Gutenfels, a 13th century castle situated amid the lovely terraced vineyards. As many castles of the time, it was the scene of sieges and important historical events some as a result of this location as one of the shallowest spots on this section of the Rhine. For example, Prussian Field Marshal Blucher and his army in 1813 /1814 crossed the Rhine here on his way to France and the battle leading to the fall of Napoleon. This spot of the Rhine is also associated with a legend about the fleur-de-lis, an important symbol of French nobility. Frankish King Clovis in the late 5th century fleeing an enemy saw a wild yellow iris in the river, which he correctly interpreted to mean there was shallow water here. He later adopted the yellow iris as an important symbol on his herald which according to the legend evolved to the fleur-de-lis.
Gutenfels Castle
Pfalzgrafenstein lies on a rocky reef in the middle of the Rhine. Twenty to 30 men used to serve in this 700-year-old toll station. Pfalzgrafenstein was only one of a total of twelve customs facilities where vessels carrying wine were forced to stop between Mainz and Cologne. Traders even complained to the Pope. Now only the ferries taking tourists to the castle dock here. This tiny toll castle has many unique qualities including the fact it literally sits in the Rhine. The great novelist Victor Hugo described Burg Pfalzgrafenstein as “A ship of stone, eternally afloat upon the Rhine, and eternally lying at anchor before the town of Pfalzgrafen.”
