Castle Mont Rouge
Castle Mont Rouge is a castle located on Red Mountain in Rougemont, North Carolina, north of Durham.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The castle was designed by American sculptor Robert Mihaly, known for his work at Duke University and the National Cathedral, as a private residence and country studio.[9] The design was based on architecture from Central and Eastern Europe, complete with 18 pinnacles and a turret.[10][8]
Castle Mont Rouge | |
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The castle in 2009 | |
General information | |
Status | Under construction |
Address | 957 Mountain Brook Rd Rougemont, North Carolina, 27572 |
Town or city | Rougemont, North Carolina |
Country | United States |
Coordinates | 36.23958°N 78.91303°W |
Named for | Red Mountain |
Groundbreaking | 2000 |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Robert Mihaly |
Robert Mihaly began construction of Castle Mont Rouge without a blueprint in the year 2000.[11][4][12][13] He lived in one of the finished rooms and was joined by long-time partner, Caroline Smith, whom he met in 2003 and who described living there as "whimsical fun, enigmatic, and romantic".[4][5][6][7]
The castle was abandoned in 2006,[6] although a fundraising campaign featuring Mihaly's two children was launched to fund renovating it in 2014. The castle was still abandoned as of 2016.[14][15][16][17] Mihaly began restoring the castle in 2017, citing his desire to finish it while his children are still children.[8][4][5][7]
The castle has been cited as a Disney-like fairytale castle,[18][19] an abandoned or deserted castle,[20] a haunted American castle,[21][22][23] a quirky North Carolina destination,[24] and the most bizarre building in North Carolina.[25]
Much rumor and lore has been built around Castle Mont Rouge and its creator, Robert Mihaly.[4][5][6][7][26] Mihaly referenced the rumor about the death of his wife in a televised news story, acknowledging that he is not a widower.[4][5][7]
Gallery
References
- "ROUGEMONT CASTLE". Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- "BarrowImages Photography – A Lonely Castle Named Mont Rouge". When the Image is Everything.
- "Castle Mont Rough".
- The News and Observer, "A castle? A Work of Art? Mont Rouge is a labor of love", Adrianne Cleven, 3 Nov 2019, 1D
- The Herald Sun, “Castle Mont Rouge in Rougemont is art oddity, labor of love”, Adrianne Cleven, 3 Nov 2019, 1A.
- The Roxboro Courier-Times, "Castle Mont Rouge offers Magic for Many", Cameron Beach, 31 Dec 2019, IA
- WRAL News, "A castle? A Work of Art? Mont Rouge is a labor of love", Amy Cockerham, 17 Nov 2019, https://www.wral.com/sculptor-hopes-to-turn-rougemont-castle-into-public-venue/18773398/?ref_id=18773343, accessed 13 Jan 2020
- ABC 11 News, "Abandoned Castle Offers Taste of Russia", Elaina Athens, 16 Dec 2017, https://abc11.com/hobbies/hidden-triangle-abandoned-castle-offers-taste-of-russia/2784745/, accessed 13 Jan 2020
- "Our Secret Spots". Duke Today.
- http://www.metronc.com/article/?id=22
- The Durham News (N&O), A Castle Takes Shape in Rougemont, Elizabeth Shestak, Nov 3–4, 2007. pg. A.1
- "Castle Mont Rouge" Rougemont Reporter, Summer, 2006.
- Blackburn, C. "Turrets and Towers Tar Heel Style." Our State, May 2006.
- "Castle Seeks Worthy Knights & Princesses". Kickstarter.
- "Indeedia – Castle Mont Rouge Abandoned Castle North Carolina". Indeedia. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- "Castle Mont Rouge". Atlas Obscura.
- "Eight Castles Hiding in North Carolina". OnlyInYourState.
- "15 Deserted Castles Straight Out Of Fairytales (10 We Can Actually Visit)". TheTravel. December 9, 2018.
- "10 Disney-like castles you need to know about - News Patrolling". Dailyhunt.
- "Best creepy abandoned castle". INDY Week. June 8, 2016.
- "10 Abandoned and Haunted American Castles". Toptenz.net.
- "Castle Mont Rouge (Rougemont, NC)".
- "Incredible Abandoned Places in Every US State - Page 66 of 101". December 14, 2018.
- Russell, Shawndra. "11 Quirky North Carolina Destinations for Curious Travelers". Culture Trip.
- McGauley, Joe (March 2, 2015). "The Most Bizarre Building In All 50 States". Thrillist.
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/castle-mont-rouge-nc/