History

Burg Gutenfels was built in 1222 by the Lords of Falkenstein-Münzenberg and served as a toll castle to secure the River Rhine customs in the area, for the Holy Roman Emperor, along with Pfalzgrafenstein.

Burg Gutenfels

In 1277, the castle and town of Kaub became part of the Electorate of the Palatinate.

In 1504, the town of Kaub and Burg Gutenfels withstood a week-long siege by the troops of Landgrave Wilhelm II of Hesse as part of the War of the Succession of Landshut. It was after this unsuccessful siege that the castle was called Gutenfels.

The 16th century customs office remains in the town of Kaub.

In 1793, Gutenfels was garrisoned by companies of Palatine veterans that surrendered intact to French revolutionary forces.

In 1803, the castle passed to the Duchy of Nassau with the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. The Nassau government had intended to use the castle as a workhouse and prison, but was ordered by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to dismantle and disarm the castle. The castle was partially demolished by 1807, with weapons and castle artifacts being distributed to other nearby castles along the Rhine. The moat was filled in, and stone from the castle walls was sold in late 1807.

In 1866, Prussia purchased the area along the Middle Rhine and ended the river tolls in 1867. Gutenfels Castle was rebuilt between 1889 and 1892. The castle has been part of the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since 2002.

The castle was transferred to private ownership and has been serving as a hotel since 2022.

Castle Highlights

Burg Gutenfels is perched atop a cliff overlooking the River Rhine and the town of Kaub. The castle is closed to visitors, but it now functions as a hotel once again, having reopened in 2022, making it a good central point to base yourself while visiting other castles along the Rhine. It is also located near the Rhine Trail.

The best views of Burg Gutenfels are from a boat cruise along the River Rhine. The town of Kaub, below the castle, is also where you catch the boat that takes you out to the middle of the river to visit Pfalzgrafenstein.

Burg Gutenfels occasionally conducts moonlight tours with wine tasting. Tickets can be booked through Loreley Tourism.