Cistern of the Veste Coburg

Supplying a castle or fortress with clean water was a difficult matter in past centuries. Deep wells had to be drilled or cisterns built. In contrast to today, in the Middle Ages it was usually healthier to drink beer or wine instead of water, which was often polluted. In the western courtyard of Veste Coburg there is still a cistern - an underground rainwater tank with a well casing. This was constructed in 1531 by the fortress builder Konrad (Cunz) Krebs. The Renaissance well casing is nine metres deep. The underground cistern vault is connected by a shaft. Wooden gutters channelled the rainwater from the roofs of the surrounding buildings directly into it.