Quermançó Castle facts for kids
The Quermançó Castle is an old castle found about 2 kilometers north of Vilajuïga, Spain. It sits on top of a quiet hill. You can only reach it by walking from a small road that turns off the N-260.
The Castle's Story
The history of Quermançó Castle goes way back to the year 1078. It was once owned by powerful families known as Counts in the Empúries region.
In 1472, during a big conflict called the Catalan Civil War, the castle was taken over by soldiers who supported King John II.
Later, in 1808, the castle was captured by Napoleonic troops from France. They used it for several years, even making it stronger to store weapons. But when the French army left in 1814, a leader named Marshal Suchet ordered an explosion. This blast left the castle in ruins. Over time, it has fallen apart even more, becoming what you see today.
Salvador Dalí and the Castle
The famous surrealist painter, Salvador Dalí, loved Quermançó Castle very much. He knew it well because it was almost halfway between his hometown of Figueres and his home by the sea in Cadaqués.
Dalí had some really interesting ideas for the castle:
- He wanted to create a natural pipe organ inside the castle. This organ would be "played" by the strong tramuntana wind that often blows in the area.
- Another idea was to keep a rhinoceros in the basement! He thought tourists would love to come and see it.
- He also wanted to buy the castle ruins and make them the home for his wife, Gala.
Visiting Quermançó Castle
Some work has been done to keep the castle from falling apart completely. However, it's important to know that the castle is on private land. This means it belongs to someone, not the public.
Also, the inside of the castle is closed to visitors. This is to stop people from damaging it. So, you can only see the outside of the castle when you visit.
Images for kids
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Quermançó Castle
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Quermançó Castle
