Castle Mont Rouge Explained
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]
Robert Mihaly began construction of Castle Mont Rouge without a blueprint in the year 2000.[11] [4] [12] [13]
The castle was abandoned in 2006,[6] although a fundraising campaign featuring Mihaly's 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 quirky North Carolina destination,[21] and the most bizarre building in North Carolina.[22]
Much rumor and lore has been built around Castle Mont Rouge and its creator, Robert Mihaly.[4] [5] [6] [7] [23] 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]
Notes and References
- Web site: ROUGEMONT CASTLE. May 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160416203931/http://www.opendurham.org/buildings/rougemont-castle. April 16, 2016. dead.
- Web site: BarrowImages Photography – A Lonely Castle Named Mont Rouge. When the Image is Everything.
- Web site: 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
- Web site: WRAL . 2019-11-17 . Sculptor hopes to turn Rougemont castle into public venue . 2023-07-06 . WRAL.com . en.
- Web site: Hidden Triangle: Abandoned castle offers taste of Russia . 2023-07-06 . ABC11 Raleigh-Durham . en.
- Web site: Our Secret Spots. Duke Today.
- Web site: Design | Diane Lea | Historic Bath Celebrates 300th Birthday . May 1, 2016 . July 16, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716115247/http://www.metronc.com/article/?id=22 . dead .
- 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.
- Web site: Castle Seeks Worthy Knights & Princesses. Kickstarter.
- Web site: Indeedia – Castle Mont Rouge Abandoned Castle North Carolina. Indeedia. May 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160530160053/http://www.indeedia.com/2015/05/30/castle-mont-rouge-abandoned-castle-north-carolina/. May 30, 2016. dead.
- Web site: Castle Mont Rouge. Atlas Obscura.
- Web site: Eight Castles Hiding in North Carolina. OnlyInYourState. March 27, 2021.
- Web site: 15 Deserted Castles Straight Out Of Fairytales (10 We Can Actually Visit). December 9, 2018. TheTravel.
- Web site: 10 Disney-like castles you need to know about - News Patrolling. Dailyhunt.
- Web site: Best creepy abandoned castle. June 8, 2016. INDY Week.
- Web site: 11 Quirky North Carolina Destinations for Curious Travelers. Shawndra. Russell. Culture Trip. June 14, 2018.
- Web site: The Most Bizarre Building In All 50 States. Joe. McGauley. March 2, 2015. Thrillist.
- Web site: This Hidden, Abandoned Castle in North Carolina Has a Mysterious Past. July 22, 2016.