From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, almost an old industrial workplace, but Koldinghus ( Kolding Castle) is one of the most fascinating places I have visited in Denmark.

My first impression was rather that of an old industrial building. But first impressions can be so wrong! I would have to say this was one of my favorite places I visited.

Originally built in the 1200s as a defensive castle, it was destroyed by fire in 1808. Not in war but by a chimney fire, accidentally caused by Spanish auxiliaries garrisoned there during the Napoleonic wars. For decades it remained a “scenic ruin” until restoration was completed in 1991. What makes the restoration so good that that, rather than recreate the original castle, it is a mix of the old and more modern that houses art, silver ware and history.

There was some wonderful art, including this bronze interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci and his drawings

In a quite different mindset was this almost “kitsch” glass sculpture of a dog, bone and puddle.

(there are actually two dogs but the other is black and doesn’t photograph well)

And the view from the top of Koldinghus?

It is well worth a visit.