Pubol Castle

Pubol Castle is a symbol of boundless love. A gift from the great surrealist artist Salvador Dali to his beloved, muse and wife Gala. The ancient castle built in the 11th century was slowly collapsing under the influence of time - the roof collapsed in places, the walls were covered with numerous deep cracks, and the neglected garden turned into a jungle. In this form, in 1969, S. Dali acquired an ancient structure.

A love story

At the beginning of his relationship with Gala, he promised her a palace in Italy, and the result was the Castle of Pubol in Spain. Immediately after the purchase, extensive restoration work began. Dali himself and his friend E. Pinho worked on the restoration plan. The artist made many of the murals himself. He wanted Gala to see and feel his presence and love everywhere. There are many images of swallows in the castle's interiors, because that's what Dali called his beloved.

Dali met his future wife Elena Dyakonova - Gala in Paris in 1929. She was married to the poet P. Eluard, but this did not prevent their rapprochement. In Paris, S. Dali participated in the creation of the film "The Andalusian Forest".

In 1958, S. Dali and Gala got married in Girona, the area where the artist was once born. Their relationship wasn't simple. Gala was a determined and strong woman. She helped the great master in many ways - she promoted his work, demanded to look for and fulfill new orders that would be in demand and understandable even to an untrained viewer. She kept order in the genius's workshop, sorting things, brushes, paints. At the same time, she continued to have affairs on the side. There have been frequent quarrels in the family, especially lately.

If Dali's love can be called an all-consuming passion, then Gala's love can be considered a kind of calculation. Gala lived alone in the Castle of Pubol, apart from her husband. Her husband could only come 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 Figueres, in one of the rooms his body is immured in the floor.

The castle of Pubol is currently

It has been open to visitors since 1986. The interior and interiors have remained the same as they were during the lifetime of the owners. The dressing table with creams and perfumes remained as if the hostess would be back any minute.

Only a lot of works by the great artist have been added. Among them are sculptures of elephants with surprisingly long legs, often found in his paintings, a fountain with drawings of 14 heads by composer R. Wagner, and others.

There is an orange Datsun parked in a small courtyard, which is the couple's favorite car. There is a small French garden around the castle, which is closely surrounded by the houses of local residents.

In the Castle of Pubol, visitors immediately enter the Coat of Arms Hall. A gilded throne with an engraving "G" catches the eye - of course, meaning the name of Gala. S. Dali had the title of marquis.  The symbols of the former owners of the castle are depicted on the bright walls of the hall, and the ceiling vault is painted by the artist's hand.

After the kitchen there is a "red bedroom", the interior of which is decorated in red. Then there is the "blue" one, decorated in shades of blue.

The bathroom of the Castle of Pubol surprises with the bizarre shape of the faucets. In the attic rooms there is a dressing room with dresses from famous fashion designers - P. Cardin, K. Dior and, of course, Dali himself.

There is a crypt with two tombstones in the basement of the castle. There is a Gala under one of them. It was here that her body was transported by the inconsolable Dali and buried. He brought his dead wife in a Cadillac, which is also in the crypt. The second grave was intended for Dali, and his wife promised him that she would die on the same day and be buried together. The floor of the crypt is a checkered chessboard, on which 2 knights, a giraffe and an athlete have been preserved.

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 on his wife's bed in the bedroom. A fire broke out from the electric bell to call the nurse. After him, Dali left the Castle of Pubol forever.