Morizkirche

Morizkirche stands in the heart of Coburg, a town in Upper Franconia. It is the oldest surviving church in the town, with parts dating from the 14th century. The church replaced an earlier Romanesque basilica from the 12th century. Martin Luther gave several sermons here in 1530. The church houses the family tomb of the Dukes of Coburg. Its twin towers make it one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks. The church is an important memorial to Martin Luther, who preached here during the Reformation. In 1518, Balthasar Düring began spreading Reformation ideas in Coburg. The interior was later remodelled in Baroque style in the 1740s by architect Johann David Steingruber. The church also contains a Renaissance alabaster epitaph for Duke Johann Friedrich II, completed in 1598. Two royal weddings took place here in the 20th century. Inside, the church is a late Gothic hall with Baroque galleries added in the 18th century. The organ dates from 1989 and sits in a reconstructed frame from 1740. The Ducal tomb dominates the space, marked by Nikolaus Bergner’s tall alabaster memorial. The church remains the main place of worship for the local Protestant congregation.