Koldinghus is a castle in Kolding, in south-central Jutland, Denmark. It was founded in the thirteenth century as a fortress to defend the southern border. Christoffer III built the north side from 1441 to 1448, Christian I the west side from 1448 to 1481, and Christian III the south side and courtyard towers from 1503 to 1559. Christian III converted it into a royal residence. Christian IV added the Giant Tower from 1588.
Polish troops captured the castle on December 25, 1658. In 1808 a fire broke out while Spanish soldiers were quartered there, destroying the main buildings, and the castle stayed a ruin for decades. The large tower was rebuilt in brick in the 1930s to prevent collapse.
Inger and Johannes Exner conceived a restoration, carried out from 1976 to 1993, that won a Europa Nostra Award. Koldinghus is now a museum with furniture, paintings, ceramics and silver.
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