. Good visible from the north and the south, Hohenwerfen Castle was meant to secure the route across the Eastern Alps across the Salzach River. The fortress was extended on several occasions until it reached today’s dimension. In 1938 Archduke Eugen of Austria, who owned Hohenwerfen Castle since 1898, was forced to sell it to the Salzburg Reichsgau administration. During World War II the castle was used as NSDAP Gauleiter school. After WWII the fortress went to the state of Salzburg. Until 1987 it was used as training camp by the Austrian police, since then the castle is open to the public.
The summer on medieval era, it almost always came with a huge shortage in terms of food. Wheat stocks used to run out very soon, so farmers used the rye they stored from previous crops.
The main problem with all this is that on many occasions it was contaminated with ergot, a kind of fungus that produces alkaloids, which affect the human system.
At first the symptoms are mild; a person suffering from ergot poisoning can expect fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. As the poisoning gets worse, it can throw people into convulsions. St. Anthony’s Fire comes on when the ergot causes vasoconstriction in the outer limbs. Blood vessels shrink, depriving the limbs of necessary oxygen and nutrients, and letting them essentially die and rot while still on the body. Just as a bonus, ergot poisoning can suppress the immune system.
The largest outbreak, though, happened in France in 944. Forty thousand people across France died before the epidemic abated.
The main problem with all this is that on many occasions it was contaminated with ergot, a kind of fungus that produces alkaloids, which affect the human system.
At first the symptoms are mild; a person suffering from ergot poisoning can expect fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. As the poisoning gets worse, it can throw people into convulsions. St. Anthony’s Fire comes on when the ergot causes vasoconstriction in the outer limbs. Blood vessels shrink, depriving the limbs of necessary oxygen and nutrients, and letting them essentially die and rot while still on the body. Just as a bonus, ergot poisoning can suppress the immune system.
The largest outbreak, though, happened in France in 944. Forty thousand people across France died before the epidemic abated.