Coburg
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Coburg is a city located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2003 population was 42,257. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920. Before 1918, it was the capital of the small duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Coburg's Coat of Arms honoring the patron Saint Maurice was granted in 1493.
History
Coburg lies about 45 km north of Bamberg. Coburg was first mentioned in the eleventh century. Following several changes of aristocratic ownership, it came into the hands of the House of Wettin in 1353, and was initially regarded by them as a Saxon outpost within Franconia. In 1586, it was raised to the status of capital of one of the dynasty's splintered Saxon-Thuringian territories, the new Duchy of Saxe-Coburg. The Ehrenburg, built in 1543, was gurred by fire in 1690 and rebuilt in Baroque style, with stuccowork by North Italian craftsmen that includes a famous "Hall of the Giants". Its Gothic Revival exterior was remodelled by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in the 19th century.From 1826 to 1918, it was one of the two capitals of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. During the nineteenth century, dynastic marriage policy created ties with the royal families of Belgium, Bulgaria and Portugal as well as Great Britain, the last being achieved when Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, born here at Schloss Rosenau, married his first cousin, Queen Victoria, thus establishing the present British royal house, which tactfully renamed itself Windsor during World War I. This marriage in turn led to a union with Germany's ruling dynasty, the Hohenzollerns, when the couple's eldest child, Victoria, married the future Kaiser Friedrich III.
In 1920, two years after the abdication of the last duke, the locals voted to join Bavaria. Unlike other Saxon-Thuringian principalities, joining Bavaria avoided later incorporation into the German Democratic Republic after World War II. The town spent the Cold War years lying right next to the Iron Curtain, surrounded by East German territory on three sides.
Sights
- Coburg State Theater
- Coburg Doll Museum
- Ehrenburg
- Callenberg Palace
- St.-Moriz Church (14th-16th centuries)
- Town Hall (1414)
- Veste Coburg (One of the biggest and most beautiful castles in Germany)
Culture
Coburg is home to two major festivals: Samba Festival and Johann Strauss Musiktage. Coburg is referred to as "Europe's Capital of Samba" [link].
As a result of the large presence of the US Army prior to German re-unification, Americans and American culture are still present in Coburg and the surrounding area. This influence ranges from American-style pubs and restaurants to two sports clubs sponsoring [link] baseball teams.
Famous Individuals
Besides various royalty, other famous individuals associated with Coburg include Hans Berger (graduated), William Frishmuth (born), and Eduard Study (born).
In 1530, Martin Luther stayed in Coburg Schloss to follow negotiations at the Imperial Diet in Augsburg.[link]
In 1922, Adolf Hitler led several hundred stormtroopers in a march through the city, fighting pitched street battles with leftists. During the Nazi era, the Coburg Badge was one of the most prestigious party medals.
Hans Morgenthau, founder of International Relations as a field of study, was born here.
Trivia
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council asserts that Frankfurt is traditionally credited with originating the frankfurter. According to the Council, this claim is disputed and that the hot dog was created in the late 1600's by Johann Georghehner, a butcher, living in Coburg.[link]
External links
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