It was with this intention that the castle was constructed in the middle of the 12th century, when the castle was built as the defence of the kingdom to the south.
For centuries Koldinghus has been one of Denmark's most important royal castles. In the middle of the 15th century the medieval castle was converted into a renaissance castle by King Christian III. The landmark and commanding power symbol of the castle - the Giant Tower - was added by King Christian IV around 1600 to indicate arrival at the Kingdom of the North. In 1808, when Spanish soldiers were quartered in the Koldinghus, a fire got out of hand, and for a long time the castle was left as a romantic ruin.
A World-Class Attraction 
Today, the castle is home to the Museum of Koldinghus, where visitors are able to stroll through the stately great hall, the impressive library hall and the beautifully restored chapel. The restoration of the south wing of the castle is, in itself, a world-class attrraction. The architects, Inger og Johannes Exner, have preserved the ruin as a historical monument frame by a new architectural addition. They have created a modern and unprecedented architectural monument which was awarded the EUROPA NOSTRA Award in 1993.
At Koldinghus visitors can see medieval church art, the largest collection of Danish silver ranging from the Renaissance period up to today and various special exhibitions of international class. From the top of the Giant Tower there is an exceptional view of the city of Kolding, the Castle Lake and, weather permitting, the old and new bridges across the Little Belt.
Koldinghus is not only a museum; it is also the backdrop for cultural events, such as concerts, lectures, theatre and activities for the children.
Free Guided Tours The museum offers a free guided tour on the first Saturday of each month at 14:00. The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and is free with paid admission. Guests may register for the tour at the booking desk. It is not possible to register in advance. These free tours are reserved for individual visitors - groups can book one of the regular guided tours.