Kaub - Pfalzgrafenstein

MV Kuba in the forground and the castle of Rheingrafenstein in the background.

Ludwig the Bavarian (later "Ludwig IV, Holy Roman Emperor") erected a tower on the island in 1326/1327 to enforce the toll, that had to be paid in Kaub. Since 1477 Pfalzgrafenstein was in the ownership of the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, who extended the gun bastion. An iron chain across the Rhine forced all ships to submit. "Uncooperative" traders could be kept in the dungeon until a ransom was delivered.

Pfalzgrafenstein was never conquered or destroyed.

In January 1813 Prussian General Bluecher and his army of 60.000 crossed the Rhine here in the pursuit of Napoleon´s army after the Battle of Leipzig. The island then was used as the center of a floating bridge, constructed by Russian military engineers.

As this photo (taken in December) is rather bleak, the following upload will depict the castle in autumn, taken from the western riverbank.