At Biltmore Estate, the Vanderbilt vision continues

At Biltmore Estate, the Vanderbilt vision continues

In the late 1880s, George Washington Vanderbilt, then a young man of 25, came upon the perfect spot in the North Carolina Blue Ridge for a 250-room French Renaissance chateau to be built by his friend, architect Richard Morris Hunt. The great chateau would be called "Biltmore."

Today, Biltmore Estate encompasses approximately 8,000 acres, including formal and informal gardens designed by the father of landscape architecture in America, Frederick Law Olmsted.

While the beauty of Biltmore Estate is the result of the combined creative talents and vision of all three men-Vanderbilt, Hunt and Olmsted-it is Biltmore House which continues to be the centerpiece of Vanderbilt's legacy. The house, a National Historic Landmark, is the largest private residence in the United States.

Vanderbilt was fluent in several languages, well traveled and knowledgeable about art, architecture, music, agriculture, horticulture and literature. His diverse and cultured tastes influenced his travels with architect Richard Morris Hunt while Biltmore House was being built. The two men journeyed throughout Europe and the Orient, purchasing paintings, porcelains, bronzes, carpets and furniture that would eventually become part of the collection of 70,000 objects in Biltmore today.

Artworks by Renoir, Sargent, Whistler, Pellegrini and Boldini adorn the walls and, in one case, the ceiling. The furniture includes designs by Sheraton and Chippendale. A chess set and gaming table, belonging to Napoleon when he was in exile at St. Helena, are on display in the Salon, and Chinese goldfish bowls from the Ming Dynasty sit in the Library. Eight 16th century Flemish tapestries are in the process of being cleaned and repaired by Biltmore House conservation staff. Fifty Persian and Oriental rugs cover marble and oak floors while fresh flowers from the estate gardens, greenhouses and conservatory decorate the rooms.

Vanderbilt also wanted his mountain home to provide family and friends with life's recreational pleasures: an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and gymnasium are located downstairs.

Guests who take the "behind-the-scenes" tour visit unrestored areas of the house such as guest bedrooms, now used for storage, and Mrs. Vanderbilt's sculpture studio.

At Deerpark Restaurant guests can taste estate wines and an array of fine seasonal entrees. You might even catch a glimpse of an estate deer grazing in the woodland, originally designated by Olmsted as a deer preserve, and now surrounding the restaurant.

Adjacent to Biltmore House is a large stable area, restored to reflect the original character of the work and storage rooms. The main stable is now a café where guests are seated in renovated horse stalls and may select from an enticing menu featuring slow-cooked rotisserie chicken and Biltmore's estate-raised Angus beef.

And for those looking for still a different dining opportunity, The Bistro, located adjacent to the winery, serves a unique menu combining traditional French bistro recipes and mountain fare.

Biltmore Estate is located near the intersection of Interstates 26 and 40. Entrance is three blocks north of Exit 50 or 50B on Interstate 40.

The estate is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Special celebrations take place during the holiday season with Christmas at Biltmore Estate, when the house is fully decorated in Victorian tradition, and each spring during Festival of Flowers. Summer Evenings Concerts offer performances by nationally known artists on Saturday evenings in July and August. Biltmore Estate celebrates the coming of autumn with Michaelmas: An English Harvest Fair in the Italian Garden.

Admission to the estate includes Biltmore House, gardens and winery and enables the estate to remain private and self-sufficient, receiving no governmental funding or grant monies. For guests who enjoy visiting Biltmore every season, Twelve Month Passes, providing year-round admission, are available. Prices for Christmas at Biltmore Estate Daytime and Candlelight Christmas Evenings vary from regular admission prices.

Contact The Biltmore Company, One North Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801; phone (828) 274-6333 or 1-800-543-2961, or visit www.biltmore.com.