"Biltmore estate is located in Asheville, North Carolina and is the largest home in the United States (the second largest being Oheka Castle in New York). It is a replica of a French chateau with approximately 250 rooms!"
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Later, I received E-Mail that said:
I and my family have visited Biltmore. If ever anyone plans to visit, you will need to be there a whole day. Be sure to visit the winery, farms and resturants. Springtime is the best time. This is when the gardens are in full bloom. The tour is very pricey. 2 years ago it was $30 for adults, $15 for children.
Later, I received E-Mail that said:
The ceiling of the library is composed of a an 18th-century Pellegrini canvas ceiling painting, The Chariot of Aurora, which was in the Pisani Palace in Venice. Vanderbilt had it dismantled and shipped to Asheville. In the basement there is an indoor pool, bowling alley, gym, and dressing rooms. There is also the Halloween Room, named for the wall scenes painted by Cornelia V. Cecil's guests at a 1920s Halloween party. The three-story chandelier near the staircase is suspended by a single point. I have been there near Christmas, and it is beautiful. There are Christmas trees is almost every room, and a gigantic tree in the Banquet Hall. I was told they have to take out the windows in the Hall in order to get it in.
Later, I received E-Mail that said:
At the Biltmore Estate (on this site, refered to as Biltmore Castle) you can take a 60-minute "Behind-the-Scenes" guided tour which goes through several unrestored areas of the house, including the sub-basement featuring the original heater and electrical pannels, Mrs. Vanderbilt's sculpture studio, and fourth floor servants quarters.
On 11-11-09, I received e-mail that said:
I live in Cincinnati. Ohio and have lived in Asheville North Carolina. I visited the Biltmore House several times and always see something that I didn’t see before. I loved it. When you visit plan to stay all day. You can purchase tickets online at their website and they are a little cheaper but it is going to cost you $45.00 but it is well worth it…. It takes at least 2 hours just to go thru the house….you can purchase audio equipment and they will explain everything. I would not go thru the house without it.
Each year they seem to restore a new room in the house. I heard at Christmas time they really go all out but I didn’t get to go then. The grounds and gardens are beautiful. Each employee has to go to classes on the life of the Vanderbilt’s so they can answer all questions accurately. My neighbor does the segway tours around the estate and he was telling me that it’s a great place to work and the great-great grandchildren still own the house. They employ 500 to 600 people in Asheville. Don’t forget to enjoy the restaurants they have on the grounds….and the old diary barn that has been restore to a winery. The have wine tasting and a great general store where you can purchase things than are exclusive to the Biltmore. It is one of my favorite places to visit.
On 4-5-11, I received e-mail that said:
I too visited this castle, gorgeous! I did go on a tour of the building. I was able to see the maid courters in the place. Tiny tiny rooms with only one single bed in each of them... enough room to sleep and that is it. They were in a whole separate part of the castle, of course near the kitchen. They had their own stair case, which was also very tiny, and also in a separate part away from the main stair case, this led up to the main floors and bedrooms of the house. The bedrooms in the house had their own bathrooms.. the Biltmore was the first to have indoor plumbing, and to be in several room through-out the house! I could see how old this was, seeing as how there was a chain to flush the toilet! Also the bowling alley mentioned was actually the first brunswick (apologize for spelling if incorrect) bowling alley in the USA. There also is a 7 story organ in the main dining area in the home, its starts on the second story an goes from there.
There are 4 fire places in the dining hall so you can imagine just how big this place is. I also visited the library during my tour, I was in awe that you could actually walk behind the mantel of the fireplace on the second story. You can see the 2 floors of the library when standing inside.. the second floor just has a wrap around balcony, so you just walk around the edge.. truly amazing!! There are amazing views as this place has a body of water running through the land (I forget the name, and the acreage this place sits on) It has a pond, bridges, a garden, stables, and yes vineyards which meant wine tasting!! My mother and I went to visit this castle about 8 years ago, i was only about 15 at the time, normally not something a kid would like to do allll day long (yes it took a complete day) but I was amazed and I love this place, still to this day. I tell you everything from my memory, that is the impact the Biltmore had on me, and I cannot wait to go back again!
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Picture used with permission of The Biltmore Company.