Castle of Púbol facts for kids
.JPG)
View of the Castle and Church of Púbol
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Type | House-museum |
The Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum is a special medieval castle. It is located in a town called Púbol in Catalonia, Spain. This castle was a gift from the famous surrealist artist Salvador Dalí to his wife, Gala.
Dalí put a lot of effort into making this castle a unique and peaceful place just for her. Gala is also buried here. This castle is one of three important places linked to Dalí in the Empordà region. These three spots are often called the "Dalinian triangle." The other two are the Salvador Dalí House Museum in Portlligat and the Dalí Theater-Museum in Figueres.
The castle is owned by the Spanish government. However, the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation takes care of it.
Contents
What is the Castle of Púbol like?
The Castle of Púbol is a very old building. It mixes Gothic and Renaissance styles. Its history goes all the way back to the 11th century. It stands in the town of Púbol, near the church.
The castle has many parts built around a central courtyard. Many of its original features from the Gothic-Renaissance period are still there. The main entrance has a large stone archway. You can also see beautiful Gothic and Renaissance windows. The castle church is now the local parish church.
The main part of the castle has three floors. These are built around a tall, narrow courtyard. This design comes from the 14th and 15th centuries. The castle has changed a lot over time. The whole castle area includes the church, the fortified palace, a walled garden, and another building. Old medieval wall remains protect the nearby houses.
The Church of Sant Pere de Púbol was built between 1327 and 1341. It is in the Gothic style. It has one main room with a pointed ceiling. There are also side chapels. One chapel has sculptures from the 15th century. A bell tower stands at the top of the church.
A Brief History of the Castle
The castle was first mentioned in a document from the year 1065. Over the centuries, many different families owned it. The Corbera family owned it around 1420. You can still see their family shield in different parts of the castle.
Even though it has been changed a lot, the castle still has many of its original parts from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum: A Special Gift
Salvador Dalí had promised Gala he would buy her a castle. In 1969, he bought the Castle of Púbol. At that time, it was in very bad shape. Dalí himself oversaw all the repair work. He decorated the castle in his unique, personal style.
Gala spent every summer at the castle from 1971 to 1980. Dalí even agreed not to visit her without her written permission!
After Gala passed away in 1982, she was buried in a special crypt Dalí had prepared for her. Dalí then moved into the castle himself. He lived and worked there, finishing his last painting in 1983. He stayed until 1984. Dalí had planned to be buried next to Gala at the castle. However, he was later buried at his Theater-Museum in Figueres.
The Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum opened to the public in 1996. It lets visitors see the medieval castle that Dalí made so special for Gala. The Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation now manages it.
Inside the castle, you can see many interesting things:
- Paintings and drawings Dalí gave to Gala.
- A collection of fancy haute couture dresses.
- The original furniture and many objects that decorated the castle.
- Gala's mausoleum, where she is buried.
The garden is also very unique. It has sculptures of elephants with very long legs. This is a common feature in Dalí's artworks. The swimming pool has busts of the German composer Richard Wagner.
Visitors can explore many areas of the castle. These include the Salon of the Shields, the Piano Hall, Gala's Room, the Library, and the garden with its pool.
See also
- Dalí Theatre and Museum – Dalí's museum in his hometown of Figueres, Catalonia, Spain
- Salvador Dalí Museum – in St Petersburg, Florida, United States
- Dalí Universe – in London, England
- Espace Dalí – in Paris, France
