Coburg | Gotha | 1826 – A Duke. Two Residences

A Duke, Two Residences

The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was created in 1826 following the division of Thuringia. Duke Ernest I (1784–1844) suddenly had two separate residences – Ehrenburg Palace in Coburg and Friedenstein Castle in Gotha, about 80 kilometers away, each with its own collections, libraries, and archives. The special exhibition at Veste Coburg, the landmark of the Upper Franconian town in the district of Coburg, sheds light on this historical upheaval and the work of a regent who was as energetic as he was contradictory.

The Exhibition

Under the title 'Coburg | Gotha | 1826 – A Duke. Two Residences.', the Art Collections of Veste Coburg present precious objects from the holdings of both ducal cities. On display are, among other things, homage letters on silk and paper, silver filigree, majolica, shells and minerals, as well as artworks, maps, weapons, archival documents, and books. They illustrate power and representation, reform efforts, and the profound changes of the era.

A Joint Project

The Coburg exhibition is part of a major collaborative project with the Friedenstein Castle Foundation Gotha and the Gotha Research Library. Parallel to the exhibition at Veste Coburg, accompanying exhibitions are running in Gotha as well as in the Coburg State Library at Ehrenburg Palace and the Coburg State Archives. Together, the exhibitions trace the dynastic change of 200 years ago in its full breadth.

Events Around the Exhibition

Accompanying events include curator-led tours, academic lectures, thematic city tours through Coburg, and concerts. Veste Coburg, one of the largest and best-preserved castle complexes in Germany, offers an impressive historical setting above the city.

Coburg and the State of Bavaria

Coburg is located in northern Upper Franconia in the Free State of Bavaria, directly on the border with Thuringia. For centuries, the city was the residence of the ducal courts and is today an important cultural tourism destination. The Coburg region, in the district of the same name, preserves the heritage of the European ruling house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to this day.