Gutenfels Castle

The origins of Gutenfels Castle date back to 1220, when it was possibly built on behalf of the Empire under the name Kaub Castle. As early as 1252, it successfully withstood a siege by William of Holland. In 1277, the Lords of Falkenstein transferred the castle and the town of Kaub as a fief to the Count Palatine, to whom they completely sold their possessions by 1289. In the 14th century, the complex was reinforced with a curtain wall and a zwinger on the attack side, and at the same time, the plateau of the western outer bailey was created. After a 39-day unsuccessful siege by Landgrave William of Hesse in 1504, Elector Ludwig the Pacific of the Palatinate renamed the castle Gutenfels and had it restored and expanded by 1508.