Callenberg Castle

Schloss Callenberg stands on a wooded hill in Beiersdorf, six kilometres from Coburg in Upper Franconia. It began as a medieval hill castle in 1122 and later became a hunting lodge for the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The castle chapel mixes Gothic arches, Doric columns and a Baroque pulpit, showing layers of craftsmanship. After the Sternberg family died out in 1592, Duke Johann Casimir took possession and rebuilt the chapel. Major redesigns followed in the 19th century under Ernst I, who added a landscape garden and an exhibit farm for silkworms. The castle’s history includes many royal residents. From 1842 it served as the summer home of Duke Ernst II and later as a dowager house for Princess Alexandrine of Baden. The last ruling duke, Carl Eduard, used it as a summer residence until his death in 1954. After years of disrepair and changing uses, the castle was restored and now houses the ducal art collection and the German Rifle Museum. Visitors find a Gothic Revival castle with a grand chapel and landscaped gardens. The art collection displays furniture and treasures from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The German Rifle Museum presents the history of shooting sports. Nearby, the Waldfriedhof cemetery holds the graves of Carl Eduard and other family members. The setting remains peaceful, with the wooded hill and distant views over the countryside.