Koldinghus Castle

by coach & on foot

Experience this 750-year-old castle, one of the few true castles remaining in Denmark, which for centuries was one of the country’s most important royal castles. Today, Koldinghus is a modern museum and a world-class attraction with an award-winning restoration project and large international exhibitions. The present buildings of Koldinghus Castle are from the 15th and 16th centuries, but Koldinghus was given its characteristic profile when the young Christian IV built the Great Tower around 1600.

Tragically, in 1808 the castle burned down when Spanish troops were billeted there and afterwards lay in ruins for more than a century. It wasn’t until 1991 that the castle was fully restored.

In the 1980s, the castle ruin was subjected to award-winning restoration work with deliberate use of materials that are different from those used in the original building. The goal of the restoration was not to restore the castle to its former appearance, but to leave the ruin largely intact, as a visible illustration of a dramatic period in the castle and the country’s history. The result is a medieval castle with a modern twist. The amazing restoration work of the Ruin Hall was awarded the Europa Nostra prize in 1993.

Today, the castle houses many historical artworks from Denmark, along with a museum, and it has emerged as a sightseeing attraction of great historical and architectural value where, besides viewing international temporary exhibitions, one can see the country’s largest collection of modern Danish silver.

End your visit to the castle with a refreshment in Madkaelderen, the cozy old cellar under the castle’s north wing. The restaurant is surrounded in history and there is respect for the protected building, where old, raw brick walls and vaults standout charmingly.

Following this historic experience, rejoin your coach for the return journey to the port.