| Veste Coburg | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of the Veste from the south | |
  Location of Veste Coburg Show map of Bavaria Veste Coburg (Germany) Show map of Germany | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fortress,hill castle |
| Architectural style | Romanesque toGothic revival |
| Location | Coburg,Germany |
| Coordinates | 50°15′50″N10°58′57″E / 50.2640120497218°N 10.982449715039591°E /50.2640120497218; 10.982449715039591 |
| Elevation | 464 m |
| Current tenants | Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg |
| Construction started | 10th century (first fortifications) |
| Renovated | 1838-60, 1906-24 |
| Owner | Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects | Bodo Ebhardt (early 20th-century renovation) |
| Website | |
| Veste Coburg | |
TheVeste Coburg (Coburg Fortress) is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses ofGermany. It is situated on a hill above the town ofCoburg, in theUpper Franconia region ofBavaria.
Veste Coburg dominates the town of Coburg onBavaria's border withThuringia. It is located at an altitude of 464 meters aboveNHN, or 167 meters above the town. Its size (around 135 meters by 260 meters) represents one of the medium fortresses in Germany.[1]
The hill on which Veste Coburg stands had been inhabited from theNeolithic to the early Middle Ages, according to studies on results of excavations. The first documentary mention ofCoburg occurs in 1056, in a gift byRicheza of Lotharingia. Richeza gave her properties toAnno II, Archbishop of Cologne, to allow the creation ofSaalfeld Abbey in 1071. In 1075, a chapel dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul is mentioned on the fortified Coberg. This document also refers to aVogt named Gerhart, implying that the local possessions of the SaalfeldBenedictines were administered from the hill.[2]: 3
A document signed byPope Honorius II in 1206 refers to amons coburg, a hill settlement. In the 13th century, the hill overlooked the town of Trufalistat (Coburg's predecessor) and the important trade route fromNuremberg viaErfurt toLeipzig. A document dated from 1225 uses the termsloss (palace) for the first time. At the time, the town was controlled by theDukes of Merania (or Meran). They were followed in 1248 by theCounts of Henneberg who ruled Coburg until 1353, save for a period from 1292-1312, when theHouse of Ascania (Askanien) was in charge.[2]: 3
In 1353, Coburg fell toFriedrich, Markgraf von Meißen of theHouse of Wettin. His successor,Friedrich der Streitbare was awarded the status ofElector of Saxony in 1423. Thus, Coburg – despite being inFranconia – was now referred to as "Saxony", like other properties of the House of Wettin. As a result of theHussite Wars the fortifications of the Veste were expanded in 1430.[2]: 4
In 1485, in thePartition of Leipzig, Veste Coburg fell to the Ernestine branch of the family. A year later, ElectorFriedrich der Weise andJohann der Beständige took over the rule of Coburg. Johann used the fortress as a residence from 1499. In 1506/07,Lucas Cranach the Elder lived and worked in the Fortress. From April to October 1530, during theDiet of Augsburg,Martin Luther sought protection at the Fortress, as he was under anImperial ban at the time. Whilst he stayed at the fortress, Luther continued with his work translating theBible into German. In 1547,Johann Ernst moved the residence of the ducal family to a more convenient and fashionable location,Ehrenburg Palace in the town center of Coburg. The Veste now only served as a fortification.[2]: 4–5, 21, 54
In the further splitting of the Ernestine line, Coburg became the seat of theHerzogtum von Sachsen-Coburg, theDuchy of Saxe-Coburg. The first duke wasJohann Casimir (1564-1633), who modernized the fortifications. In 1632, the fortress was unsuccessfully besieged by Imperial and Bavarian forces commanded byAlbrecht von Wallenstein for seven days during theThirty Years' War. Its defence was commanded byGeorg Christoph von Taupadel [de]. On 17 March 1635, after a renewed siege of five months' duration, the Veste was handed over to the Imperials underGuillaume de Lamboy.[2]: 4–5, 22, 54 The Field Marshal presented to the defenders a falsified letter, seemingly written by the Duke, ordering the handover.
From 1638 to 1672, Coburg and the fortress were part of theDuchy of Saxe-Altenburg. In 1672, they passed to theDukes of Saxe-Gotha and in 1735 it was joined to theDuchy of Saxe-Saalfeld. Following the introduction ofPrimogeniture byDuke Franz Josias (1697-1764), Coburg went by way ofErnst Friedrich (1724-1800) toFranz (1750-1806), noted art collector, and toDuke Ernst III (1784-1844), who remodeled the castle.[2]: 6
In 1826, theDuchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was created and Ernst now styled himself "Ernst I". Military use of the fortress had ceased by 1700 and outer fortifications had been demolished in 1803-38. From 1838-60, Ernst had the run-down fortress converted into aGothic revival residence. In 1860, use of theZeughaus as a prison (since 1782) was discontinued. Through a successful policy of political marriages, theHouse of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha established links with several of the major European dynasties, including that of the United Kingdom.[2]: 6, 54
The dynasty's last reigning monarch wasCharles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1884–1954), a grandson ofQueen Victoria, who until 1919 was also the 2nd Duke of Albany in thepeerage of the United Kingdom. Under his rule, many changes which had been made to the Veste Coburg in the 19th century were reversed under the architectBodo Ebhardt, with the aim of restoring a more authentic medieval look. Along with the other ruling princes of Germany, Charles Edward was deposed in therevolution of 1918-1919. He abdicated in late 1918, and the fortress came into the possession of the state of Bavaria, but the former duke was allowed to live there until his death. The works of art collected by the family were given to theCoburger Landesstiftung, a foundation which today runs the museum.[2]: 6, 54
In 1945, the fortress was seriously damaged by artillery fire in the final days of theSecond World War. After 1946, renovation works were undertaken by the new owner, theBavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes.[2]: 54
Veste Coburg is open to the public and today houses museums, including a collection of art objects and paintings that belonged to the ducal family ofSaxe-Coburg and Gotha, a large collection of arms and armor, significant examples of early modern coaches and sleighs, and important collections of prints, drawings and coins.[3]
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