Veste Coburg & Wachtelbräu is the first in a series on the Bavarian Castle Annual Ticket. Each entry will give details on a castle outing in Bavaria along with a beer particular to the area. Details on the ticket along with how to reach the featured attraction are provided in the closing.
Stunning Veste Coburg
Veste Coburg was first mentioned in 1056 and grew in both size and importance after becoming the House of Wettins in 1353. It’s one of the best preserved and most impressive medieval castles in Germany. Wandering around its courtyard and accessible walls is worth the price of admission alone.
views from withe Veste Coburg’s walls
the interior
In the 18th century, the interior was renovated in the neo-Gothic style. The rooms house one of the most important art and cultural collections in Germany. Even a casual perusal takes a couple of hours. Works by Lucas Cranach are a highlight but non-art fans will be enthralled by a vast collection of weapons and one large room full of carriages and sleighs.
captivating interior of Veste Coburg
Zeitreise auf der Veste Coburg 2026
We’d planned on buying our Bavarian Castle Annual Ticket at Vest Coburg but on arrival, we saw not only a fair line but also people arriving in medieval gear. When we inquired about the annual ticket, the salesperson apologetically explained that they were not valid for the event nor available for purchase that day. We’d made the climb and we both love medieval festivals, so we paid our admission and put off yet again purchasing the annual ticket. The lesson to take from this is to check the website of your desired venue to be sure there is not a special event that day. All that said, we really enjoyed the Zeitreise (time travel on the castle hill). It was quite authentic and relaxed.
Zeitreise auf der Veste Coburg
The people working the festival were very informative and seemed to really enjoy the experience. They had tents to sleep in but it also demonstrated life from another time so in a sense, it did feel a bit like time travel.
a passionate group of medieval performers
Wachelbräu beer
A pleasant surprise of the festival was Wachelbräu being available. This very small regional brewery’s beers are quite hard to come by and I travel around Franconia extensively to find such things. So, its being here on tap was a huge bonus for me. The owner was quite chatty and friendly. The Wachtelbräu Hell was really tasty. It must have been as I had a few. There was an assortment of typical festival snacks, including great Coburger sausages and flat breads with assorted toppings.
Wachtelbräu Hell & fine festival fare
Since the Wachtelbier won’t be available if you visit on a non-festival day, you can enjoy a beer at BierSalon Coburg. They have a good selection of regional draft beers on tap. If you are going to find the Wachtelbier, this is the place it’s most likely to have it. Either that or plan your visit around the Zeitreise auf der Veste Coburg.
How to get to Veste Coburg
Getting to Coburg is easy. Frequent trains run between Nuremberg and either Sonneberg or Erfurt, stopping in Coburg about an hour later. So, it’s quite close to Bamberg, as well, which is also on that line. Coburg is located just off the Autobahn for those driving. You can get quite close to Veste Coburg itself with a local bus but the walk is well worth the effort. The park surround the castle hill is lovely and you can hike along the famed Jakobsweg all the way up. It took us around a half hour from the train station.
Bavarian Castle Annual Ticket
The entrance fee to Veste Coburg, as of 2026, is €11 per person. Children up to 18 are free. There is a 14-day Bavarian Castle Ticket for €40 per person or €80 for a family. The Bavarian Castle Annual Ticket is €55 per person or €100 for a family. This includes entrance to over 40 venues, so a great value for those who want to visit a lot of castles. We live in Bavaria so we are planning on visiting as many as we can in 2026/2027. The tickets can be purchased at most of the venues but please check ahead. Their website is quite helpful.
Please check back for further blogs on the castles we visit along with a special beer to enjoy after you’re done.
Staying in Coburg and looking for some food and beer tips: After the Castle.
I hope this guide to Veste Coburg & Wachtelbräu helps make your trip to the castle a great one. If it’s helped you find some new places, please consider buying me a beer 🍺!
