This schoolhouse in Old San Simeon along California’s Central Coast is a humble contrast to the opulence of Hearst Castle on top of the hill behind it. The one-room school was built in 1881.
When newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst built his estate in the early 1900s, he was inspired by the castles and art he had seen on a European trip as a child.
The architecture of the main house, Casa Grande, and the three surrounding guest bungalows is Mediterranean Revival style.
Each building is decorated with a large collection of European art and ancient artifacts, which were among Hearst’s passions.
He also loved to swim, and there are two pools at the estate. This Roman-style indoor pool is decorated with floor to ceiling mosaic tiles.
The Greco-Roman style outdoor pool was rebuilt twice until the third met with Hearst’s approval.
Several tours are available of the luxurious main house, guest houses and grounds. The Grand Rooms Tour is recommended for first time visitors and is about 45 minutes. Afterwards, the grounds can be toured at your leisure. The ticket also includes a 40-minute movie at the visitor’s center that tells the story of the castle’s construction and the work of architect Julia Morgan. It also shows several of Hearst’s notable guests.
Beautiful shots Cathy. I want to go for a swim in that pool!
Thanks, Nancie – I think the outdoor pool looks especially inviting. it’s beautiful and huge!
Wow! I can’t believe that first building used to be a school. And I agree with Nancie: I so wanna go for a swim in that pool. It’s beautiful!
It’s hard to imagine going to school in that little place, isn’t it? Things were so different in that time and for people who were not rich like Hearst!
OMG, what a place!
They are both charming in their own way. Nice contrast.
Thanks! The contrast really struck me when we were at the schoolhouse and looked up at the castle.
What an incredible place – those two pools were amazing. But one of the loveliest things in the post was the small school house. What a great visit.
Thanks, John. I’m glad that you and others have appreciated the schoolhouse, too. I loved its simplicity and place in history.
Amazing photos! I vaguely remember visiting Hearst Castle on a school field trip, but definitely need to go back as an adult!
Thanks so much! Hearst Castle is definitely worth a second visit if you haven’t been there in a while. This was my second time there, too.
WOW, cool shots of places I wouldn’t dream of ever being allowed-in. They let flipflops in there ?
Glad you like the pics, Mike! They let me in and I was wearing flipflops, too! 🙂
I never would have guessed this was in California, it really does look like it belongs in Europe. Would love to do a tour of it the next time I’m in California.
Yes, come see Hearst Castle sometime. It would be interesting to see what you think since you’ve visited so many European castles!
Great pics.
Loved the title.
Been 30 year since I visited Hearst Castle. Looks like they’ve kept it up well.
Good article.
Cheers,
John D. Wilson
Thanks, John. Indeed, they’ve kept it up well. They were doing some maintenance on it while we were there, too. Glad you liked the title — I like to have a little fun with those.
I have always wanted to visit this place. That indoor pool is amazing!
The indoor pool is really unusual — I love the design and beautiful tiles, but it seems kind of eerie there, too.
More reasons to go see California, I would have loved to have gone to school here.
Lots of reasons to visit California! Would have been quite an experience to go to school there. I’d like to get more information about its history.
Hearst Castle is a cool building. I visited when I was 17 or so, ages ago. Oddly, what I remember most is that the tennis courts were all white and thinking how I would be blinded trying to play there.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the tennis courts. I’ll have to go back and take another tour!
This is in California? Wow, I couldn’t believe it!
It is really surprising, isn’t it? Hearst was strongly influenced by places he had seen on a childhood trip to Europe.
It would’ve been nice to live in that estate, if only in my dreams. But I’d probably only be able to live there for a few days as I’m not really a big fan of big homes. What would probably keep me there in that week’s time is that marvelous indoor Roman pool. I could spend all day, everyday in there until I am all wrinkled like a prune. Ah, such opulence!
The house would be a little too much for me, too. One of the guesthouses on the other hand, might be just right!
Didn’t Hearst build that for Marion Davies? I know he was quite the philanderer and I seem to remember reading something about him buying some ridiculously large estate for her. Nice digs though!!
The way I understand it, Marion was indeed Hearst’s “companion” and hostess of parties at Hearst Castle. But the home he built specifically for her was a beach house in Santa Monica. Nice, huh?
Fantastic pictures!
Interesting article
Wow, what a juxtaposition between the two buildings! Living in California for the last number of years I’ve had a lot of opportunity to hear random things about Hearst, but I’ve never had the chance to see this. Someday hopefully I will, though! Like everyone else, I’d take a dip in that pool.
My jaw dropped, ill go and look for it now..but maybe it went to see the house…
I love hearst castle…just once, though, I’d love to jump into that pool!! 🙂