Castell Gala Dalí

'Le château de Gala, la Gala du château', ('The chateau of Gala, the Gala of the chateau') is how Salvador Dalí described Púbol Castle, now known as Castell Gala Dalí. A Gothic-Renaissance fortification from the 11th century, it was once the centre of the barony of Púbol and, in the 1970s, became the residence and refuge of Gala Éluard Dalí, the artist's lifelong partner. The castle was secluded, mysterious, private, austere and restrained. In fact, Dalí wasn't allowed to enter if he hadn't written in advance for permission to do so. Despite this, he was in charge of its interior design. When he bought the castle, it was in a state of serious disrepair, with collapsed roofs, significant cracks and a garden that had run wild. The artist decided not to hide its dilapidated state, and used the semi-destroyed roofs and walls to create unexpected spaces and contrasting dimensions. If you go, pay particular attention to the pictorial representations on the walls, the fake architecture, the baroque-style textiles and romantic symbology. The place is not to be missed. And did you know that Gala is actually buried there? Dalí designed a mausoleum for the two of them, but in the end, he decided to be interred in his Teatre-Museu in Figueres.