Pfalzgrafenstein Castle

In 1326/27, this toll castle was built because of the dispute over the Rhine toll between the Pope and King Ludwig of Bavaria. The King, who belonged to the Wittelsbach family of Counts Palatine, had made some dangerous enemies by raising the toll in Kaub. Three times, Pope John XXII called upon the archbishops of Cologne, Treves, and Mainz to excommunicate Ludwig and take action against the Kaub toll, but his calls were ignored.

Instead, King Ludwig ordered that a tower be built on the rocky island of Falkenau in the middle of the Rhine, a construction that would enable him to control the waterway on the right side of the river. Between approximately 1338 and 1342, a defensive wall was built around the tower.

Shaped like a boat, with its rich variety of roof and oriel structures, Pfalzgrafenstein possesses a picturesque charm, while its position on the river and its carefully planned design make the well-preserved castle even more unique.

As the result of modernisation measures and renovations in 1607 and then in the 18th century, a long, hexagonal defensive wall now encloses the pentagonal tower, and a portcullis secures the northeastern entrance. In 1970/71, the baroque colour scheme of red and white was restored.

Like Ehrenfels in the Electorate of Mainz which comprises a castle, a toll post, and a Mäuseturm (toll tower), Pfalzgrafenstein too consisted of different parts during the Middle Ages. While the toll was collected at Gutenberg Castle from 1310, the tower on the island only later became a strategic fortification.

Information in brief

D-56349 Kaub

Owner:

Land of Rheinland-Pfalz

For more information, phone +49 (0) 172 2622800.

Opening times:

April 1 until September 30: 9.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00.

October 1 until March 31: 9.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00. Last admission 30 min. before closing time. In December and on 1st working day of each week - Closed.

How to get there:

Car park between the B42 and the railway; the pier for the passenger ferry to the island (and the car ferry to get to the B9) is around 1½ km outside of town. The ferry to Pfalzgrafenstein runs approx. every half hour.

From the railway station: Go towards the town centre, then to the riverbank of the Rhine, from there it’s around 5 min. to the ferry.

More photos

Holger Klaes

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