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Hearst Castle - San Simeon, California
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Hearst San Simeon SHM - State Historical Monument
750 Hearst Castle Road
San Simeon, CA 93452
Incredible castle of the press tycoon William Hearst (1863 -1951), built on the flanks of the Santa Lucia Mountains, it has become a national monument. It is one of the most visited places in California. Book the tours in advance at (800) 444-4445.
La Cuesta Encantada, "The Enchanted Hill" high above the ocean at San Simeon, was the creation of two extraordinary individuals, William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan. Their collaboration, which began in 1919 and continued for nearly 30 years, transformed an informal hilltop campsite into the world-famous Hearst Castle, a magnificent 115-room main house plus guesthouses, pools, and 8 acres of cultivated gardens.
The main house itself, "La Casa Grande," is a grand setting for Hearst's collection of European antiques and art pieces. It was also a most fitting site for hosting the many influential guests who stayed at Hearst's San Simeon ranch.
Guests included President Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Charles Lindbergh, Charlie Chaplin, and a diverse array of luminaries from show business and publishing industries.
Hearst Castle Tours: 5 tours available
Tour 1 - Experience
Tour
Tour 2 - Upper Floors of Casa Grande
Tour 3 - North Wing of Casa Grande
Tour 4 - Garden Tour
Tour 5 - Evening Tour
Tour One is recommended for first-time visitors as it provides a broad overview of the many facets of Hearst Castle and it is the least strenuous of the tours. Tour duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes which includes the bus ride to and from the castle.
Casa Grande is the main house. Five rooms on the ground floor are shown on this tour including: the Assembly Room which is the largest of the four sitting rooms and once a gathering place for Hearst's guests, the Refectory which is the single dining room at Hearst Castle, the Morning Room which is a magnificent sitting room filled with Spanish antiques and Flemish tapestries, the Billiard Room which is a game room featuring two 1920's billiard tables and a Gothic "millle fleurs" tapestry, and the Theater which is the largest room in Casa Grande.
Casa del Sol is an 18-room guesthouse facing the majestic Pacific Coastline. On Tour One four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a sitting room are shown.
Esplanade and Gardens This portion of Tour One takes visitors to one of the most beautiful sections of the grounds, featuring marble sculptures and flowers in season.
Neptune Pool and Roman Pool All of the Hearst Castle tours are highlighted by stops at each of Hearst's two swimming pools. The Neptune Pool is a magnificent Greco-Roman style pool that features unparalleled coastline views from the hilltop. The Roman Pool is an indoor pool decorated from ceiling to floor with 1" square mosaic tiles.
Tour Information
800-444-4445
International Reservations
916-414-8400 ext. 4100
Operating Hours:
Open Daily
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Four daytime tours and one Evening Tour are available.
Day tours begin at 8:20am daily. The last tour starts at 3:20pm in winter; later in summer.
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