The clouds retreated for a bit this afternoon and as we were in the neighbourhood, we took the opportunity to survey Coburgerland below from the heights of the fortress, Veste Coburg—one of the largest castles in Germany and known as the Crown of Frankonia.
This fortified structure probably has its origins in the eleventh century and grew over time in the splendid hunting lodge and vacation home for the dukes of the region. It was nice to have the chance to visit the place again, which houses a number of art collections, has a series of dungeons formerly populated with tamed bears and a hall of game-trophies.
This residence and the town it dominates also figured prominently in the history of the British royal family, the consort of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, having come from her as well as Victoria's confidential and influential (controversial and conspiratorial according to some accounts and quite a match-maker) nanny, Louise Lehzen, whom the future queen created a baroness.
Victoria's grandson, Charles Edward, ruled as the German duke of Gotha-Saxony-Coburg and as British duke of Albany from this roost. Protestant reformer Martin Luther was also holed-up here during the deliberations of the the Diet of Augsburg that sought to stop religious in-fighting among Catholic and Lutheran royal houses in a splintered Europe who were becoming more and more vulnerable to outside enemies.
Despite the sunshine and all the history and connections to take in, the winds at this height were biting and we cut our tour a bit short after rounding the walls. We'll, however, get another chance to explore soon.
The clouds retreated for a bit this afternoon and as we were in the neighbourhood, we took the opportunity to survey Coburgerland below from the heights of the fortress, Veste Coburg—one of the largest castles in Germany and known as the Crown of Frankonia.
This fortified structure probably has its origins in the eleventh century and grew over time in the splendid hunting lodge and vacation home for the dukes of the region. It was nice to have the chance to visit the place again, which houses a number of art collections, has a series of dungeons formerly populated with tamed bears and a hall of game-trophies.
This residence and the town it dominates also figured prominently in the history of the British royal family, the consort of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, having come from her as well as Victoria's confidential and influential (controversial and conspiratorial according to some accounts and quite a match-maker) nanny, Louise Lehzen, whom the future queen created a baroness.
Victoria's grandson, Charles Edward, ruled as the German duke of Gotha-Saxony-Coburg and as British duke of Albany from this roost. Protestant reformer Martin Luther was also holed-up here during the deliberations of the the Diet of Augsburg that sought to stop religious in-fighting among Catholic and Lutheran royal houses in a splintered Europe who were becoming more and more vulnerable to outside enemies.
Despite the sunshine and all the history and connections to take in, the winds at this height were biting and we cut our tour a bit short after rounding the walls. We'll, however, get another chance to explore soon.
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