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Castillo Mundo King - Strange but wonderful

Castillo Mundo King - Strange but wonderful

December 2019 · 3 min read · Puerto Plata

When visiting the Dominican Republic I don't think that many people would suspect that there is a truly bizarre museum that was established by an "eccentric" expat who made Sosua, Dominican Republic his home... but up on top of a hill there is precisely that.

The entrance was just wide-open with no one around when we arrived
The entrance was just wide-open with no one around when we arrived

Creator and owner Rolf Schulz, was no doubt a very unusual person and it appears as though he moved to Sosua in order to build a castle away from his native Germany.

Inside, he amassed a tremendous amount of very unusual, and sometimes downright frightening art. There are hundreds of pieces and just the building itself is an impressive structure which travels five stories into the sky to lead visitors to stunning views of the beaches below.

your view from the top in unobstructed of the hotel areas below
your view from the top in unobstructed of the hotel areas below

The view towers all over all of his neighbors but the real attraction here is not the views, it is the artwork, and you can easily spend half a day in here admiring his collection that must have taken many years to acquire.

The work is mostly very macabre and features what I have been told a great deal of influence by Haitian voodoo. I suppose a person would have to appreciate a more "alternative" art-style to really appreciate the items inside the massive palace of a home and for me, I am that kind of person. Virtually every statue in this place would be right at home in a museum or oddities or horrors.

he had a fascination with demons, this is most evident in the basement portion, where the "scariest" artwork is stored
he had a fascination with demons, this is most evident in the basement portion, where the "scariest" artwork is stored

Out back, there is a collection of UFO's and trust me when I say that you will not need to be inside this property for long to realize that Rolf was definitely a believer in extra-terrestrial life

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While Thi certainly isn't a traditional museum. I don't think it was ever really intended to be a museum at all but after Rolf's passing a number of years ago, the community has opened it up to the public. It will cost around 300 pesos to get inside and this includes a guide.

This isn't exactly mainstream tourism, but that is kind of the point for a lot of people. It certainly is for me. I have been to a lot of museums and Castillo Mundo King is definitely one of the best I have ever been to. Better get there quick though!. The estate has no electricity or water and it doesn't appear as though the pieces are maintained in any sort of serious way. Unfortunately, it will likely crumble to ruin in the not-too-distant future.

**Pro tip!** it is located on the top of a steep hill, take a taxi up, and walk back. If no one greets you at the gate, just walk in, they'll find you and this is totally normal.

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