Idahoans Abroad : Chatsworth

First, let me apologize if this is picture overload. I could not help myself.
Today we went to Chatsworth house in Darbyshire. If you have seen the 2004 Pride and Prejudice move, it is the fictitious "Pemberley" ( Fun fact, it is believed that Jane Austen used Chatsworth as the idea for Pemberley in her book after visiting).
I was really really excited about going to Chatsworth, not only because Pride and Prejudice is one of my most favorite stories, but also because I have read and watched a lot about the house and was very interested to see it for myself.
But I was in no way prepared for what it really is like. When we drove around the corner and the house came into view, it took my breath away.

I knew it was huge, but there is a difference between knowing that something is big, and seeing how big it is with your own eyes. The grandeur of it is beyond words.

We soon parked and headed into the house. We did an audio tour which was great because it gave a lot of history to each room and explained how things have changed over time. We first walked into the main hall, it was designed to make you look up and be amazed, and it does just that. Paintings from floor to ceiling, the entire thing is a masterful piece of art.

This next room was bought on a whim, truly. the 6th Duke was at an auction where all of this wood paneling and columns were being sold- and he just had to have them. Apparently, impulse buying is nothing new.

The Chapel was stunning, the walls are made of cedar and you can still smell the wood. The craftsmanship is unbelievable.

Every part of the house was for show, including the stair case.

Next we saw the State rooms, these were designed especially for the King and Queen by the 1st Duke. In fact, the whole house as we see it was done in hopes of a royal visit... that never happened. There really aren't ways to describe how opulent these rooms are, there are literally layers and layers of details on ever square inch.

Isn't that violin hanging behind the door neat? Its a painting!

The fancy wall paper is actually molded leather.

Bed fit for a King

We then moved into the portrait halls, Full of pictures by artists like Rembrandt and Van Dyke.

The Guest rooms were amazing, again- so many layers of lavishness and detail.

We then walked down the main stair case, I loved the light and paintings here- stunning.

After going down stairs we entered the Anti-Library, which is adjoined to the main library. This was by far my favorite part of the house. Walls and walls of beautiful books in every shape and size, some as big as my torso. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven.

The Anti-Library is also where we met Joe.(the one at the piano)

Joe is tour guide, incredibly talented pianist and a real character. I asked him about the purpose of some of the books and that was all the encouragement he needed- he told us about the books, he told us a story from WWII about how the American Air Force had be practicing and accidentally opened fire on the house (one of the bullets is still lodged in a table). He told us about Kathrine Kennedy and the would-be 11th Duke's rather tragic love story. He was a wealth of information as well as friendliness and an absolute joy to talk with.

I thought of a few hunters I know when we walked by this enormous stag chandelier.

Next it was on to the dining room. The 6th Duke said that he liked this room because it felt like being inside of a chest that might open up at any time. From the silver on the table, to the detail work on the ceiling, the dining room was just layer upon layer of exquisite detail.

The final room of the tour (but not the house, we only saw about 1/5 of it) was the statue room. This is the largest private collection of marble statues in Britain. While we were walking around gawking at these incredible works of art, Joe walked by on his way to give a tour, when he saw us he stopped and said, "do you enjoy marble art?" and I replied, "I am learning to quickly!". He then walked us around the collection telling us how the 6th Duke acquired this one or that one, he told us about the artists that created them and their techniques. He took us back to the dining room and taught us the the three things you do with silver ( wear it, spend it, or flaunt it) and pointed out some of the art we had missed in that room. Joe was the best!

We also found Mr. Darcy later on in the lobby, and I couldn't help by get a picture, he he.

After the house, we went out and had the good fortune of walking right into a garden tour that was just starting. She took us all around and taught us about the highlights of this over 150 acre property. The stories of the garden are just as interesting and elaborate as the house.