Burg Pfalzgrafenstein

Pfalzgrafenstein Castle (), also known as the Pfalz, is a toll castle situated on Falkenau island in the Rhine River, adjacent to Kaub, Germany. First established in 1326/27 by King Ludwig IV of Bavaria, it served to collect river tolls from passing traffic. In 1504 it withstood a 39 day siege in the War of the Succession of Landshut unscathed and was occupied by Spanish forces for 11 years from 1620 in the Thirty Year's War. The castle has undergone various modifications since its original construction, most notably with greater fortifications in 1607 and a baroque tower cap added in 1714. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was used as a key point for Prussian and Russian forces to cross the Rhine in 1814, during the campaign against Napoleon. Toll collection ceased in 1867, but the castle has remained in good condition and is now preserved as a public museum.

The area is part of the Rhine Gorge, which was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in June 2002.

History

Construction and early history

The original central tower of Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was built in 1326/27 by King Ludwig (Louis IV) of Bavaria to increase his toll revenue. Today the tower is 36 metres high and has 6 storeys. Since it stood alone, it was built pentagonally as a wave- and ice-breaker. In reaction, Pope John XXII incited his bishops of Mainz, Trier and Cologne to excommunicate Ludwig, as they were concerned that his construction threatened to undermine their own nearby toll collections at the Mouse Tower at Bingen and at Stolzenfels Castle, near Koblenz. Pope John XXII had already attempted to excommunicate Ludwig in 1325 because of his toll collection at Gutenfels Castle, however this address remained inactive. In , it was likely this dispute with the church that caused Ludwig to build a six-sided turreted wall around the tower, 12 metres high, to improve its defence and to serve as a better ice-breaker. Pope John XXII three times requested his bishops of Mainz, Trier and Cologne to take action against the toll at Kaub, but nothing was done.

To ensure tolls were paid, chain booms were raised across the narrow river passage near the castle. If the toll was paid, the chain would be lowered and the ship could pass, or else the ship would be seized and the crew imprisoned in the castle dungeon. Passing ships could not use the wider channel on the other side of the castle due to a treacherous stretch of water downstream. The castle dungeon was a wooden raft at the bottom of a well. Prisoners were lowered by rope and would remain there until a ransom was paid. Tolls were paid at a customs house in Kaub as ships could not dock properly on Falkenau island.

In 1339, Ludwig gifted the castle to Count Rudolph II, the Elector Palatine, his nephew. According to a legal record from 1473, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was recognised as a site where the Palatine bailiff could imprison defendants and conduct trials, including cases of capital punishment under the authority of the Elector Palatine.

In 1477, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was given as a deposit to the Count of Katzenelnbogen by Count Palatine Philip of Wittelsbach, expiring on his death. The final male descendent of the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, Philipp I, died in 1479, causing a 44 year-long inheritance dispute lasting until 1523.

Military activity and architectural additions

In 1504, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle withstood a 39 day siege by Landgrave William II of Hesse in the War of the Succession of Landshut. It survived unscathed. Kaub and nearby Gutenfels Castle were also besieged.

Additions to the castle were made in 1607 by Elector Friedrich IV, adding the gun bastion pointing upstream, interior arcades and completing the outer wall as seen today. These changes allowed modern guns to be brought into the castle much easier. In 1620, the castle was occupied by Spanish forces in the Thirty Year's War. While there was a brief exchange of gunfire at Kaub, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was taken without a fight. Hessian forces besieged and retook the castle in 1631.

The distinctive baroque tower cap of Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was added in 1714. The castle received its current appearance following a fire and subsequent renovation in 1756. During the final period of Electoral Palatinate rule, the garrison comprised between 20 and 54 men.

The Napoleonic period

The Imperial Recess of 1803 was the last significant law passed before the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, interchanging of territory between states. As a result of this law, the castle was relinquished by the Electoral Palatinate to come under control of the House of Nassau, later the Duchy of Nassau in 1806 following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.

The island of the castle was used for the crossing of the Rhine by Prussian and Russian forces under Field-Marshal von Blücher in pursuit of Napoleon, following the decisive French defeat at the Battle of Leipzig. On 1 January 1814, a pontoon bridge was constructed by Russian engineers, allowing Blücher's army of 60,000 men, 20,000 horses and 220 guns to cross. The castle had been unoccupied since the garrison of the Electoral Palatinate withdrew in 1803.

Late modern period and preservation

In 1866 the castle came under Prussian control after they annexed the Duchy of Nassau following the Austro-Prussian War, and toll collections ceased in 1867. The river has since been changed significantly to make the wider channel safely navigable. The castle continued to be used as a beacon for river boat traffic into the 1900s, remaining in good condition.

In 1946, the castle became the property of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in West Germany. From 1960, the castle was used as a signal station for river traffic. There was restoration work between 1967 and 1975; this included repainting the baroque colour scheme, reopening walled up arrow loops, restoring the original gate and repairing the roof.

Today, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle is preserved as a public museum, reflecting a "reasonably accurately preserved and restored medieval Rhenish castle". It is accessible by ferry from nearby Kaub, when river conditions permit. The castle is closed during December and January.

Gallery

File:Gezicht op het dorp Kaub en de burchten van Gutenfels en Pfalzgrafenstein, Duitsland Panorama de Caub et de Gutenfels (titel op object) Views of the Rhine and its Vicinity Der Rhein und seine Umgebungen (serietitel op , RP-F-F13656.jpg, View of the village of Kaub and the castles of Gutenfels and Pfalzgrafenstein, photographed 1867/1868 by William England
File:Caub, Gutenfels and the Palatinate.jpg, View of Kaub with the castles Gutenfels and Pfalzengrafenstein, 1832 – 1872 by Rudolph Bodmer
File:Caub und Pfalz im Rhein um 1900.jpg, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle with Kaub and Gutenfels Castle in the background, as depicted in mechanical print, around 1900
File:Joseph Knippenberg, Rheinisches Bildarchiv, rba 225522 kni.jpg, Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, photographed in 1931/1943
File:Pfalzgrafenstein Innenhof.JPG, The inner courtyard of Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, 2004
File:Wilhelm Camphausen, Blüchers Rheinübergang bei Kaub.jpg, ''Blücher's Rhine-crossing at Kaub'', by Wilhelm Camphausen
File:1813 Rheinübergang, Denkmal auf linkem Ufer.jpg, Monument on the bank of the Rhine River, erected in 1853, to commemorate the early January 1814 crossing of Blücher's forces

Notes and references

Notes

References

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1340 establishments in Europe
1340s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
Buildings and structures completed in 1340
14th-century fortifications
Pfalzgrafenstein
Landmarks in Germany
Museums in Rhineland-Palatinate
Historic house museums in Germany
Electoral Palatinate
Toll castles
Rhine Gorge
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor