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 |
|---|---|
| Location | Púbol |
| Type | House-museum |
The Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum is a special medieval castle located in Púbol, Catalonia, Spain. It was once a gift from the famous Spanish painter Salvador Dalí to his wife, Gala Dalí. Dalí wanted to create a unique and peaceful place just for her.
Gala is buried at the castle. This castle is one of three important places connected to Dalí in the Empordà region. The others are the Salvador Dalí House Museum in Portlligat and the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres. The castle is owned by the Spanish government but is managed by the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation.
Contents
What is the Castle Like?
The Castle of Púbol is a very old building. It started as a fort in the 11th century. It has features from both the Gothic and Renaissance periods. The castle is found in the town of Púbol, next to the church.
The castle has several parts built around a central courtyard. Many of its original Gothic and Renaissance features are still there. The main entrance has a large stone archway. You can also see beautiful Gothic and Renaissance windows and carvings. The church next to the castle is now the local parish church.
Castle's Structure and Age
The main part of the castle, with its three floors and narrow central courtyard, was built between the late 1300s and early 1400s. This was when the Púbol area was very important. The castle has been changed many times over the years. The whole castle area includes the church, the fortified palace, a walled garden, and another building called a tithing house. Old medieval wall remains still protect the surrounding houses.
The Church of Sant Pere
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 and a rounded end. On the south side, there are small chapels. One chapel has sculptures from the 15th century. A choir area was added in the 17th century, and a sacristy (a room for church items) in the 18th century. The front of the church has a late-Gothic rose window. There is also a bell tower at the top.
Castle's History
The castle was first mentioned in a document from 1065. Over the centuries, it was owned by several different families. The Corbera family, who owned it around 1420, built the current castle and church. You can still see their family shield in different parts of the building. Later, other families like the Oms and the Miquel owned the castle. Even with changes over time, much of the castle's original structure from the 14th and 15th centuries remains.
Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum Today
Salvador Dalí had promised to buy a castle for Gala. In 1969, he bought the Castle of Púbol, which was in very bad condition. Dalí personally oversaw the repairs and decorated the castle in his unique style. Gala spent her summers there from 1971 to 1980. Dalí even agreed not to visit without her written permission!
After Gala passed away in 1982, she was buried in a special crypt Dalí had prepared for her at the castle. Dalí then moved into the castle himself that same year. He lived and worked there, finishing his last painting in 1983. In 1984, a fire started in his bedroom. Dalí was rescued by his friend, Robert Descharnes. After this, Dalí moved back to Figueres. He lived comfortably in the Galatea Tower of his Theater-Museum for his final years. Dalí had planned to be buried next to Gala at Púbol, but he was eventually buried at his museum in Figueres.
The Gala Dalí Castle House-Museum opened to the public in 1996. It lets visitors see the medieval castle where Dalí poured his artistic energy into creating a world for Gala. The Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation manages the museum today.
What You Can See Inside
Inside the museum, you can see paintings and drawings that Dalí gave to Gala. There is also a collection of fancy dresses, furniture, and many objects that decorated the castle. You can also visit Gala's mausoleum. The garden has sculptures of elephants with very long legs, which was a common idea in Dalí's art. The pool has busts of the German composer Richard Wagner.
Visitors can explore many areas, including:
- The salon of the shields
- The piano hall
- Gala's bedroom and bathroom
- The library
- A guest room
- The attic
- The dealer room
- The dining room
- The tithing house with the crypt and garage
- The garden and pool
Other Dalí Museums
- 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
- Dalí Paris – in Paris, France
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Púbol para niños
