Castillo Mundo King - Museo de Arte (a photo essay)

[deezl]

For the better part of the last 20 years curator/creator/eccentric (to put it mildly) Rolf Shulz has spent a fairly significant fortune building what is probably the most spectacular Castle/Museum of Art on the entire Island of Hispaniola.

It is the kind of fantastic oddity that one would think tourists would arrive by the busload to visit, yet it remains fairly obscure. Perhaps this is in part due to the genuinely bizarre tales of it's creator and the strangeness (and occasionally disturbing) art, but I think it's in large part due to the fact that the vast majority of the works that reside within (and outside of) its walls are the work of Haitian artisans. Not exactly the ideal destination for the Arts & Culture and Dominican Tourism departments to publicize.

I've visited several times and have had the distinctly odd pleasure of speaking at length with Rolf about what his gallery really is and why it exists. I don't want to ruin any surprises there so you'll just have to visit and speak with him yourself - suffice to say it's quite a bit mad and a little bit genius and that Rolf is fully committed to his own brand of creative lunacy.

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[deezl]

Approach and exterior

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[deezl]

Within the walls

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[deezl]

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[deezl]

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[deezl]

The view is nothing short of spectacular.

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[ilovegirls]

where is this located? looks worth a visit.

[deezl]

That's just a taste, there's much more to see.

If you've ever got an hour (or several) to kill in daylight, it's well worth a visit. From the street directly across from Merengue (next to Winner's Circle) it's about 3/4 of a mile across the main road and straight up the hill.

[ilovegirls]

That's just a taste, there's much more to see.

If you've ever got an hour (or several) to kill in daylight, it's well worth a visit. From the street directly across from Merengue (next to Winner's Circle) it's about 3/4 of a mile across the main road and straight up the hill.

ok i know the street. thanks, ill for sure check it out...

[weyland]

I asked for it! And I got it ...

Absolutely brilliant photos.

[jacknback]

Ditto!!!!
wish I had known about this when I was there!!!
Thanks for the great pics.

[questner]

getrhytm had posts about the place then I posted in recreation section, so maybe threads can be merged.

This place is must visit. Basically it's a living proof that man can make his dream happen no matter how bizarre and again this place is very different very beyond the box.

[sonrisa]

Wow! Increible! Thanks for the excellent photos and information. This is an absolute must for me to see on my next trip. It is also a good thing to know that many of our horizons are actually broader than one street in Sosua. Now we have doubled the number of streets that we have an interest in! :lol:

[ezsmile]

thanks for these pics. I have been by that place but never entered. This was a great reminder that I should go and do just that.

[sopranostingray]

Rolf, the owner of The Mundo King has decided to close up the castle and return home. I think he said he's leaving in October, so hope you get a chance to see it prior. His dream costs him his savings and he can't afford it any longer.

[deezl]

Rolf, the owner of The Mundo King has decided to close up the castle and return home. I think he said he's leaving in October, so hope you get a chance to see it prior. His dream costs him his savings and he can't afford it any longer.

that is a real goddamn shame.

sad to think what's going to happen to the castle and all the amazing work inside it.

[ezsmile]

one more closing....
but definitely will go before it is too late

[Dave Diaz]

Rolf, the owner of The Mundo King has decided to close up the castle and return home. I think he said he's leaving in October, so hope you get a chance to see it prior. His dream costs him his savings and he can't afford it any longer.

Yeahhh I remember when I went the tour guide was telling us its unfinished because he cant afford to continue. There is ALOTTTT of art there and its many many floors and many many statues all over. Its actually pretty incredible but I dont know too many people who have gone there. When I was there I was taking a tour just me and my moto guy who brought me there.

Now that its so close to closing its definitely worth paying a visit if you never have. For the reasons members stated below about a couple of hours during the day to kill.

[SeaWeed]

Yeahhh I remember when I went the tour guide was telling us its unfinished because he cant afford to continue. There is ALOTTTT of art there and its many many floors and many many statues all over. Its actually pretty incredible but I dont know too many people who have gone there.
when I was in Sosua and asking around where all the art galleries/art studios where.....being the art nut that I am........

nobody mentioned him at all...........what a shame as I would have loved to have seen the castle and all the art

he should have spent some money or more money on advertising as it would have helped him.........

and how do you sell a place like that.........not too many people looking for a castle mi think.....

[Dave Diaz]

when I was in Sosua and asking around where all the art galleries/art studios where.....being the art nut that I am........

nobody mentioned him at all...........what a shame as I would have loved to have seen the castle and all the art

he should have spent some money or more money on advertising as it would have helped him.........

and how do you sell a place like that.........not too many people looking for a castle mi think.....

The statues are pretty provocative I don't know how much advertising it got ot how complete it was at the time of the debut but its not even finished now. In the castle you actually see ads of the grand opening and they have the good reviews posted in there too but they all appear to be a few years old from what I remember.

[AlexDR]

someone buy that castle and turn it into a spot

[sopranostingray]

Good news. I stopped in to see Rolf yesterday and he told me he is not going back home and will not be closing the castle. He has decided to stay and keep the castle going. Please, next time you are in Sosua, stop in and check it out. It will blow your mind. I can't even begin to explain it to you and pictures don't do it justice.