Gutenburg Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Gutenberg, Germany

Gutenburg Castle is the ruin of a hill castle on a 223-metre-high site above the village of Gutenberg in the Bad Kreuznach district. Its inner ward was entirely enclosed by a ring-shaped outer ward, defended by curtain walls with mural towers and a neck ditch. Considerable sections of the wall remain visible today.

Gutenburg Castle is first recorded in 1213 as castro Weitersheim. In 1334 the counts of Sponheim bought the castle, already renamed Gutenburg, and had it substantially rebuilt. After the Sponheim lines died out in 1414 and 1437, it passed to the Lower Sponheim co-lords, mainly the Margraviate of Baden and the Electoral Palatinate. It was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War and fell into ruin.

The name Gutenburg replaced the earlier Weitersheim after the counts of Sponheim bought the castle in 1334; it has nothing to do with the Gutenberg family. The castle later passed to the Margraviate of Baden and the Electoral Palatinate, and the ruin is now private property.

Since the castle is privately owned, visits are possible only at scheduled times, so it is best to check in advance before planning your trip. From the outside, you can see the preserved walls and towers and enjoy views from the elevated position.

A copper engraving from 1623 shows the fortress already in poor condition, documenting how it declined during the Thirty Years War period. This historical image gives visitors insight into how the structures gradually collapsed over the centuries.