Kaub: Old Town, Gutenfels Castle and Vineyards

Kaub can be explored from several angles: the old town preserves narrow lanes and half-timbered buildings, while museums and remains of the fortifications bring the town’s history to life. There are also hiking trails, vineyard terraces and a ferry connection to the island castle of Pfalzgrafenstein. If you are looking for a hotel in Kaub, these themes can help you choose the focus of your trip.

Old Town and Fortifications

The historic old town is defined by narrow lanes, half-timbered houses and a medieval atmosphere. You can still walk along sections of the old town wall. The Kaub Cultural Trail offers a way to explore the historic town center on a circular walk of about two hours. This combines a stroll through the lanes with a look at the town’s fortification history.

The surviving parts of Kaub’s fortifications include the Weseler Tower and the Philippinenburg. The southern extension of the fortifications ended at the Dicken Turm, a round tower with a twelve-sided wooden battlement walkway. The 27-meter-high tower of the Church of St. Trinitatis and St. Nikolaus, shared by both denominations, was also once part of the town’s defenses. These structures offer different insights into how the town was fortified.

Museums and Architectural History

The Blücher Museum displays contemporary memorabilia, pictures, information panels and a tin-figure diorama about Blücher’s crossing of the Rhine near Kaub in 1813. An interactive walk related to the exhibition starts at the Blücher Monument and follows the historical events through Kaub. This lets you continue exploring the museum’s subject outdoors in the town.

Kaub’s museums also focus on slate mining and Rhine shipping. The Slate Mining Museum displays objects used by miners, tools and scenes of slate extraction. The Pilotage Museum explains the work of Kaub’s former Rhine pilots. The Church of St. Trinitatis and St. Nikolaus houses Protestant and Catholic churches under one roof. A copy of the Madonna of Kaub can be seen in the church; check current access arrangements before visiting.

Gutenfels Castle dates in its core to around 1220 and is a late Romanesque hilltop castle. The combination of the castle, remnants of the fortifications and the old town makes Kaub interesting for travelers keen to explore architectural history and historic townscapes.

Hiking Trails and Excursions

The Gutenfels Trail is part of the Kaub Cultural Trail. It climbs through newly established vineyards to Gutenfels Castle. If you plan the circular route, you can combine a walk around the town with a trail through the vineyard landscape. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

The Rhein-Camino, a route on the German Way of St. James, runs from Oberlahnstein to Kaub. Check the current trail markers locally before setting out. A small passenger ferry runs from the Kaub riverfront to the island castle of Pfalzgrafenstein. Check the ferry schedule before your visit. Mittelrhein Rafting is another activity associated with Kaub; contact the provider before your trip to check availability.

Viticulture and Landscape

Viticulture in Kaub is mentioned as early as a deed of donation from 983. The vineyard terraces are built with dry-stone walls made of natural stone, without mortar. They show how viticulture shapes the cultural landscape. The vineyard at Gutenfels Castle is considered one of the best wine-growing sites on the Middle Rhine. Together with the hiking trails, the subject of viticulture offers another perspective on Kaub, whether your trip focuses on local history or the landscape.

Kaub in the Wider Rhein-Lahn Destination

Within the wider Rhein-Lahn destination, the part of the Rhein-Lahn district on the right bank of the Rhine, which stretches from Kaub to Lahnstein, lies in the Loreley Valley and the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The World Heritage Site covers a 65-kilometer stretch between Bingen, Rüdesheim and Koblenz, with historic small towns, terraced vineyards and castle ruins. This regional context adds to the picture of Kaub’s own old town, fortifications and vineyard terraces.

Discover more destinations: Kestert, Kamp-Bornhofen, Sauerthal, Filsen, Dörscheid, Sankt Goarshausen, Braubach, Bornich

View the wider travel overview: Loreley.