Melissa Abroad 2022: Best of Germany in 13 Days
Coburg & Wartburg
A Surprise Stop in Coburg!
Does the name, Coburg, sound familiar?
Any fans of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
out there?
No? Just me? Okay...
Well, Coburg is the birthplace of
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
I was so stoked to come to this realization as we pulled into Coburg
(it took me a minute to figure out why Coburg
sounded so familiar to me...yeah, I'm slow sometimes...).
Not only the birthplace of Prince Albert, but Martin Luther gave his first Protestant sermons here.
As we arrived, we were given an orientation tour of the town. Then, Matti led us to the town square and treated us to a traditional Thuringian Wurst!
We had a little free time after that before we continued on to Wartburg Castle.
Walking into Coburg city center,
through the old town gates.
Statue of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and Prince Albert's father.
Food Recommendation!
(Thuringian Sausage)
These were surprisingly so good!
A long wurst in a tiny bread roll.
Traditionally served with mustard, although
ketchup is available.
Really, I think the bread is just to have something
to hold the wurst with. (haha!)
Martin Luther was a highly educated man with an interest in monastic life. In 1505, he entered the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt. He received his doctorate and became a professor of biblical studies. 2017 marked the 500th year (1517) of Luther nailing his 95 theses on a church door in Wittenburg. The theses brought forth questions of indulgences for academic debate. This upset the Roman Catholic Church. In 1521, during the Edict of Worms, Luther was declared an outlaw and was going to be arrested. His friends "captured" him and hid him here in the castle. He was hidden here from authorities. While in hiding, he translated the
New Testament from Greek to German.
Luther's writings sparked the Protestant Reformation after he published his 95 Thesis, and many other works detesting the sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic Church.Frederick III had him intercepted on his way home in the forest near Wittenberg by masked horsemen impersonating highway robbers. They escorted Luther to the security of the Wartburg Castle
at Eisenach.
Seeing this Bible, and the Castle itself, was really profound. In 2017, my church celebrated this anniversary and I felt a connection with Luther. I admired his resiliency to stand up for his beliefs and defy the church authorities who were "using" the public for their private gain. I am grateful for his determination and God-given talent to translate the Bible into a common language for the common people. It was really special to see the actual Bible he translated!
This was Luther's room while in hiding here at the castle. This is where he translated the New Testament from Greek to German, making it easily accessible and readable to all Germans.
Notice the whale bone used as a foot rest!
The green tile structure on the side was a heater for the room.
Deutsches Rudewendengun!
"Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier!"
Literally: Sleep like a marmot.
German meaning: Sleep very deeply.
Photo Album!
Hover or click the pictures to view descriptions and see them larger.
My Favorite Coburg & Wartburg Things!
St. Maurice Church - The church where Luther gave his first protestant sermons.
Ehrenburg Palace - Prince Albert's castle home. Queen Victoria stayed here many times.
Thuringian Wurst - An excellent lunch or snack. Enjoy on the Marktplatz under the Prince Albert Monument for a real local experience!
Wartburg Castle - The castle where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. It contains 1000 years of history. It is also the first German castle to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Martin Luther - The Augustinian monk who challenged the Catholic Church and made the Bible easily accessible.