Hiking in Coburg, Germany, promises enchanting adventures. The region boasts diverse trails, from scenic forest paths to historic castle routes. Explore the natural beauty, historical sites, and splendid landscapes, creating unforgettable memories in this picturesque destination.
With these you can visit castles, go hiking and plan a city trip or two and be back relaxed on the same day. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave me a comment.
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You know the Veste Coburg, but there are other castles nearby. Maybe you have already been there or maybe not. But you can combine a bus trip with a long hike.
Some of these routes are still on my list and I haven’t walked them yet, but I’m planning to.
Veste Coburg
Directly in the city, the Feste Coburg is enthroned on top of the hill. Within 30 minutes you can walk here from the market place up to the fortress and there along in the castle courtyard. This is free and you have a beautiful view of the city.
There is also a museum and restaurant up here.
Eckardt Tower
If you want a longer route from the Veste back to the city, then visit the neighboring hill Eckardtsberg. You can already see the local tower on the path up to the Veste.
The path between the Veste and the tower passes the Coburg-Brandenstein airfield and takes about 40 minutes and it goes partly downhill and uphill again. (total 390m down, 460m up).
Or you can go directly from the city center to the Eckardt tower, which takes about 25min.
By the way, the tower is not open to the public.
Rosenau Castle
Only two train stations away from Coburg is the town of Rödental. Behind the train station you can have a look at the domain.
The courtyard is really nice with the fountain and rose bushes and the church itself you should also enter and admire.
Then it’s already back over the rails and following the signs to Rosenau Castle. The hiking trail leads you through the floodplain landscape along the fields and the brook to the small castle.
You can explore the surrounding English landscape park, sit on the stone bench at the fountain and sunbathe a bit before continuing.
You can only visit the inside of the castle itself with a guided tour, which you can book at the information center around the corner. There are also public toilets, which are free of charge.
It’s important to note that if you want to leave by train again, it’s really only from one platform. I mistakenly stood on the other side from my arrival platform.
And then got to watch my train leave without getting to the right side. There is no underpass and the level crossing on the road is of course closed because of the train.
Interesting facts about Castle Rosenau
The husband of Queen Victoria of England, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was born at Rosenau Castle in 1819.
The German movie Rubinrot* (2013) was partly filmed here.
Rosenau Castle – Lauterburg Ruin
Of course, you can also hike further from Rosenau Castle.
Take the northern direction to the ruin Lauterburg. There is not much to see, but it is a nice hiking destination. Even if there is a mountain Lauterberg, it is still a bit far away.
You’re welcome to take one of the trails up to Hohe Schwenge and visit the Duke’s Fountain there.
From here you can make your way back, as you will have been walking for about an hour and twenty minutes.
If you want to go a little further, you can walk over the Duke’s Fountain to the Stone Table.
Or alternatively to the sinter terraces of Weißenbrunn vorm Wald. That takes another hour and it’s downhill.
Unfortunately, there is no train stop nearby.
Neuhof Castle – Agate Rock – Eckardt Tower
Another hiking route from Rödenfels leads to Coburg. You get off again in Rödenfels at the train platform and walk along the Domöne south through Waldsachsen to Neuhof Castle.
You cannot visit the castle itself, but you can walk past it and photograph it from the outside.
On the Neershofer Straße you go over the highway and to the Agate Rock, which gives you a wonderful view over the area. You follow the Haaresgrund and then the Ketschenbach until you turn off to the Eckardtsturm.
The tower is not accessible, but you still have a wonderful view over Veste Coburg and can take a short breather here.
When you’ve had enough of walking, go down the stairs and take the bus back to the city center. The nearest bus stop is “Eckardtsberg – Coburg”.
Neustadt (near Coburg)
Did you know that right in front of Neustadt bei Coburg lies Thuringia? The Thuringian Forest borders here directly on the small valley basin and you can already do some hiking here.
The Muppberg is located directly east of the city center and you can’t miss it. It offers several hiking trails.
If you want to walk up to the Prinzregententurm, it takes about 45 minutes. The ascent is 174 meters.
Along the route you can also stop at the Neustedter Brunnen and the small wooden Liebespavillon. On the way back you will go southwest towards the stone pavilion and back to the city.
Afterwards you can visit the Museum of the German Toy Industry and the Historical Christmas Museum or refresh yourself in the indoor wave pool.
But Neustadt bei Coburg is best known for its annual doll festival and has earned the nickname “Bavarian Doll Town”.
After all, it is the world’s largest festival for antique dolls, teddy bears, Hummel figurines, miniatures and great rarities.
- Doll Festival 2024: May 5-12 (Website in German)
Saulochklamm
The third hiking route from Rödental leads you to the Saulochklamm. This is a forest hiking trail along interesting rock formations and a small waterfall (when enough water has actually fallen).
The route there takes about an hour and the height difference is 85 meters. On the way there, you can follow the signs to the Sauloch campsite and from there hike to the right to the Saulochklamm gorge.
From there, head west again to Spittelstein, a former quarry, and the sandstone caves around the corner.
In the area there are some sights worth seeing, like the fairy tale fountain, the Teufelsbrünnla, the Teufelskanzel. You can walk around them on your way back. Alternatively, you can also hike from the Teufelskanzel via Rothendorf to the hill Horeb and have a view all the way to Coburg. Then take the country road back to Rödental.
Callenburg Castle
A nice destination in Coburg is the castle Callenburg. A visit to the museum is worthwhile because there are beautiful exhibits, great preserved rooms and access to the baroque garden.
If you walk from the parking lot up to the castle, you will surely notice a small deer park (not accessible), where deer and roe deer run around.
The nearest bus stops are Neuses and Falkenegg.
There’s also castle Falkenegg nearby, but that’s a kindergarden, so you cannot visit.
Goldbergsee Lake
Also nice is the recreational area just a little behind the castle with the lake known as Goldbergsee and several small ponds.
Here, you can find hiking trails and you can also watch birds well. After all, it is a bird sanctuary, called Glender Wiesen.
You can enjoy refreshments in the nearby restaurant at Goldstrand Coburg, which is located on the west of the lake.
There is even a train stop nearby: Coburg-Beiersdorf.
Callenberg Forest
West of the Goldbergsee is the Callenberger Forst with the castle Callenberg.
Here, too, you can stroll along many paths across the forest. There are a few ponds, the Drehenweiher and a small spring. The frost stretches quite long and goes a few villages further to Mährenhausen.
Bismarcktower
Coburg also has a Bismarck Tower (many German towns have one), which you can also target as a hiking destination. It is located between Falkenegg Castle and Ahorn Castle.
I also visited Ahorn Castle, but it seems to be privately owned and you can’t visit it. You can only see it from the road and have a look down into the garden on the hillside.
Hohenstein Castle
South of Coburg there is another castle, called Hohenstein Castle. Here, too, you can make your rounds on the forest paths and also visit the dragon’s cave.
The castle itself is home to the Romantik Schlosshotel. So if you want to enjoy a romantic vacation, you can do book your stay here*.
There is a parking lot up here.
Below the castle there is an inn, the Alte Henne wine tavern, which has another parking lot in case all the spots are taken or you want to stop by for a drink anyway.
More Germany travel tips
- Hiking the Saxon Switzerland
- Thuringian Rhoen Mountains
- Winter at Inselsberg Mountain Peak
- Former Mining Hills turned art places in the Ruhr
