Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California.
On a vacation with family to California last summer, we made sure that during our drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway in California that we visited the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. The castle is commonly called in Spanish, La Cuesta Encantada, The Enchanted Hill, as it was built on the top of the hill among 250,000 acres owned by the Hearst Family in San Simeon.
In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner purchased 40,000 acres of ranchland in San Simeon. The family was simple then and usually just camped out on their ranch. When his son, William Randolph Hearst inherited the vast land from his parents, the ranch has grown to 250,000 acres. Originally known as Camp Hill because the wilderness offered the family a vast land to camp on. William went to establish his corporate empire in Publishing and Newspapers, got tired of the camp life and decided to built comfortable accommodations for his family. William Hearst commissioned Julia Morgan in 1919 to built Hearst Castle, one of the grandest American Homes in the West Coast. In 1972, most of the vast land and the Castle were donated by the Hearst Family to the California Parks Reserve.
On a vacation with family to California last summer, we made sure that during our drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway in California that we visited the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. The castle is commonly called in Spanish, La Cuesta Encantada, The Enchanted Hill, as it was built on the top of the hill among 250,000 acres owned by the Hearst Family in San Simeon.
In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner purchased 40,000 acres of ranchland in San Simeon. The family was simple then and usually just camped out on their ranch. When his son, William Randolph Hearst inherited the vast land from his parents, the ranch has grown to 250,000 acres. Originally known as Camp Hill because the wilderness offered the family a vast land to camp on. William went to establish his corporate empire in Publishing and Newspapers, got tired of the camp life and decided to built comfortable accommodations for his family. William Hearst commissioned Julia Morgan in 1919 to built Hearst Castle, one of the grandest American Homes in the West Coast. In 1972, most of the vast land and the Castle were donated by the Hearst Family to the California Parks Reserve.
Facade of the Hearst Castle represented a mix of Italian, Baroque and Gothic Style.
Even the Middle roof is Swiss style like a Swiss Chalet. The two towers were inspired by Moorish Towers.
Even the Middle roof is Swiss style like a Swiss Chalet. The two towers were inspired by Moorish Towers.
The Smoking Room on the left and the Main Drawing Room on the right. Both rooms are full of works of Art including paintings, tapestries, Marble statues and silver candelabras, all collected by William Randolph Hearst. These rooms are left as is. Even the Persian carpets have an alarm the sounds when stepped on.
The Dining Room with their vast collection of tapestries.
The Billiard Room on the left and the Dining Room on the right.
The Gardens.
One of my favourite flowers, Hydrangeas.
The garden is full of statues and many different kinds of flowers and plants.
A Mediterranean Villa Guest House surrounded by a garden of roses.
The Neptune Swimming Pool.
Indoor Swimming Pool.
The tiles were made with golden tiles that even reflected in my camera.
View Above the Clouds.
Even the Castle was built higher than the clouds here hovering over the Pacific Ocean.
The vast track of land owned by Hearst family and donated to the California Parks Reserve. The winding road that leads to the Castle. The Hearst family owned the whole town of San Simeon, except the Pacific Ocean.
Have a wonderful summer weekend!
Have a wonderful summer weekend!
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