I had heard of the Biltmore Estate but never took the time to register what in fact it was. Well, it’s here in Asheville and it is the biggest private home in the country. It was built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1800’s and is one of the most French things I have ever seen in the USA.
It was quite touristic, especially on a Sunday morning, with bus loads of gray haired homo sapiens, I mean bus loads! We pressed into the hoards and walked through the home.
It was pretty spectacular and since I wanted to test my new lens in extreme low light, I elbowed my way to the front of the roped off areas and did as the Romans, shot pictures.
Grand Entry.
The dining room with three fire places and 75 foot ceilings. This place made Table Rock look like a double wide.
The home is over 100,000 square feet and situated on miles and miles of gardens and lands. After completing a whirlwind tour of the house, I headed for the garden thinking that since the geriatric crowds could barely negotiate the staircases, they were unlikely to stroll though the gardens. I was right, hardly anyone more than 100 yards from a shuttle stop.
What I found was a photographer’s paradise.
Then, I stumbled onto a gigantic green house with an amazing variety of plants and flowers. I’m not one to photograph anything but landscapes and wild flowers, but……. here goes!
Pretty amazing place!
davefaitlemonde.com 