Experience a day in the life of the dukes of Coburg and British royalty at Rosenau Palace (Schloss Rosenau). This almost 600-year-old former ducal castle sits perched on a hill and surrounded by gorgeous parkland. Visit Rosenau Palace to tour the opulent rooms once used by Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his wife Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Discover superb art and enjoy relaxed walks around leafy grounds.
First mentioned as a medieval castle in 1439, the palace fell into the hands of the dukes of Coburg in the 18th century. In the early 1800s, Duke Ernst I remodeled the building into a neo Gothic-style palace. Queen Victoria famously referred to the palace in her memoirs, stating that, “If I were not who I am, this would be my real home.”
Pass through the hallway to the enormous Marble Hall, which astounds with its stucco marble, gilt decorations and polished parquet floor.
In the library, browse paintings that depict the poems and novels of Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué and Walter Scott.
Busts and portraits of the former residents stand in a hallway that leads to the refined assembly rooms.
Spot family heirlooms, such as the cradle of Prince Albert, in the ducal apartments.
The most notable features of the exterior are the crow-stepped gable of the facade, crenellated tower and shutter windows.
The 89-acre (36-hectare) English-style Rosenau Park was designed to blend harmoniously with the natural contours of the countryside. Sit at the fountain as Victoria and Albert did on moonlit nights, see a ruined hermitage and find a 23-feet (7-meter) tall sundial. Watch black swans swimming at a pond and visit the neoclassical-style orangery. In the European Museum of Modern Glass find examples of glass art.
Rosenau Palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is by guided tour only. The park, however, is free to visit and open daily.
Located in the town of Rödental, the palace is a 15-minute drive from Coburg. Parking is available for a fee at the park entrance.