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It was once called the "Pfalz".
A ship of stone, eternally afloat upon the Rhine, and eternally lying at
anchor before the town of Pfalzgrafen. This is castle Pfalz, formerly Pfalzgrafenstein,
one of the extraordinary castle creations in the world. The countryside
here along the river valley with the little town of Kaub and Burg Gutenfels
above seems to have maintained much of its romantic beauty.
The Pfaltz is one of the most curious fortified constructions in the world. Built at the beginning of the 14th century by Lewis the Babvrian for levying tolls on the Rhein, this island fortress was only conquered once. In the autumn of 1504, Landgrave William of Hesse tricked and overcame the Spanish occupying forces with the help of a young girl, "little Elsa of Caub". Disguised as a lansquenet, she piloted the attacking troops through the straits of the river.
It is open all year round to the public.