That would be Hearst Castle...a magnificent Mediterranean-style estate, resting on a mountain above San Simeon, California. The castle was built by newspaper magnate William Randolf Hearst early last century...on a ranch that William Randolph's father, George Hearst, originally purchased in 1865. The younger Hearst grew fond of this site over many childhood family camping trips. He inherited the ranch in 1919, which had grown to 250,000 acres and fourteen miles of coastline. Over nearly three decades, William Randolph Hearst’s ranch evolved into Hearst Castle, and became the setting for legendary parties during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The castle and all it's contents were given to the US government in the 1950's...but the Hearst family kept most of the property and still maintains an 80,000 acre cattle ranch at the location. Today Hearst Castle is a State Historical Monument and one the the most popular tourist destinations in California.
Hearst Castle sits at the top of a steep hill...which can only be accessed by official tour buses from the visitors centre these days. 
We toured a guest house and amazing formal gardens...but the castle itself was the highlight of our visit.
Our castle tour began outside at the Neptune pool. This pool was rebuilt three times during William Randolph Hearst's years...each time it became a little larger. It is now 104 feet long and 95 feet wide.
The centrepiece is the facade of an ancient Roman temple that he purchased and imported to California.
The Casa Grande, with it's imposing 'cathedral' towers, is over 60,000 square feet...and has 38 bedrooms and 41 bathrooms. We toured some of the larger rooms...the ballroom, games room and dining room...as well as the theatre. It was rather like visiting a museum, with Hearst's huge collection of art and artifacts on display...it reminded me of our visit to the Summer Palace in St. Petersburg.
No expense was spared...as you can tell by the gold-trimmed ceiling.
...and is so big that Hearst had two tennis courts built on top of it. The concrete building is faced in tiles of brightly colored Venetian glass and 14 carat gold, a task which took the Italian craftsmen three years to complete. Our tour ended with the Roman bath...but there was so much more to see. It's an amazing place!
The Piedras Blancas Lighthouse is a reminder of the busy port that San Simeon Bay once was. The lighthouse was constructed in 1874 on a point that was named after the white rock that was located just offshore.
No expense was spared...as you can tell by the gold-trimmed ceiling.
The dining room is ready for a very large dinner party...as was the norm. Hearst's guests would arrive and stay...sometimes for months. He loved a party and would often have 12 to 24 guests at one time. The dining room is one-hundred feet long...and the ceiling is 23 feet high. Quite ample!
The table was set as it would have been on an ordinary day at Hearst Castle...complete with Blue Willow dishes and the ketchup and mustard right in the bottles. Nothing fancy about that!
The table was set as it would have been on an ordinary day at Hearst Castle...complete with Blue Willow dishes and the ketchup and mustard right in the bottles. Nothing fancy about that!The second pool at Hearst Castle is a Roman bath, which is entirely under cover...
...and is so big that Hearst had two tennis courts built on top of it. The concrete building is faced in tiles of brightly colored Venetian glass and 14 carat gold, a task which took the Italian craftsmen three years to complete. Our tour ended with the Roman bath...but there was so much more to see. It's an amazing place!
Before we leave San Simeon area and continue our drive along the Pacific Coast Highway...let me just take you down the hill to the seashore.
You might want to click on the photo...
...and you will see that the driftwood on the beach is not actually driftwood at all. Colonies of elephant seals have taken up residence on the beach at Piedras Blancas.
We had a wonderful time watching them sunning themselves and flipping sand about...while others played in the water. We were told by a volunteer that it was mostly the juveniles on shore...and the adults were out at sea bulking up for the birthing and breeding season. The pregnant seals arrive in December and by Christmas the first pups are born. More than 4000 pups were born here this year. The elephant seals you see in the photo above were young males...weighing about 1500 pounds each. It was strongly suggested that spectators keep their distance!
The Piedras Blancas Lighthouse is a reminder of the busy port that San Simeon Bay once was. The lighthouse was constructed in 1874 on a point that was named after the white rock that was located just offshore. If you ever find yourself cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway of California...be sure to see the sights of San Simeon. Tomorrow...we'll carry on our northward journey.
Have a great day...
Wow! It does remind me of a castle we visited in Germany.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos Judy. The last time I was at Hearst castle was in college before I was married. Our youth group was nuts and drove up there for one day to tour the castle and then drove back. All I can remember was being hot and tired :0) I need to go back and enjoy it with Dear in a leisurely fashion...
ReplyDeleteLove the seal shots and the lighthouse!!
Great photos Judy..I feel like I'm travelling with you!
ReplyDeleteIt was good to visit that area again through your eyes....it's been a while since I've ventured north up that part of the PCH.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! If you haven't been to Asheville to see the Biltmore House...well, you need to make that trip...maybe we can meet up with Penny!
ReplyDeleteSandi
These are the best photos I've seen of the castle. .and it is still on my to do list. You wet my appetite for the roads I've never seen.
ReplyDeleteJudy...I am so glad you are infected with the travel bug...and apparently it has led to a chronic condition eased only by hitting the road once again! You do get out and about quite readily.
ReplyDeleteAs always, your travelog is so professional, your picturess are fabulous and I think the World Health Organization should be notified about you. Clearly you are systematically trying to spread your disease, and causing others to want to follow in your footsteps as the travel bug infection spreads.
Gosh I do love those Castle Pools. The guides used to say the actually did get to swim in them...
Jill...the tour guides still have a pool party once a year and can bring their immediate family as well. A nice perk, for sure!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they allowed photos ..so often these type of places don't for some reason. My sister visited the Hearst Castle last year but your photos were even nicer than hers!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe that one family could live in such a massive and opulent place. A little excessive ...lol...but I would love their view of the ocean from that terrace!
It's always fun to "travel along with you," Judy!
The dining room is 28 feet by 72 feet by 23 feet high.
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