For example, the music room remained unfinished until June Edith gave birth to their only daughter Cornelia, the first Vanderbilt to be born at The Biltmore Estate.
George Vanderbilt passed away unexpectedly in due to complications from an emergency appendectomy. The Cecils divorced in , and Cornelia left the estate, never to return. John continued to live at the estate until he died in Their eldest son, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, continued to live at the estate until He ceased living there once the estate became a historic house museum. Upon the death of Cornelia, their mother, in , William Cecil inherited the estate, and George Cecil inherited the profitable dairy farm now known as Biltmore Farms.
In the two brothers came together to save the estate from financial ruin. Cecil, Jr. Somone that I adore, someone that fights for justice and human rights. This image is subject to copyright, and it may not be used without explicit permission from Brit on the Move. 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. Opened in , the plus room Inn at Biltmore was the first of two hotels now operating on the property. Both were built to match the colors of the mansion and their location within the estate. In a bold move, the family decided to take over management themselves instead of turning to external professionals.
It was yet another big challenge the company took on and another big risk. Big houses call for big dogs and the Vanderbilt's most beloved was Cedric a Saint Bernard. Now he has a line of drinks and snacks named in his honor. In Antler Hill Village, a new collection of shops, he also has a pub. The estate stables also house a restaurant. There the old horse stalls are integrated into the design. They also serve the biggest piece of chocolate cake I have ever seen.
The Cecil family by Stone Roberts. Painted in Biltmore House in it shows three generations of Biltmore custodians. The man seated to the left is William Cecil whose business acumen transformed the property into the tourist magnet that it is today. Now his children are in charge. In the background are the stunning Appalachian Mountains that originally attracted George Vanderbilt to the area.
Last year Biltmore had a record 1. It was a far cry from the 40, who came in , the year it opened. Yet the house, the gardens, the miles or roads and the company's high standards of customer service do not come cheap.
Most of the profits are simply put back into the estate, either for upkeep of the house or to enhance the visitor experience. It is a truly unique business. Tourists' stays in hotels are no longer allowed, entries and exits into and out of Germany are only allowed in exceptional cases. The impact of the coronavirus on the tourism industry is severe.
The internet giant Google has signed up with 18 Loire Valley chateaux to create virtual tours of the former royal dwellings. The Maltese capital, Valletta, was founded in the 16th century by the Knights of St John, who built some beautiful churches and palaces. Many have survived and are now privately owned. Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw. Go to the new dw. More info OK. Wrong language? Change it here DW.
COM has chosen English as your language setting. COM in 30 languages. Deutsche Welle. Audiotrainer Deutschtrainer Die Bienenretter. Business The business of owning America's biggest home The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina is proving that bigger is better when it comes to historic houses. Top tourist attraction: Nymphenburg Palace. Tourism in Germany — can it coexist with the coronavirus? Virtual tours of Loire Valley chateaux The internet giant Google has signed up with 18 Loire Valley chateaux to create virtual tours of the former royal dwellings.
Valletta - Living in a Baroque Mansion The Maltese capital, Valletta, was founded in the 16th century by the Knights of St John, who built some beautiful churches and palaces. Off to Neuschwanstein! Conservation, Environmentalism and Sustainability From the very beginning, George Vanderbilt and his landscape architect, Frederick Olmsted — the co-designer of Central Park in New York — planned and planted the Biltmore estate with conservation and regeneration in mind.
The pedigree of the cattle farmed on the estate trace back to the original herd. The estate also farms, according to Global Animal Partnership guidelines, other livestock such as sheep, pigs, and chickens. In , a magnolia tree planted by George and Edith on the birth of their daughter Cornelia in fell into decay.
In its place stands a second-generation magnolia, self-seeded from the original. They recovered wood from the first tree and built gorgeous tabletops for the event rooms on the estate. The Biltmore estate continues to innovate and receive awards for eco-friendly initiatives such as solar panels. The stunning historical site dedicated six acres to generating electricity, tree protection, and landscape design. For over a hundred years, the Biltmore continues to set the gold standard for stunning architecture, conservation, and innovative ways to serve the community.
The holiday season is the perfect time to enjoy this masterful American estate!
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