If you've never watched the series on PBS called Downton Abbey, you don't know what you're missing. I never thought I'd be watching a series on PBS other than documentaries. This series has everything (and I mean everything): mystery, history, great cast of characters, beautiful period costumes, romance, etc. It's a British drama series that aired in the United States with its first episode in January 2011. I've been watching it since the first series. If you have a chance, at least watch the first season because then you'll get a good background of the characters as well as the time period. After that most likely you'll be hooked. Think I'm kidding? Check out all the awards this series has won: Downton Abbey
 |
| One of the terraces shaded by wisteria and trumpet creeper vines |
What does Downton Abbey have to do with The Biltmore Estate? Well, not much I guess other than when I first saw The Biltmore last spring the first thing I thought of was: Downton Abbey.
Quite a few years ago, our daughter attended a wedding at The Biltmore and she was pretty impressed with it and suggested we visit it. So on our way back from Florida last year we decided to take a tour of it.
The Biltmore Estate is a tourist attraction and a private estate located in Asheville, North Carolina. It's not to hard to get to, and the parking was great. You stop at this checkpoint and pick up your tickets. Actually, I thought it was an expensive tour ($63 each), however I think it might vary depending on the season.
The Biltmore Estate was built by George Washington Vanderbilt III. It was built between 1889-1895. It's the largest privately owned house in the United States. It is still owned by one of the Vanderbilt descendants.
Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photographs inside the house. But the tour is a self-guided one, and you can tour the house at your own pace. When we were there it was April, and it looked like it was going to rain any minute so we did a tour of the gardens before we toured the interior of house. I posted a link below to the official Biltmore website if you are interested in seeing some lovely photos of the interior of the building. The house has 250 rooms, 33 family/guest bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and 3 kitchens.
 |
| Italian Garden |
This year from February 5, 2015 through May 25, 2015, The Biltmore Estate will be featuring an exhibit from the Downton Abbey series of their original costumes. More than 40 costumes will be on display throughout the house. For more information you can click on this link: Dressing Downton Abbey
If you are in the area, at some point you might want to visit this spectacular estate. The gardens and grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. Within the 250 acre property there are 40 acres of manicured gardens and grounds (Note: we did not tour all of the grounds.)
There were so many tulips and daffodils blooming in their gardens that I thought I was in Holland.
Additional Information: Biltmore Estate - Wikipedia (this link will give you a better description of the interior of the house as to: size of living areas, landscape, history, etc.)
The house was opened to the public in response to requests to increase area tourism during the Depression and to bring in money to preserve the estate. The house was opened to the public in 1930. |
| The Conservatory |
 |
| Original stable now used as a gift shop. |
Glad we toured the gardens when we did because then the rain started.
The official website: The Biltmore In this website you will find several photos of the interior of the house.
If you missed my previous post on another castle in the United States you can check out Boldt Castle at this link: The Thousand Islands Region - Boldt Castle
Hope you enjoyed your tour of The Biltmore.
Thanks for reading my blog post.
Thanks for reading my blog post.
Feel free to leave a comment.
I've never been there,but I would love to go at Christmas time.It is supposed to be fantastic.It reminds me of the Vanderbilt estates in Newport,RI.which are also fantastic.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to go at Christmas time. I think right now they are still decorated for Christmas through January 15, 2015. I haven't been to the Vanderbilt estates in Rhode Island yet, but they're on my bucket list. Thanks for commenting, Chris.
DeleteEnjoyed as always!!!!! Thanks Sue.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it Cindy! Thank you!
DeleteSue I have never see Downton Abbey. I missed the beginning and have no means by which to catch up. Maybe someday. I have never been to the Biltmore either. Maybe someday for that too, but I never tire of the pictures of it....yours are especially stunning. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna. Some of the characters' Irish brogue in Downton Abbey was so heavy that I had to watch them through a few times before I understood what they were saying. I was able to watch some of the episodes that I missed on Netflix. And sometimes I think that PBS offers the previous series too.
DeleteThe Biltmore was pretty impressive and I really didn't expect it to be as big as it was. I wish the weather was better because I would have liked to tour more of their gardens and walking trails. I'm glad you liked the pictures. It was hard to decide which photos to include in this post.
This is such a beautiful place and you have captured it so well with your photography. Thanks so much for sharing it with us and for the virtual tour. I would like to go see it someday so it's now on the list!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lee. The gardens and architecture are just amazing. I'd like to go back myself sometime either in June or July when the gardens are in full bloom. But I think no matter what season you visit there it's always enjoyable. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteSue, you reminded me that I cared for a lady that was a relative of Frederick Law Olmsted in Lewiston. I just loved her.
ReplyDeleteI hope to get to see the Biltmore Estate some time. Your photos are wonderful. I love the Conservatory! Great post!
That is wonderful, Ann, that you knew and cared for one of Frederick Law Olmsted's relatives. I knew he designed Central Park in New York City, but I was amazed at all the other colleges and universities as well as the Capitol Building that he and his partner were involved in.
DeleteI hope you get a chance to visit it. I'm sure you'll love it. Thanks for your comments.
Great shots, Susan. My Dad and I visited the Biltmore on a road trip from Fort Erie to my home in Seminole in the spring of 2006. A timeless place and a flower lovers dream, thanks for sharing. Bobbie Hayek
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bobbie. You are right in your description of it. There were so many paths that I would have loved to take and other gardens to visit, but when the rain started we headed inside. I was glad to be able to tour as much of it as we did. That must have been a nice road trip with your Dad. Glad you were able to enjoy it with him.
DeleteI loved when I visited there in 2012. An earlier trip looks like it has a lot of tulips to see. Like you, I too think it looks like it should be in Holland.
ReplyDeleteThe tulips were amazing, Donna. We were lucky they were blooming when we were there because a few days earlier or later and we probably would have missed them.
DeleteSue, I believe a classmate from MACS works there. Directs traffic in the parking lot. I'll have to ask and more accurate info.
ReplyDeleteShirley, that sounds awesome! I'd love to know who it is. If you find out, can you email me? Thanks. That would be a wonderful place to work. I think they have something like 1,800 employess.
DeleteThanks for sharing Sue. I've never been there but now you've peaked my interest. Looks like the kind of place you could spend the whole day touring. When are you heading south? Carolyn
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carolyn. Yes, you could spend the whole day there. There is so much to see with the house, gardens, trails, winery, etc. I think you will enjoy it. I hope you get the chance to visit it sometime.
DeleteWe are planning on leaving home the end of February so should be in Florida by the beginning of March (that is if the weather cooperates). Looking forward to seeing you and everyone down there.