Pubol Castle
Púbol Castle is a symbol of boundless love. A gift from the great surrealist artist Salvador Dali to his beloved, muse and wife Gala. An ancient castle built in the 11th century. under the influence of time, it slowly collapsed - the roof collapsed in places, the walls were covered with numerous deep cracks, and the neglected garden turned into wilds. In this form, S. Dali acquired the ancient structure in 1969.
Love story
At the beginning of his relationship with Gala, he promised her a palace in Italy, but it turned out to be Pubol Castle in Spain. Immediately after the purchase, extensive restoration work began. Dali himself and his friend E. Pinho worked on the restoration plan. The artist did many of the paintings himself. He wanted Gala to see and feel his presence and love everywhere. In the interiors of the castle there are many images of swallows - after all, that’s what Dali called his beloved.
Dali met his future wife Elena Dyakonova, Gala, in 1929 in Paris. She was married to the poet P. Eluard, but this did not prevent their rapprochement. In Paris, S. Dali took part in the creation of the film "Andalusian Forest".
In 1958, S. Dali and Gala got married in Girona, the area where the artist was once born. Their relationship was not simple. Gala was a determined and strong woman. She helped the great master in many ways - she promoted his work, demanded that he look for and fulfill new orders that would be in demand and understandable even to an unsophisticated viewer. She kept order in the genius’s workshop, sorting out things, brushes, paints. At the same time, she continued to have affairs on the side. There were frequent quarrels in the family, especially recently.
If Dali's love can be called an all-consuming passion, then Gala's love can be considered a kind of calculation. In Pubol Castle, Gala lived alone, separately from her husband. The husband could come only with her written permission. Gala died in 1982. S. Dali died in 1989. In his will, he asked that people walk on his grave. His request was fulfilled - in the theater-museum with his name in the city of Figueres, in one of the rooms his body was walled up in the floor.
Púbol Castle today
It has been open to visitors since 1986. The interior decoration and interiors have remained the same as they were during the lifetime of the owners. The dressing table with creams and perfumes was left as if the hostess would be returning any minute.
Only many works by the great artist have been added. Among them are sculptures of elephants on surprisingly long legs, often found in his paintings, a fountain with drawings of 14 heads by the composer R. Wagner and others.
In the not very large yard there is an orange Datsun - the couple's favorite car. There is a small French garden around the castle, with the houses of local residents very close to it.
In Pubol Castle, visitors immediately enter the Armorial Hall. The gilded throne with the engraving “G” catches your eye - of course, meaning the name Gala. S. Dali had the title of Marquis. The light walls of the hall depict symbols of the former owners of the castle, and the ceiling vault is painted by the artist’s hand.
After the kitchen there is a “red bedroom”, the interior of which is made in red. Then comes the “blue” one, the decoration of which is in blue tones.
The bathroom of Pubol Castle surprises with the bizarre shape of the taps. In the attic there is a dressing room with dresses from famous fashion designers - P. Cardin, C. Dior and, of course, Dali himself.
In the basement of the castle there is a crypt with two tombstones. Under one of them lies Gala. It was here that the inconsolable Dali transported her body and buried her. He brought his dead wife in a Cadillac, which is also in the crypt. The second grave was intended for Dali; his wife promised him to die on the same day and be buried together. The floor of the crypt is a checkered chessboard; 2 horses, a giraffe and an athlete are preserved on it.
After the death of his wife, Salvador spent 2 years in the castle, being in severe depression. He wanted to die and refused to eat, lying in the bedroom on his wife’s bed. A fire broke out from an electric bell to call a nurse. After him, Dali left Pubol Castle forever.
