Transport yourself to France for the day as you explore the French Renaissance-style château, Waddesdon. Built in the 1870s by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, the manor was used to house his impressive art collection and entertain extravagant guests on summer weekends.
As you walk around, admire the spectacular rooms designed by a French architect, who took inspiration from Parisian houses of the 1700s. Look out for the monkeys imitating humans on the wall panels!
You’ll get a feel of the weekend party house in the Dining Room, where the table is set for 24 guests, just as it was in those days. Amazingly, the Rothschilds used over 400 pieces of porcelain to entertain their guests.
The house is also full of many 18th-century French objects including two desks: one for Queen Marie-Antoinette and the other for King Louis XV’s daughter. There’s also a carpet from the palace of Versailles and a vase in the shape of a ship — only 10 were made by the royal Sèvres porcelain factory, of which Baron Ferdinand owned three.
Don’t forget to explore his private sitting room where you’ll spot multiple portraits of beautiful women, many of them actresses. In the Bachelors’ Wing, there’s a large collection or arms and armour, much of which was bought by his sister, Alice.
The chateau in the heart of the Chilterns also boasts a contemporary exhibition space, a restaurant and café, a gift and wine shop as well as impressive grounds.
Gardens
Surrounding the magnificent house are beautiful landscaped grounds of a late Victorian design. Much like the house, Baron Ferdinand wanted to impress visiting guests by creating focal points with plenty of 18th-century sculptures, four avenues of mature oak trees and fountains.
As you explore, you’ll also discover the Aviary garden with raised ribbon bedding full of plants of a single colour scheme — this is changed twice a year, in spring and in summer. Impressively, the garden has over 50,000 bedding plants! The Aviary itself is beautiful and filled with many exotic birds. It also takes part in important conservation breeding projects and is one of Europe's smallest zoos.
Did you know that after Ferdinand’s death, his sister Alice inherited the manor and pioneered new techniques such as 3D carpet bedding. She was extremely passionate about gardening and is said to have always carried a weeding tool with her.
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