Walk in the footsteps of European high nobility at Ehrenburg Palace (Ehrenburg Schloss). Established in 1543 as a residence for the dukes of Coburg, today the palace is a showcase of the lavish lifestyles of aristocrats and monarchs. On your visit to Ehrenburg Palace, wander between banquet halls, living quarters and bedrooms, where dukes and duchesses welcomed their esteemed guests, and browse an exquisite art collection.
Position yourself in Schlossplatz (Palace Square) to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the symmetrical three-winged landmark building. First built in the Renaissance style, the palace received a baroque makeover in the 17th century and took on the present-day neo-Gothic facade in the 18th century.
The name Ehrenburg translates to Honorable Palace. It was chosen by Emperor Charles V because construction took place without any forced labor.
Some 25 of the palace’s rooms are open to the public. See portraits of members of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in the Family Room. Art galleries on either side of this hall feature paintings by Dutch and Flemish artists, most notably Lucas Cranach the Elder’s Man of Sorrows.Huge caryatid sculptures and a ceiling adorned with the 56 coats of arms of the House of Wettin add splendor to the Hall of Giants.
Don’t miss the bedroom of Duke Ernst I, later used by Queen Victoria when she stayed here. The room also hosted international dignitaries. The queen installed a mahogany water closet, which was possibly Europe’s first flushing toilet.
In another room are enormous Parisian tapestries that portray weaving mills and exotic Indian scenes. See the elegant stucco work of the Hofkirche, a church that was the location of the third marriage of composer Johann Strauss II.
Find the palace in the historical heart of Coburg. It’s about a 15-minute walk from Coburg train station, which has a direct service to Nuremberg. Hofgarten urban park and Landestheater Coburg performing arts venue are some nearby attractions.
Ehrenburg Palace is open from Tuesday to Saturday and access is by guided tour only. Contact the palace via the official website to arrange a tour in English. All tours have a fee.