Burg Gutenfels

My Images of Burg Gutenfels on Imagekind
Gutenfels 1
Gutenfels 2

Burg Gutenfels was built in the thirteenth century by the Falkenstein-Münzenberg family, and became part of the region of Kurpfalz. It switched jurisdiction to the Rhine Palatinate in 1277. In the fourteenth century it underwent expansion, and some of the walls were added. It received its name in 1504 after an unsuccessful siege by Landgraf Wilhelm von Hessen. During the Thirty Years’ War (1630-47), it was conquered several times. In 1793 it fell to French Revolutionary forces, and Napoleon ordered it destroyed in 1806. During the 1890s, it was restored with historical accuracy by architect, Gustav Walter. Until 2006, it served as a hotel, but now it is a corporate training centre. The fallow vineyard terraces at the foot of the castle will be repaired and re-planted with vines.

A story related to Gutenfels tells of Count Philip von Falkenstein, who, along with his good and beautiful sister, Guta, inhabited the castle during the early thirteenth century. Many knights desired to win Guta’s hand. A great tournament was held at Cologne, and knights arrived from far and wide. A handsome warrior from England arrived, and was announced as the “Lion Knight”. He won all encounters he attempted, and Guta was chosen to present him with a laurel wreath. They fell in love. He remained at her side throughout the following banquet, and expressed his love to her. He said he must return to England, but that he would come for her in three months when he would tell her his name which he must presently conceal. Guta accepted. During the three-month period, there was war. Conrad IV, the last of the house of Hohenstaufen, had died in Italy, thus leaving open the Emperor’s title. William II of Holland, Alphonso of Castile and Richard of Cornwall vied for the title, but Richard of Cornwall won. Guta longed for her knight, but he did not return. She thought he had deceived her and she could not be consoled. One day, however, Gutenfels awoke to the sound of blaring horns. Guta’s knight arrived, announcing himself as Richard of Cornwall, and desiring to claim his bride. They were married and she became his empress.

In reality, Richard of Cornwall did become Holy Roman Emperor, but although he married three times, none of his wives was named Guta.