Koldinghus

Why it is renowned

VisitDenmark names Koldinghus among the twelve castles to visit in Denmark and calls it the last royal castle in Jutland.¹ It is one of six royal sites in the care of the Royal Danish Collection, alongside Rosenborg, Amalienborg, Christiansborg, Fredensborg and the Hermitage.² The restoration of its ruin by the architects Inger and Johannes Exner received a Europa Nostra award in 1993.³ Its rooms show the Flora Danica porcelain, including a recreation of the royal table laid for Christian VII's birthday on 29 January 1803, the first known use of the service.⁴

The story

According to the records, King Erik Klipping built the first Koldinghus in 1268 to guard the kingdom's southern border against Schleswig.⁴ In 1447 Christopher of Bavaria built the west wing in stone, and it still stands.⁴ Christian III added the east and south wings between 1549 and 1553, closing four wings around a courtyard, and died at the castle in 1559.⁴ After a fire, Christian IV rebuilt the north wing and raised the Great Tower and the castle chapel between 1598 and 1603.⁴ The tower took its name from four statues of giants, Hannibal, Hector, Scipio and Hercules; only Hercules still stands on it.⁵ In 1808 the castle burned while Spanish troops under Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte were quartered in it.⁴ The ruin stood for decades and drew visitors such as H.C. Andersen.⁵ Restoration began in 1867, the museum opened in 1892, and the Great Tower was rebuilt between 1931 and 1935.⁴ Inger and Johannes Exner restored the ruins and rebuilt the south wing between 1972 and 1991.⁴

What to know it by

• The west wing⁴1447Christopher of BavariaMedieval stone wing, still standing
• The Great Tower⁴1598Christian IVBuilt 1598 to 1603, rebuilt 1931 to 1935
• The restoration⁴1991Inger and Johannes ExnerThe ruins restored and the south wing rebuilt from 1972
• Flora Danica⁴1803Christian VII's birthday table of 29 January 1803, recreated