Veste Coburg, also known as the Fränkische Krone (Franconian Crown), was a grand fortress that remains one of Germany’s largest and best-preserved castles.
About The Veste Coburg And Its History
The Veste Coburg has a long and interesting history with some of the world’s most famous men (and women). The first incarnation of this castle was sometime in the mid-1200s. The oldest part of Veste Coburg is the Blue Tower, which dates back to 1225.
The majority of the fortress wasn’t built until after 1499, after a huge fire destroyed most of the former structure.
Perhaps the most famous event in the history of this prestigious fortress came in 1530. It was during this time that the great Martin Luther sought refuge from his persecutors, the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church, within the walls of Veste Coburg. Luther spent almost six months here under the protection of the Elector John the Steadfast, during the time of the Diet of Augsburg.
With Luther absent from the proceedings, his replacement Philip Melanchthon helped to draft the Augsburg Confession, one of the most important documents in the Lutheran Church. Luther used his time in isolation here to continue his translations of the Bible into German.
Martin Luther isn’t the only famous personage with a connection to Coburg. Coburg became one of the two capitals of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. As a result of this, many royal marriages were soon made with the countries of Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria and Great Britain.
The most famous of these was when Albert of Saxe-Coburg married none other than Queen Victoria. of Great Britain. Victoria occasionally visited Coburg and is reported to have said, “If I were not who I am, this would have been my real home, but I shall always consider it my second one.” :-)
Veste Coburg Highlights And Features
Lutherstube (The Luther Room)
Come and see the room where the famed Martin Luther translated parts of the Bible. He also wrote over two dozen papers on the issues involving the Reformation during his time here.
Museums
The museums here house an incredible variety of art and artifacts, mostly coming from the treasures of the dukes. Some of the art includes works by Lucas Cranach the Elder and Tilman Riemenschneider.
The armory has exhibits of old hunting equipment and antique guns, while the glass display shows off over 2,700 fragile glasswork, including some Venetian styles. And there’s a not-to-be-missed display of old floats and gilded wedding carriages that date back to the Renaissance as well.
Veste Coburg Location And Opening Hours
You can find the Veste Coburg in the historical city of Coburg, which is in the Upper Franconian region of Germany, along the Itz River.
If you have a navigation system on board, you shall find this beautiful place by inputting the name of the castle, Veste Coburg. The closest autobahn here is the A73.
Train travelers have two choices for stops in Coburg. There’s the “Coburg Nord” station, or the main station of “Coburg.” From Coburg Nord, it’s easy to catch a taxi to the Veste. It takes about ten minutes by car. The physically-fit can choose to walk from the station to the castle. The journey should take almost thirty-five minutes.
If you get off at the main station, your options are the same. A cab will get you there in ten minutes, while walking can take over a half an hour.
Veste Coburg Opening Hours
You can visit the Veste Coburg in the months of April to November from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In the winter months, the Veste is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from just 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.
The Veste Coburg is also closed on certain holidays, like New Years, Christmas and Shrove Tuesday.
