Gutenfels and the Pfalz

Gutenfels and the Pfalz form an interesting pair of castles at the town of Kaub, situated on the east side of the Rhein.  Gutenfels was built in the 1200s, with the lower ringwall built in the 1400s.  It was ordered to be demolished by Napoleon, but saved by an archivist.  It was later rebuilt much on its original pattern.  It once housed a youth hostel, and later housed a hotel, which is now closed.  When it was a hotel in 2005, the word "hotel" was painted on the ringwall facing the river (yuck!).  As much as I hate this, for accuracy I have not excised this from the 2005 image.  I don't mind people earning a living, but putting "Hotel" on the wall of a castle is just too much for me!  Fortunately, the word has been largely removed as of 2007 when the hotel closed.

Above, Gutenfels in 1978 when it was a youth hostel.

Left, the point where Marshal Blucher ordered the crossing of the Rhein while pursuing Napoleon after the latter's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.  The "Hotel" at the base of Gutenfels is clearly visible (again... yuck!).

Below, a nice panorama shot of the castle taken from the Rhein River in 2007.  The "Hotel" is now mostly excised, though still faintly visible.  This shot is actually a merged collage of two photos.

Right, another view of Gutenfels from below.  The outer turrets and battlements are clearly visible.