Coburg

The massive fortress of Coburg, Germany, towers over this lively town with its wealth of tradition. For many years, this was a popular meeting place for the European aristocracy. Coburg Castle, known as the Crown of Franconia because of its hilltop position, was founded in the 11th century and largely rebuilt in the Renaissance. This impressive structure, with its double ring of defences, was never taken by force. Today, it houses a display of weapons and copperplate engravings, plus a world-renowned collection of art.

The Hofgarten (Court Garden), which is home to the Museum of Natural History, is one of the most beautiful parts of the town and owes a lot to Coburg's ducal heritage. The garden stretches from the castle to the Ehrenburg Palace, which has an impressive Riesensaal (Giants' Hall) - a baroque chamber decorated with stucco ornamental plasterwork.

We have many other German holidays available for those looking to spend some time in this country. You can check out our Stuttgart city breaks or holidays in Bavaria if you are looking to stay somewhere a bit more lively.

• Flight time from London: 1 hour 40 min
• Nuremberg Airport: 106km from the city centre; transfer time about 1 hour
• Nearest railway station: Coburg railway station
• Currency: Euro