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Biltmore House Guided Rooftop Tour

Biltmore Estate Overview | Christmas at Biltmore | Festival of Flowers | Fall Events | Summer Events & Concerts | Winery | Horticulture | Hiking, Biking, Outdoors | A Bit of History | Events Calendar | Rooftop Tour

Take a fascinating guided tour in the Biltmore House. Our favorite is the Rooftop Tour. Enjoy our photos! See unrestored areas of the house, including the attic, and enjoy a panoramic look at Biltmore Estate’s grounds, gardens and the Blue Ridge Mountains while examining architectural, structural and technological details. Immerse yourself in history and details. The hour-long tours are offered year-round. Prices ($15/person) are in addition to estate admission. For additional information and reservations, call Biltmore at 1-800-411-3812 or stop by Guest Services locations on the estate.
   
 
Get a close-up view of the many gargoyles on Biltmore House. The word 'gargoyles' is derived from an old French word gargouille, meaning throat. The English words gargle, gurgle and gargoyle are derived from gargouille. Some believe that gargoyles - sometimes called grotesques - are inspired by the skeletal remains of prehistoric dinosaurs and other fossils. Originally a gargoyle was considered a waterspout, directing water away from a building. Technically an architect calls a waterspout on a building a gargoyle. If a stone carving does not carry water and has a face that resembles a creature, it is technically called a grotesque. Many people believe that gargoyles were created by medieval architects and stone carvers to ward off evil in an imperfect world.
   
 
   
 
   

More Guided Specialty Tours (extra fee)

Biltmore House Behind-the-Scenes Tour 
Discover more about the lifestyles of the Vanderbilts, their guests, and servants. Visit Mrs. Vanderbilt's Bath and Dressing area, and other areas not opened to the public. 
 
Guided Biltmore House Tour 
Tour the house with a knowledgeable host, ready to share stories about the Vanderbilt's family history, unique artifacts, and more.
 
Premium Biltmore House Tour
Two-day advanced reservation required. Call 800-411-3812 to reserve. Tour the house for two hours with a guide assigned to you exclusively. Includes areas seen in the Behind-the Scenes, Rooftop, and House Tours.
Cost: $150.00 per adult in addition to estate admission, $75.00 per youth and child in addition to estate admission.
 
Legacy of the Land Tour 
Take a motorcoach tour of the estate and learn about the history of the land, structures, and former residents. Visit areas not usually open to guests.
Cost: $17.00 per guest, in addition to estate admission.

Go to the Biltmore Estate Web site for more.

More on the Construction of Biltmore House

Construction of Biltmore House was under way in 1889; it was a massive undertaking that included a mansion, gardens, farms, and woodlands. George Vanderbilt engaged two of the most distinguished designers of the 19th century: architect Richard Morris Hunt (1828-1895) and landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903). The centerpiece was a four-story stone house with a 780-foot façade—a monument that would rival the surrounding mountains in grandeur. Hunt modeled the architecture on the richly ornamented style of the French Renaissance and adapted elements, such as the stair tower and the steeply pitched roof, from three famous early-16th-century châteaux in the Loire Valley: Blois, Chenonceau, and Chambord.
 
Even after six years, Biltmore House was not complete when George Vanderbilt opened it in 1895; work would continue for years. Its scale continues to be astounding: the house contains more than 11 million bricks; the massive stone spiral staircase rises four floors and has 102 steps. Through its center hangs an iron chandelier suspended from a single point, containing 72 electric light bulbs.


Download and print a PDF guide of Biltmore House. | Download and print a PDF overview of Biltmore Estate.

 

 
     

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