Guttenberg Castle

Oberotterbach, Germany, Germany

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Guttenberg Castle (Burg Guttenberg) is a ruined rock castle located near Oberotterbach in the Palatine Forest of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, close to the French border in the Wasgau region.

The castle's origins likely date to the 12th century, with its first reliable written record appearing in 1246 when it was listed among imperial castles around the Trifels. It was originally built around 1150 to protect imperial and monastery properties in the area. 

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands multiple times, belonging to the Counts of Leiningen, the Electoral Palatinate, Lichtenberg, and Palatinate-Zweibrücken, among others. The castle was destroyed in 1525 during the Peasants' War by peasants from Lorraine and has remained a ruin ever since.

The ruins consist of an upper castle on a central rock formation and a lower castle to the west, with remaining features including the keep tower and portions of the defensive wall. Initial clearing and preservation work began in the late 19th century, with conservation efforts completed between 1989 and 1995.