Spain Guide
Catalunya
Casa-Museu Castell Gala Dalí
Address: Púbol, 22km from Girona
Opening time: March 15– June 14 & Sept 16– Nov 1 Tues– Sun 10am–6pm; June 15– Sept 15 daily 10am–8pm; Nov 2– Dec 31 Tues– Sun 10am–5pm; closed Jan– March 15; last admission 45min before closing
Price: €7
Attractive PÚBOL village is the site of the small medieval castle that Dalí bought and restored for his wife Gala in 1970. The Casa-Museu Castell Gala Dalí contains a lurid mix of precious artworks and Baroque kitsch that the pair bought or made, including a suitably surreal bronze chess set Dalí created in honour of Marcel Duchamp. The castle itself, while perhaps not as wacky as the dwelling at Portlligat, has its quirks as well, such as the womb-shaped fireplace off the kitchen, and the crypt (formerly a tithe warehouse for grain) where Gala is entombed.
There's plenty of biographical material on display, in particular photos of Dalí in his 1930s–40s prime, and a fascinating album devoted to Gala (1894–1982), née Elena Dimitrievna Diakonova. Her collection of haute couture dresses is on the top floor, while her Cadillac is still parked in the garage.
Dalí's innate snobbery was stoked considerably when, in 1982 (the year of Gala's death), he was awarded the title of Marqués de Dalí de Púbol by King Juan Carlos. He lived permanently at the castle thereafter, writing extensively and painting his last authenticated work (Kite's Tale and Guitar) until a fire broke out in 1984, severely injuring Dalí and obliging him to move to Figueres.