The Biltmore House Asheville, NC

The Biltmore House is copied after three French chateaux…Chambord, Chenonceaux, and Blois…

Le Château de Chambord

Le Château de Chenonceau

Le Château de Blois

Biltmore Estate provides the ideal location with a century old French Renaissance chateau. George W. Vanderbilt's 8,000-acre estate with its 250-room Biltmore House, 75 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, and the nation's most visited winery offers plenty of opportunities.

From the house, walk through gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, best known for designing Central Park in New York City.

Share the wonder of Biltmore House, the largest privately owned home in America, with a priceless collection of arts and antiques original to the Vanderbilt home.

The Library in Biltmore House holds approximately 10,000 of Vanderbilt's more than 23,000 volumes.

The Banquet Hall is 72 feet long, 42 feet wide and 70 feet high The Banquet Hall is 72 feet long, 42 feet wide and 70 feet high. It could seat up to 64 guests.

Most of the cooking was done in the Main Kitchen with additional work done in the Rotisserie and Pastry Kitchens.

George Vanderbilt's bedroom enjoys spectacular views of the estate in addition to 22k gold leaf on the walls.

Mrs. Vanderbilt's Bedroom is decorated with sumptuous cut velvet and silk fabrics.

The Winter Garden

With approximately four acres of floor space or roughly 174,240 square feet, Biltmore House of Biltmore Estate is the largest house in America. This magnificent French Renaissance chateau contains 250 rooms complete with 65 fireplaces, 34 bedrooms, an indoor pool, a bowling alley and more.

Filling the rooms are priceless treasures including paintings by some of the world's most highly esteemed artists such as Renoir, Sargent and Whistler. In the salon, a gaming table and chess set, once owned by Napoleon, are displayed and Ming Dynasty goldfish bowls grace the 10,000 volume library. Covering the marble and oak flooring are 50 exquisite Persian and Oriental rugs, while fine 16th-century tapestries adorn the walls.

Napoleon’s chess set and gaming table from his exile on the Island of Saint Helena 1815 – 1821. His heart was lain upon the table during his autopsy.

Look for the Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s painting, Enfant avec un orange.

It takes a staff of 1,800 a full month to light and decorate over 100 Christmas trees, hang 9,000 feet of fresh garland and hang thousands of ornaments for the more than 300,000 visitors that visit during the holiday season.

A 35-foot live Fraser fir is placed in the Banquet Hall of Biltmore House every holiday season and takes 45 people to raise the tree since they must be careful not to damage the priceless tapestries or chandeliers. The tradition of having a tree in this room goes back to 1895 when George Vanderbilt first opened the home to his family and friends.

The black marble fireplace surround and walnut overmantle in George Vanderbilt's impressive library are decorated with garlands made by the Biltmore floral staff during the holiday season.

During Candlelight Christmas Evenings, the Oak Sitting Room glows in the light from candles and matching fireplaces at either end of the room.