Hearst Castle: The Castle on the Enchanted Coast of California

Extravagance, eccentricity, unbridled luxury, a desire to amaze, and a hint of madness. These are the ingredients that, starting in 1919, gave origin to Hearst Castle, one of the most unusual buildings in the world located in San Simeon, on the California coast.

History of Hearst Castle

This bizarre structure was built at the behest of a publishing magnate in search of a vacation home (and apparently he did not want to settle for just anything). His name was William Randolph Hearst, a figure who Orson Welles used as the inspiration for the protagonist of his famous movie called Citizen Kane (those who have seen the movie will immediately see in this brief description the remarkable similarities between Hearst and Charles Foster Kane).

It seems that Mr. Hearst did not like the comparison very much, but it must be said that his Xanadu (which he had renamed La Cuesta Encantada- The Enchanted Hill) was certainly extravagant and equal to the imaginary castle in the movie. Its walls, floors and ceilings come from European churches and castles, and it has Gothic fireplaces, Moorish style ceramics, Greek vases, and medieval tapestries.

Hearst Castle is surrounded by majestic gardens, amazing pools, including the famous Neptune Pool, overflowing with spring water and surrounded by a classical colonnade with statues like in Ancient Greece. Can we talk about the facade? Here the overflowing opulence is also displayed. There are two imposing towers that rise above a winding staircase that are inspired by Mudéjar architecture. In short, a combination of influences created something unlike anything else in the world.

Is Hearst Castle Worth Visiting?

Of course, if you have refined taste, this may not be that appealing to you, but the visit may be still worth it for many reasons:

• Hearst Castle, whether you like its architectural style or not, is definitely unique, and it’s virtually impossible not to be amazed.
• Many of the works of art you will find there are authentic (Mr. Hearst’s made legendary purchases, both in terms of the price and for the quality of the objects).
• It also has historical relevance. The owner used to organize wild parties, to which he invited the biggest stars in Hollywood and other famous figures (Winston Churchill was also a guest).
• The place benefits from a beautiful scenic location that is close to the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway, just before reaching Big Sur.

Where it is located and how to get there

Hearst Castle is located along the course of the legendary Highway 1, which runs along the California coast near the town of San Simeon, roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here are the travel times from major cities in California:

• from Los Angeles: about 4 hours
• from San Francisco: about 3 hours and 50 minutes
• from Santa Barbara: about 2 hours and 30 minutes
• from Monterey: about 2 hours

Who was William Hearst and the history of the building

The history of Hearst Castle cannot be discussed without first outlining the figure of its creator. William Randolph Hearst was born in 1863 in San Francisco, into a wealthy family that had achieved considerable success in the mining industry.

His influence in the media world began when he inherited ownership of the San Francisco Examiner, which his father had acquired in 1880, providing employment to notable figures like Mark Twain and Jack London. He developed an editorial policy with a strong populist approach, focusing on reporting corruption scandals within the city administration and large industries. In a short time, the Examiner became the most popular and widely read newspaper in the city.

Encouraged by this success, a few years later, in 1895, he decided to purchase the failing New York Morning Journal and transformed it into one of the most competitive newspapers in the Big Apple, directly competing with Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World.

Amid an increasingly competitive market, one of Hearst’s strategies to attract more readers was to embrace the journalistic style that would later be defined as Yellow Journalism. This involved publishing increasingly sensationalistic news, often without even citing a single source to support the claims made, aiming to amaze the readers rather than informing them.

The most notorious case of Yellow Journalism was its influence in persuading the public to support American military intervention to aid Cuba’s independence from Spain.

Given the success of this campaign, Hearst decided to venture into politics personally and ran for, and was elected to, the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1903. He also attempted to become the President of the United States but lost the primaries in 1904. Disappointed by this outcome and the lack of support from his party, he founded the Municipal Ownership League in 1905 and the Independence League in 1906, with which he unsuccessfully sought election as Governor of New York first and then as Mayor of New York.

In support of his political endeavors, his media empire grew significantly in the early 1900s, with Hearst owning as many as 28 national newspapers, forming the Hearst Communications.

Throughout his life, Hearst faced numerous criticisms, not only for his editorial choices but also for alleged sympathies towards the Nazis. These accusations were linked to his personal meeting with the dictator in 1934 during a trip to Germany, as well as the positive journalistic coverage given to many writings by Hermann Göring and Alfred Rosenberg, which were published in his newspapers without any form of criticism.

It is, therefore, easy to see how the magnificence and extravagance of Hearst Castle perfectly complement the controversial personality of its owner.

Turning briefly to the history of the complex’s construction, it began in 1919 and extended for over 28 years. During this period, William Randolph Hearst and Julia Morgan (California’s first female architect) worked together to create an unprecedented architectural masterpiece. The main buildings that make up Hearst Castle are described in more detail in a dedicated paragraph.

After the death of William Randolph Hearst in 1951, the estate was donated to the state of California and is now managed as a museum. Hearst Castle has thus become a cultural icon and a testament to the opulence and refined taste of a man who has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on American history.

Opening Hours, Tickets, and Other Useful Information

Hearst Castle can be visited every day through guided tours that start at 9:00 AM. The only closures are on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

Tour prices start at $30 for adults and $15 for children aged 5 to 12. Children under 5 enter for free. However, the prices may vary depending on the tour you choose. We have discussed the various types of tours in detail in the section dedicated to how to visit Hearst Castle.

Once you arrive at the Visitor Center, you will need to park your car and reach the castle at the top of the Enchanted Hill using a shuttle bus provided for visitors.

Buildings of Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle is not composed of just one building; rather, there are several constructions, each with its own uniqueness, surrounding the main residence called Casa Grande.

Let’s explore what has been built in this fabulous place.

• Casa Grande (5,634 sq. meters): This is the main building of the entire complex, featuring a combination of architectural influences from various eras and cultures. Inside, it houses 115 luxuriously furnished rooms, including the famous Refectory Room, the Theater Room, the splendid Salon, and the immense wine cellars.
• Casa del Sol (242 sq. meters): This structure has an internal courtyard with a central fountain surmounted by a reproduction of Donatello’s David. Casa del Sol is surrounded by splendid gardens and offers a panoramic view of the coast.
• Casa del Monte (237 sq. meters): This was the first building designed exclusively as a guest house to accommodate William Hearst’s relatives and guests.
• Casa del Mar (546 sq. meters): As the name suggests, this building was designed to provide a spectacular view of the ocean and is the largest of the three guest houses in the complex.
• Roman Pool: This indoor pool is inspired by ancient Roman baths and features a series of columns, mosaics (inspired by those in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna), and sculptures that create a unique atmosphere, leaving all visitors in awe.
• Neptune Pool: Undoubtedly one of Hearst Castle’s most iconic attractions, this is a large outdoor pool surrounded by columns, statues, and architectural details reminiscent of classical aesthetics. It even includes an original Roman temple that Hearst had purchased in Europe and then transported to California.
• The Zoo: Yes, William Randolph Hearst wanted to leave no stone unturned in entertaining and astonishing his guests, so he decided to build a private zoo that included exotic animals such as elephants, lions, tigers, zebras, and many others. Today, it is no longer possible to visit the zoo as all the animals were relocated to other zoos after Hearst’s death.
• Hearst Airport: Could a private airport be missing to bring Hearst’s guests from all over the world? Of course not. Originally, it was also built to facilitate the transport of construction materials needed for the buildings. The original airport was located where the Visitor Center stands today; in fact, the ticket office and bar are now housed in what used to be the hangar.

A fun fact: None of the three guest houses, despite their size, had a kitchen. According to Hearst’s explicit wish, all meals of the day had to be consumed inside Casa Grande, which, as we have seen, had a huge kitchen and equally luxurious dining rooms.

How to Visit Hearst Castle

Whether it’s the product of megalomania or a unique aesthetic pursuit, it must be admitted that the castle exerts an undeniable charm on tourists, attracting over a million visitors each year. The best time to visit is in the morning when the coastal fog envelops the heights where the construction stands. There are various types of tours you can choose from to explore the castle and its buildings in different levels of depth.

Here are the main ones you can choose from:

• Grand Rooms Tour: The base tour, recommended for first-time visitors who want an overview of the most important highlights. It includes a visit to Casa Grande and its main rooms such as the Assembly Room, the Refectory, the Theater Room, the Billiard Room, and the Morning Room. The tour lasts about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The price for this tour is $30 for adults and $15 for children aged 5 to 12.
• Upstairs Suites Tour: With this tour, you can visit the private rooms on the upper floor, including William Randolph Hearst’s suite, the Celestial Suite, and the large library which houses, among other things, 150 ancient Greek vases. The tour takes 70 minutes, and the price is $30 for adults and $15 for children aged 5 to 12.
• Cottages & Kitchen Tour: This tour allows you to explore part of the two buildings (Casa del Monte and Casa del Mar) that housed the Hearst family before Casa Grande was completed. You can also visit the wine cellars and the enormous kitchen. The tour lasts about 1 hour and 10 minutes, and the price is $30 for adults and $15 for children aged 5 to 12.
• Designing the Dream Tour: This tour is explicitly dedicated to architecture enthusiasts who want to learn more about the process that led to the construction of Hearst Castle and the decisions made to blend it harmoniously into the natural setting of the California coast. The tour takes 75 minutes, and the price is $35 for adults and $20 for children.
• Art of San Simeon Tour: This is an exclusive tour for small groups that not only includes the rooms from the standard daytime tours but also grants access to other usually inaccessible rooms containing many artworks collected by Hearst during his life. Please note that this is a seasonal tour and is not offered during the summer months. The duration is about 2 hours, and the price is $100 for both adults and children.
• Hearst and Hollywood Tour: This visit focuses on the influence that the castle had on the most famous Hollywood actors of the time, who often came to visit these dwellings. You can visit all the rooms included in the standard daytime tours, but in smaller groups. Again, this is a seasonal tour not available during the summer months. The tour lasts 2 hours, and the price is $100 per person.
• Julia Morgan Tour: This tour centers on the figure of Julia Morgan, the first female architect of California and the person responsible for the construction of the Hearst Castle buildings. You can visit areas and rooms that are rarely open to the public, as well as an exhibition that traces her career and outlines her interesting personality. This is also a seasonal tour not offered during the summer months. The tour lasts for two hours, and the price is $100 per person.
• Evening Tour: This is the only tour conducted at night, with guides in costume recreating the castle’s ancient hospitality, speaking of Mr. Hearst as if he were still alive! The tour is completed with the screening of a vintage newsreel in the cinema room. The tour lasts for 1 hour and 40 minutes and costs $41 for adults and $20 for children. However, please note that this tour is only offered in the months of March, April, May, October, and November.
• Holiday Twilight Tour: This tour recreates the atmosphere of Hearst Castle during the Christmas period. You will visit the main rooms of Casa del Sol and Casa Grande, decorated for the holidays according to William Randolph Hearst’s taste. The tour takes place on selected evenings between November 25th and December 30th, lasting for 75 minutes, and costs $35 for adults and $17 for children.

All tours include the opportunity to watch the 40-minute documentary film “Hearst Castle – Building the Dream,” screened in the castle’s cinema room.

For further details and to check which of these tours are accessible for people with disabilities, please refer to the official website.

Given the high demand, especially during the high season, I recommend that you book well in advance, or buy tours that include, along with the castle, other interesting attractions on the coast. One tour that is especially popular is the daily tour of the coast from Los Angeles, which takes you to visit Santa Barbara, Solvang, and Hearst Castle in one day. There are also 3-day coastal tours including various other destinations, including such as San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, and Carmel.

Find information about the various tours available here.

Hearst Castle Map

Hearst Castle Pictures