Gutenfels Castle, Medieval castle in Kaub, Germany

Gutenfels Castle is a spur castle on a rocky spur 110 meters above Kaub. Its 35-meter square bergfried rises from the right of a three-story residential building about 22 by 8 meters, with a crenellated top and arched windows. A lower wall with a small turret extends left, and the word "HOTEL" is painted in white capitals below the main building.

The castle was founded around 1220 as a medieval fortification to control Rhine traffic and toll collection. It maintained this function for centuries until Prussian acquisition in 1866 shifted the region's political status.

The castle was built in the 13th century to control river traffic and remains a defining feature of the local landscape. Together with Pfalzgrafenstein across the water, it forms a recognizable landmark that river travelers notice immediately.

Since March 2022 the castle has again operated as a hotel, so it is accessible at least to hotel guests; the exterior, with the white "HOTEL" lettering on the lower wall, can be seen from Kaub and the Rhine bank. The terraced vineyards at the foot of the castle were restored and replanted from 2008.

The name Gutenfels means good rock and was given to the castle in 1504 after it survived a siege by Landgrave Wilhelm of Hesse. This resilience is preserved in the name itself, which honors its strength.