Biltmore Estate

… central Buncombe County on the S outskirts of Asheville. Built for George W. Vanderbilt (1863-1914); the name combines the last part of his family name with more, an old English word for rolling, upland country. The house, in the style of a French chateau, was formally opened in 1895 after 5 years of construction. Handsomely furnished, surrounded by formal gardens, and including adjoining forests, farms, winery, and dairy lands, the estate has been open to the public since 1930.