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| Hearst Castle |
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The great Bay Area architect Julia Morgan designed this memoir to one man's wealth and taste. Built in the late 1940's, this castle's grandeur, art collections, swimming pools, terraces and sheer size never fail to leave a visitor awe-struck. Its real tycoon-given name is "La Cuesta Encantada," which means "enchanted hill." But ask anybody who has seen this unreal fairy-tale edifice in the Santa Lucia Mountains, above the town of San Simeon, and they'll all say "it's Hearst Castle, silly."
There are 165 rooms spread over 127 acres. Hearst occupied the castle until his death in 1951, at which time it was taken over by the state of California. Today there are four tours offered, all different, and all worth taking. Of special interest are the main house tour and the walk through the library and gardens. Julia Morgan's signature pool (see her pool at the Berkeley City Club for another, smaller example) and the King-Arthur- sized dining table (with individual catsup and mustard containers for everyone) are what most people end up talking about. Whatever you see in California, do not miss Hearst Castle and plan to stay awhile. You must take a shuttle bus to the grounds from the visitor's center.
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