April 26, 2010

Post date: May 7, 2010 8:30:12 PM

We recently toured the spectacular Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California (at the southern end of Big Sur). This palace on the "Enchanted Hill" overlooks 14 miles of undeveloped California coastline. Construction started on the estate in 1919 when William Randolph Hearst told his architect that he was "tired of sleeping in tents, and would like to build a little something" . That "little something" turned into one of the world's most expensive homes over its 25 years of construction. A link describing the castle is at:

http://www.hearstcastle.org/content/facts-and-stats

The elaborate estate has 90,000 square feet of living area including 165 rooms, theater, library, formal dining room, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. On display throughout the home are antiques and statuary collected from Europe and Egypt. The buildings are surrounded by 127 acres of gardens and a now-dismantled zoo. The home became famous for its elaborate parties in the 1920s and 1930s. After Hearst's death, the estate opened as a California State Park in 1958.

View from Hearst Castle at top of "Enchanted Hill"

Hearst Castle

Outdoor Neptune Pool modeled after Roman Coliseum

Marble Statuary

Formal Dining Room

Indoor swimming pool decorated with lapis lazuli tile and real gold

The Hearst Castle had the largest private zoo in the world from 1923-1937. Descendants of some of those original animals can still be seen on the grounds. We saw this herd of zebra grazing along the road - what a sight!