Pfalzgrafenstein Castle Castle

Address: Pfalzgrafenstein, near Kaub am Rhein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Hours: Seasonal; viewing from shore is year-round

Admission: Small on-site fee for island access or guided tours (varies seasonally)

Pfalzgrafenstein Castle is a small medieval toll castle situated on an island in the middle of the Rhine River at Kaub in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, dating from the early 14th century.

The castle’s compact, fortified keep and riverside silhouette are its main attractions; visitors typically view and photograph the castle from the Kaub riverbank or reach the island by short boat shuttle when available. It is a distinctive element in the Middle Rhine valley’s string of river castles.

Constructed in the early 14th century to control and collect river tolls on the Rhine, the castle served as a customs post for river traffic and remained largely intact because of its insular position. Its role as a toll station defined its architecture and defensive features.

Sited in the Rhine at the village of Kaub in the Middle Rhine Valley, the castle lies between the larger cities of Koblenz and Mainz and is part of the Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage area.

• Island location: Built as a river-toll castle on a small island in the Rhine, it retains its island setting and is commonly photographed from the banks at Kaub and the opposite shore.
• Access and context: Often reached by short ferry or boat from the town of Kaub and viewed as part of the Middle Rhine Valley’s castle ensemble and UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

Pfalzgrafenstein is best seen from the town of Kaub on the left bank of the Rhine. Kaub is reachable by regional trains from Koblenz and Mainz; the castle itself sits on an island and is most easily appreciated from the shore or by riverboat tours that include the Kaub bend.

• View the castle from the banks of the Rhine at Kaub for the best photograph; the small ferry crossings add a classic Rhine experience.
• The island castle is usually closed to indoor visits-confirm seasonal opening times if planning to enter the keep.
• Combine a stop with a walk through the old town of Kaub and the nearby Rheinfels views.