Just how beautiful is Asheville's Biltmore Estate? See where it ranks in worldwide study
ASHEVILLE – The Biltmore Estate has earned yet another accolade. The grandiose attraction in South Asheville on the banks of the French Broad River ranks fifth worldwide for the most beautiful stately homes, with its 178,000 square feet of French Renaissance architecture beating out royal estates spanning the United Kingdom, France and Spain.
That’s according to a study conducted by Swift Direct Blinds, a U.K.-based blinds company, between June 2021 and May 2023. The study was based on the total number of reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor for each house, as well as the number of reviews mentioning the word "beautiful" or "beauty," the number of Instagram hashtags containing the home’s name and search data from Google Keyword Planner depicting which homes increased the most in popularity over the past two years.
Just over 37% of all reviews for Biltmore contained the word “beautiful,” placing it fifth on Swift Direct Blinds’ list of stately homes with the highest percentage of “beautiful” reviews. At 1,425 reviews in total, the estate also received many more reviews than any other home on the list, with 935 more reviews than Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Virginia, the next-most reviewed competitor.
Among world-renowned homes, Biltmore ranks above Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom, the Palace of Versailles in France, and The Breakers in Rhode Island, where Cornelius Vanderbilt II, a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family, took up summer residence in the Gilded Age. Only one other stately home from the U.S. ranks above Biltmore on the list, namely Oheka Castle in Long Island.
Estates ranking above Biltmore for their percentage of “beautiful” reviews are as follows:
Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, U.K., ranks first at 47% of reviews.
Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, U.K., ranks second at 44% of reviews.
Oheka Castle in Long Island, N.Y., ranks third at 40% of reviews.
Burghley House in Cambridgeshire, U.K., ranks fourth at 40% of reviews.
Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., ranks fifth at 37% of reviews.
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Biltmore ranks 3rd in popularity growth
In the past two years, the estate has seen about a 115% increase in Google searches, placing it third worldwide for stately homes growing the most in popularity, according to the study. Additionally, Biltmore has been posted over 26,891 times on Instagram.
The only two homes outranking Biltmore in popularity growth belong to British royalty, with the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is one of three official residences of the British monarch, ranking first and Windsor Castle ranking second. The Palace of Holyroodhouse saw about a 248% increase in Google searches in the past two years, and Windsor Castle had about a 157% increase.
The number of visitors flocking to Biltmore has remained steady the past two years, hovering around 1.3 million guests annually, according to Marissa Jamison, spokesperson for Biltmore.
"From Jan 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023, we have welcomed approximately 546.6 thousand guests," Jamison told Citizen Times July 5. "Biltmore’s peak season is the Christmas season, which for us runs from the beginning of November through the beginning of January every year."
Through July 31, 2023, Biltmore visitors can save $50 and enjoy everything the estate offers by purchasing an annual pass.
More: Answer Woman: Is Deerpark restaurant at Biltmore closed 'temporarily' or forever?
Biltmore Estate, whose official address is 1 Lodge Street, and sits just south of downtown Asheville, comprises the former home of industrialist George Vanderbilt and his family, Biltmore House, constructed between 1889-1895.
The famed landmark home is the main attraction for tourists and residents, as does the scenic views and ample events, activities and amenities offered across the 8,000-acre property.
Biltmore hosts many different events throughout the year, including outdoor music concerts. Currently, Biltmore is having an Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition, an animated art experience featuring works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Caravaggio. In the exhibition, these classic artworks "swirl about as a powerful operatic score and compelling narrative bring it all to life," Jamison said.
Visitors can discover all upcoming Biltmore events on the estate's event page.
Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. News tips? Email Ryley at rober@gannett.com. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Biltmore Estate in Asheville ranks fifth in world in beautiful estates
