A rare unexpected treat. The Biltmore stands out for a few reasons. One is obvious to all — the sheer size. Well-manicured with various sections, including a lake. The inside is very tastefully decorated with a classic countryside feel. Actually, for the most part, the inside is timeless. It does not have the over-indulgent tackiness of other estates that make your head spin. There is a specific warmth about the interior of The Biltmore.
The house occupies over four acres and has a staggering 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms , and 65 fireplaces, three kitchens, and a historical Otis elevator for novelty.
Rather, I will share the highlights. I will cover the rooms by floor, not in order of how you may view them on your visit. You enter through the main hall, which, while large and dramatic it does not become decadent. To the left is the magnificent staircase and to the right is the winter garden.
The winter garden is one of my favorite rooms. It takes the concept of a conservatory to new heights, literally and figuratively. Then there is the billiard room that will impress anyone who enjoys social gaming. The gaming room connects to the bachelor wing with a smoking room, gun room, and office.
Directly adjacent to the billiard room is the banquet hall. This banquet hall boasts three fireplaces, a seventy-foot high ceiling, an organ gallery, and can seat sixty guests. I find myself drifting off into my imagination.
Always wondering what it would have been like to dine in this fine room. Once you leave the banquet hall, you will be on to the salon and music room, followed by the tapestry gallery.
The tapestry on display is dull. This said, they are impressive and well placed throughout the gallery. Then there is the library, another favorite of mine. But, some would argue that a focal point here is the baroque ceiling. The main rooms here are Mr. Vanderbilts adjoining bedrooms. Additionally, there are several guest suites on the second floor and staff chambers. During the 19th century, most homes did not have plumbing or electricity; the Biltmore has both! The basement is home to what can only be described as the ultimate play den.
The basement has a bowling alley, a swimming pool, a state-of-the-art gym, and a Halloween room. The main kitchen is also located in the basement. There are changing rooms for men and women. Not just a changing room, several and designated ones for the Vanderbilts. The changing room layout reminds me of the Victorian Turkish baths of England. The pool is 70, gallons large, and it was heated and had lights.
The pool used to be filled from a direct line to a mountain reservoir close by. Notice the ropes on the side. Back in the 19th century, many did not know how to swim.
The ropes were added to give people something to hold on to if they got tired or could not swim. Another interesting fact about the pool is that it did not have a cleaning or filtration system. This resulted in the pool having to be drained and refilled every three days.
I will confess that typically books are not my thing. However, when it comes to the Vanderbilts, I have several. Some purchased at The Biltmore, some online, and some from thrift stores. Here are some of the ones in my collection that I recommend. The Biltmore Estate consists of both formal and informal gardens that are beautiful and meticulously maintained. The gardens were designed by Frederick Olmstead, the most famous and sought-after landscape designer of the era.
The lush landscape features ancient trees and an all-American rose garden home to over different varieties. The Biltmore conservatory is stunning and a real gem of The Biltmore Estate. Completed in , the conservatory houses a vast collection of exotic plants and rare species of fauna. Through the beautifully crafted tall arched windows, visitors can look out onto the terraced butterfly garden and The Walled garden that lies just ahead.
The four-acre Walled Garden features 50, tulips each spring. Sitting just 1. The pond features a quaint boathouse that is perfect for sitting and relaxing in the sun. The boathouse itself is a humble structure that fits wonderfully into the landscape.
The walk to the pond is just as beautiful as the pond itself. Many businesses extend hours for holidays. The festive Fair draws thousands of eager shoppers from the Southeast to the beautiful tree-covered grounds of the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village.
Enjoy concerts, refreshments and strolling vocalists and instrumentalists in costumes of the period. Tree lighting PM Friday. Biltmore Village History This classically-planned community was constructed in the late s at the entrance to the Biltmore Estate.
Originally designed as a picturesque residential prelude to the Estate, the Village recreates the quaint atmosphere of an English community.
The streets are laid out in a fan shape. Most of the streets are short, terminating at the outer edge of the "fan," giving the Village a geographically self-contained design. The diagonal streets were designed to emphasize depth and create sightlines between focal points of the Village - the depot, the church and the Estate entrance. Biltmore Village was declared a historic area and a local historic district in Skip to main content.
Search form Search. Biltmore Village. Biltmore Village Featured Places. This 13,sq. Located in Biltmore Village at 7 Boston Way. Go to their website. Save to Trip. Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville. This Kessler Collection masterpiece is just steps away from gates of the famous Biltmore Estate. Authentic Old-World, rustic ambiance of this Tudor-inspired boutique art hotel, masterfully blended with all of the modern luxuries.
Biltmore House: Discover the elegance and charm of Biltmore house on a self-guided tour that weaves through four floors. On your way, marvel at the original furnishings, art and artifacts collected by George Vanderbilt. Favorite rooms of the mansion include the Library with 10, books and the grand Banquet Hall with its foot high ceiling!
An in-depth audio guide and guided behind-the-scenes tours are available at an additional cost. Guided tours of Biltmore House are also available, including the Biltmore Exclusive Experience, a custom, two-hour tour for small groups.
The tour is led by an expert guide who specializes in Vanderbilt history and estate stories. The Biltmore Exclusive Experience is one of three House tours now offered. Begin in the Italian Garden, which features a series of reflection ponds, before heading down to the patterned Walled Garden. The Walled Garden features a rose garden with more than varieties. In the spring as part of the Biltmore Blooms celebration, see the bright blooms in the Azalea Garden, one of the largest azalea collections in the country.
Don't forget to head inside the Conservatory greenhouse, which showcases a wide variety of exotic plants including stunning orchids and a unique model train display April 1 - September Sit a spell at the historic boathouse. Or choose a bench along the shore of the pond that offers a view of the beautiful red brick bridge that was featured in the movie, Last of the Mohicans.
The trail to the Bass Pond is part of a mile network of walking and hiking trails on the Estate. All trails are pet-friendly leashed dogs welcome. Trail maps are available at the main ticketing center when you arrive on the Estate, or from information kiosks located in front of the house and at Antler Hill Village.
Biltmore Winery: From the house and gardens, follow a beautiful drive with pastoral and mountain views to Antler Hill Village, the location of Biltmore Winery. With your admission to Biltmore, you receive a complimentary wine tasting. Antler Hill Village: In addition to the winery, Antler Hill Village is home to the farm, where you can get a taste of what life was like for those who lived on the estate raising livestock and tending crops.
Children will delight at the opportunity to meet the farm animals and play on the playground. The Village is also where you may find artist demonstrations or live music. All these experiences and more are available to daytime guests, overnight guests and annual passholders for an additional charge. Many of the experiences do require making a reservation in advance.
Biltmore by Horse : Biltmore has been named one of the top places in the world to go horseback riding. Biltmore offers a variety of guided horseback rides and tours for a truly memorable adventure. Or, enjoy a relaxing journey on a horse-drawn carriage led by Belgian draft horses. Dining: Choose from six restaurants that range from fine to casual dining. Biltmore sources prime cuts of hormone-and-antibiotic-free beef and lamb from estate-raised Angus cattle and White Dorper sheep.
Other ingredients such as mountain trout and farmstead cheese are sourced from local farmers. Shop arts and crafts, fashion, home accents, wines, books, toys and Christmas wares. Renowned worldwide for his monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings.
The visual appeal of these large scale artworks may be appreciated up close as guests are encouraged to walk through and around the creations, affording the opportunity to admire the artistry and technical skills required to make the sculptures.
Kick off the holidays with this annual tradition in which a foot tree is brought to the estate on horse-drawn carriage before being lifted into place in the grand Banquet Hall.
Biltmore shines with holiday grandeur with stunning decorations.
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