Britain and Beyond: Chatsworth House

Do you like gardens or historic houses, museums or art galleries? If you do, Chatsworth House is the place for you. Chatsworth has all these things and more wrapped up in one tidy bundle.

Beauty and luxury can be found everywhere you look. From the crimson dining room with its silver and crystal to the mahogany and gold library, Chatsworth lives up to it noble residency.

The first time I walked into Chatsworth, I stared agog at the massive and varied beauty around me. Magnificent paintings soar overhead and wrap around the upper walls. Where there isn’t a mural painting, there are statues and stone work or smaller works of art. Sometimes you can find a piece or two of history in a hall or hanging on a wall, like an Egyptian plaque or a Greco-Roman fountain.

There are dozens of statues throughout Chatsworth House and more in the gardens. Some of my favorites include “Achilles” and the Chatsworth lions. But my all-time favorite is the “Veiled Vestal.” The skill of the sculptor makes the veil over her face seem almost real.

The gardens are beautiful and extensive. You could easily spend a whole day just exploring them. And of course you must visit the Emperor’s Fountain. Though it normally runs at only half of its potential power (originally shooting nearly 300ft high) the fountain and its lake are still impressive.

Chatsworth is full of things to see and places to explore. Give yourself time and enjoy the beauty.