Party Magic

I guarantee you haven't seen extravagance until you've been to Waddesdon Manor. You may say it looks similar to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, and it does. Or, that it resembles the Victorian mansions in Newport along the Cliff Walk. Agreed. But this English country estate is extraordinary because of the purpose of its existence, not its mere existence.

I traveled to Waddesdon one cool October day for a trip with the AWC. As I entered the gates, I did feel like I was looking at the Biltmore's twin. This mansion is made with beautiful Bath stone. It was owned by one of the many members of the Rothschild family, and because of tireless searches they embarked on around the world to satisfy their hunger for one-of-a-kind antiques, the inside is more extraordinary than the outside. Rugs from King Louis XIV's French court, a desk owned by Marie Antoinette (perhaps she penned "Let them eat cake" here), rare timepieces from Russia, and wooden wall panels from Parisian town homes are just a few of the things found throughout these embellished interiors. The table was set as it might have been in the dining room for a weekend dinner, and it resembled pictures of how the Queen herself entertains.

This was a party house. Talk about a party. Or parties. Weekend events. Hunting in the country. Taking afternoon tea. These are reasons this house was built. Never intended to be lived in, this grand house existed to host parties for the Rothschilds and their group of elite friends that rivaled royal gatherings. We were told that women brought maids and trunks of clothes and wore 7-8 gowns a day, changing for each social event (fun, and exhausting!).

Enjoy the pics, and just imagine arriving here for your weekend get-away with friends. U.n.b.e.l.i.e.v.a.b.l.e....

(Interior pics weren't allowed, but you can get a glimpse at www.waddesdon.org.uk)