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
The castle in 2009
Map
General information
StatusUnder construction
Address957 Mountain Brook Rd Rougemont, North Carolina, 27572
Town or cityRougemont, North Carolina
CountryUnited States
Coordinates36°14′22″N 78°54′47″W / 36.23958°N 78.91303°W / 36.23958; -78.91303
Named forRed Mountain
Groundbreaking2000
Design and construction
Architect(s)Robert Mihaly

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]

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References

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  1. ^ "ROUGEMONT CASTLE". Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  2. ^ "BarrowImages Photography – A Lonely Castle Named Mont Rouge". When the Image is Everything.
  3. ^ "Castle Mont Rough".
  4. ^ a b c d e The News and Observer, "A castle? A Work of Art? Mont Rouge is a labor of love", Adrianne Cleven, 3 Nov 2019, 1D
  5. ^ a b c d The Herald Sun, “Castle Mont Rouge in Rougemont is art oddity, labor of love”, Adrianne Cleven, 3 Nov 2019, 1A.
  6. ^ a b c The Roxboro Courier-Times, "Castle Mont Rouge offers Magic for Many", Cameron Beach, 31 Dec 2019, IA
  7. ^ a b c d WRAL (November 17, 2019). "Sculptor hopes to turn Rougemont castle into public venue". WRAL.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Hidden Triangle: Abandoned castle offers taste of Russia". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "Our Secret Spots". Duke Today.
  10. ^ "Design | Diane Lea | Historic Bath Celebrates 300th Birthday". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  11. ^ The Durham News (N&O), A Castle Takes Shape in Rougemont, Elizabeth Shestak, Nov 3–4, 2007. pg. A.1
  12. ^ "Castle Mont Rouge" Rougemont Reporter, Summer, 2006.
  13. ^ Blackburn, C. "Turrets and Towers Tar Heel Style." Our State, May 2006.
  14. ^ "Castle Seeks Worthy Knights & Princesses". Kickstarter.
  15. ^ "Indeedia – Castle Mont Rouge Abandoned Castle North Carolina". Indeedia. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  16. ^ "Castle Mont Rouge". Atlas Obscura.
  17. ^ "Eight Castles Hiding in North Carolina". OnlyInYourState. March 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "15 Deserted Castles Straight Out Of Fairytales (10 We Can Actually Visit)". TheTravel. December 9, 2018.
  19. ^ "10 Disney-like castles you need to know about - News Patrolling". Dailyhunt.
  20. ^ "Best creepy abandoned castle". INDY Week. June 8, 2016.
  21. ^ Russell, Shawndra (June 14, 2018). "11 Quirky North Carolina Destinations for Curious Travelers". Culture Trip.
  22. ^ McGauley, Joe (March 2, 2015). "The Most Bizarre Building In All 50 States". Thrillist.
  23. ^ "This Hidden, Abandoned Castle in North Carolina Has a Mysterious Past". July 22, 2016.