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Miguel Mateu
Barcelona, 1898 - 1972
Miguel Mateu was a unique person. He was born in 1898, son of Damián Mateu, himself the founder of the automobile company Hispano Suiza. He was active in many spheres of business, cultural and even political life, being at different times Mayor of Barcelona and Spanish ambassador of Spain in Paris.
Thanks to all these activities, he met throughout his life a great number of international personalities, both in the political and the cultural fields.
It is in the cultural sphere that Don Miguel’s legacy is most keenly felt, with his very wide range of artistic interests, and being an avid collector from a young age. In 1923 he bought the Castle estate at Peralada, made up of the impressive fortress and palace which had previously belonged to the Counts of Peralada, as well as the buildings which had once been a carmelite monastery.
From then on, Don Miguel turned Peralada into his own private cultural centre, building up the collections which would become the castle museum which is today open to the public.
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