Castle of the Three Dragons facts for kids
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The Castle of the Three Dragons (Catalan: Castell dels Tres Dragons, Spanish: Castillo de los Tres Dragones) is a famous building in Barcelona, Spain. It was built between 1887 and 1888 by a well-known architect named Lluís Domènech i Montaner. This building was originally a Café-Restaurant for a big event called the 1888 Universal Exposition of Barcelona. People think its name comes from an old play written in 1865 by Serafí Pitarra.
History of the Castle
This castle-like building was one of the most important structures at the 1888 Universal Exposition. It stood at the end of the main street that connected the Arc de Triomf to the Parc de la Ciutadella. Building work started in September 1887.
However, there were many delays. The building was not ready for the Exposition's opening day on April 8. It finally opened much later, on August 17. Because of these delays, the architect, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, decided to step down from his role on the project.
After the Exposition ended, Domènech i Montaner used the building as a workshop for industrial arts related to architecture. Later, it became a museum. It housed collections about history, archeology (the study of old things), biology, and natural sciences.
During the Spanish Civil War, the building was closed. It was also damaged a bit by bombs. From 1942 to 1945, it served as a dining hall for people who needed help. After that, it went back to being the Zoology Museum of Barcelona. It stayed a museum, with some breaks, from 1920 until 2010. In 2010, the museum's collections were moved to the new Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona. The Castle of the Three Dragons was carefully restored in the 1980s by several architects.
What the Building Looks Like
The Castle of the Three Dragons is made mostly of brick and iron. It looks like a real castle with battlements (the notched walls often seen on castles) at the top. The building's shape is almost square. It has four towers, one at each corner. There are also walkways that go around the outside, between a double set of walls.
The building has a very interesting and new design. It uses a lot of brick and iron in a way that makes it seem open and light. This was a very modern idea for its time.
The decorations on the building are beautiful. Many of them are made from ceramic tiles. You can also see paintings by artists like Joan Llimona and Alexandre de Riquer. There are sculptures designed by Antoni Vilanova. On the battlements, you can see blue and white shield-shaped panels. These panels show different plants and animals, and even some drinks. The building also had lovely stained glass windows, but some of them are now gone.
See also
- List of Modernisme buildings in Barcelona
