Waddesdon Manor

The Home Of Buckinghamshire Art Treasure:
Waddesdon Manor

Many of the historical buildings in Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties are ancient and very few have build dates that were any longer ago than the 18th Century. Those few do tend to be slightly less popular in terms of the amount of visitors they attract each year, but there is one exception – Waddesdon Manor.

The idea for Waddesdon Manor was actually conceived later than the 18th Century and was in fact built right at the end of the 19th Century! It is a beautiful French Renaissance styled building and certainly looks extremely lavish and breathtaking from the outside. This was not a popular style of architecture in the area at the time, but it was built for the extravagant Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Baron Rothschild was a well known eccentric but his vision actually worked and proved to be a great home for his art collection, most of which is still there to this day!

On the inside of Waddesdon Manor, you can see a number of items that come from 18th Century France. The decorative arts that are display include Sovannerie carpets, Beauvais tapestries and various pieces of art from artists like the important 17th Century painters Gainsborough and Reynolds. Rothschild’s motto seemed to be that if he liked it then he would add it to his collection and any art or cultural enthusiast will indeed be glad he or she did after a visit here!

There is also a Waddesdon Manor wine cellar for those appreciating the finer things in life with some vintage bottles of fine wine going back as far as 1868. In total, there are over 15,000 bottles of wine! This huge collection is one of the largest in the UK and indeed the world. The wine cellars were actually created specifically to house the collection.

Finally, if you enjoy the outdoors then Waddesdon Manor has an authentic Victorian garden in the grounds. With some of the most amazing features, it will leave you speechless. There are fountains, grottoes, a variety of shrubs and trees, various walks and a number of other features that will encourage you to pass the time there if the weather is fine! Regardless of the weather, you will not be disappointed!