Ehrenburg Palace

Ehrenburg Palace (Schloss Ehrenburg) in Coburg was the town residence of the dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and is dressed in a rare English-style Gothic Revival facade designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Inside you will find Baroque stucco rooms, a spectacular festival hall and French Empire apartments. Queen Victoria stayed here, and the palace gives a feel for a family with far-reaching dynastic ties across Europe.

Where it is and how to get there

Coburg lies in northern Bavaria, in the region of Upper Franconia. Deutsche Bahn serves the city, and from the station a bus runs to the stop called "Zentrum." The palace stands at the eastern edge of the old town on Schlossplatz. If you drive, use the large Ketschenanger parking lot or one of the garages in the center.

Why it matters

The palace was begun in 1543 on the site of a dissolved Franciscan monastery. Emperor Charles V is said to have given it the name "Ehrenburg" ("castle of honor") because it was built without forced labor. After a fire, Duke Albrecht rebuilt it as a Baroque residence from 1690. From 1810 Duke Ernst I had the exterior remodeled to Schinkel's plans. The dynasty rose to European importance in the 19th century through clever marriage policy, and Queen Victoria was a frequent guest. Today the building also houses the Coburg State Library.

What to see

• The Giants' Hall (Riesensaal): Named for 28 massive herms that support the ceiling beams.
• Empire apartments: Furniture, clocks and chandeliers mostly from Paris, and inlaid parquet floors.
• Queen Victoria's bedroom: A reminder of the family's international links.
• Picture galleries: Works by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Dutch and Flemish painters and Romantic landscapes.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

Winter hours began on October 5: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last tour at 3 p.m. The palace is closed on Mondays (except January 6, Easter Monday and Whit Monday) and on January 1, Shrove Tuesday and December 24, 25 and 31. You can only visit on a guided tour, which starts on the hour. Admission is 6 euros (5 euros reduced), and children and teenagers under 18 are free. A combination ticket with nearby Rosenau Palace costs 10 euros, and a regional pass for all Coburg palaces and museums is 16 euros. Call +49 9561 8088-32 to ask whether tours in English are available.

Practical tips

Plan 60 to 90 minutes for the tour. Free Wi-Fi, a museum shop and a visitor waiting room are available. The palace administration does not publish accessibility details online, so contact them before you come if you need step-free access. Combine your visit with the Hofgarten park and the Veste Coburg fortress above the city.