Callenberg Castle

In the 12th century, Callenberg was the seat of the imperial knights of Chalwinberch, Calvvenberc, or Kalbenberg. In 1231, the castle passed to the Bishopric of Würzburg, then to the Counts of Henneberg, and in 1353 to the House of Wettin. Until 1588, the buildings were held as a fief by the noble family of Sternberg.

After the Sternbergs died out, Duke Johann Casimir (1564–1633) used the castle as a hunting lodge and redesigned it in the Renaissance style. In 1826, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a branch of the Wettins, took over.

Duke Ernst I (1784–1844) expanded the castle, but the key changes were made by Ernst II (1818–1893), who modernized the complex in the neo-Gothic style.

After World War II, Callenberg served as a retirement home and school. In 2004, part of the castle became home to the German Shooting Museum. Since 1982, it has once again been family property of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.