Coburg Fortress is an impressive example of medieval castle architecture and one of the largest of its kind in Germany. Founded around 1225 and expanded to its current size of approximately 200 x 80 meters under the rule of the Henneberg dynasty around 1330, the fortress experienced a golden age as a Saxon electoral castle, particularly in the 16th century. In 1530, it provided Martin Luther with protection and security during the Diet of Augsburg. After the construction of Coburg City Palace in the 1540s, the fortress retained its strategic importance as a state stronghold. Its architecture reflects the political and religious conflicts of the time from the Hussite Wars and the Schmalkaldic War to the Thirty Years' War. Extensive renovations in the 18th and 19th centuries transformed the fortress into a monument to Ernestine history under the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Today, the art collections of the fortress are a significant cultural heritage that reflects the art history and culture of the region.
Author
Rudolph, Benjamin/Fleck, Niels/Großmann, G. Ulrich (Hrsg.)
