Veste Coburg

　　Veste Coburg, also known as Coburg Fortress or Coburg Castle, is one of the largest surviving medieval castles in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on a hill overlooking the city of Coburg, and is a fascinating fortress. What truly brought it widespread fame, however, may be that Martin Luther took refuge here during the Diet of Augsburg.

　　The oldest part of the castle is the Blue Tower, built in 1230, while other sections date back to after the great fire of 1499. Veste Coburg was expanded in the 17th century and underwent restoration in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the castle houses three museums. One features many furnishings of the Dukes of Coburg, including the room where Martin Luther lived in 1530. The most famous room in the entire castle is the 1632 Hunting Room, entirely crafted from intarsia woodwork, consisting of 60 intarsia panels – featuring an intarsia-paneled ceiling and intarsia wooden flooring. Another museum is an armory, displaying around 10,500 pieces of armor and weaponry from medieval Germany. The third museum is an art collection, showcasing world-class artifacts including about 300,000 sculptures, 20,000 coins, 7,000 documents, and 3,500 glass items, all worth close examination.

　　Veste Coburg Reason to visit: One of the largest surviving medieval castles in Bavaria, Germany Continent: Europe Country/Region: Germany Province/State: Bavaria City: Coburg