Veste Coburg

Information courtesy of "Tourismus Coburg"

The Veste Coburg fortress, the so called “Fränkische Krone - Franconian Crown” is visible from afar and is Coburg’s landmark with its massive walls and towers. At the beginning of the 16th century this medieval fortress reached its peak as castle of the Saxon electorate. Martin Luther stayed here in 1530. Nowaday the fortress has been redesigned. The fortress was the residence of the last reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Carl-Eduard. Duke Carl-Eduard was a cousin of Queen Elizabeth and at one time held title in England as the Duke of Albany. He fell on hard times after choosing to back Adolph Hitler in World War II and died virtually penniless as a convicted war criminal.

The Veste is home to three museums and also houses several internationally-acclaimed art collections – such as print room, precious Venetianglass, historic weapons, the worldwide oldest carriages and baroque sledges and famous oeuvres of Old German art – among others of Cranach, Dürer and Grünewald.