Waddesdon

Today was another beautiful day, sunny and cool. We consulted our National Trust Handbook of wonderful places to visit and decided on Waddesdon Manor, just outside of Aylesbury and an hour's drive away through the beautiful English countryside and picturesque villages. (We should be used to this by now, but it's still something of a white-knuckle driving experience over narrow roads!)

Waddesdon Manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 as a country house, used mostly on weekends, to entertain his guests and display his collection of 18th century French decorative arts. The furniture, Savonnerie carpets and Sevres porcelain rank in importance with those in museum collections. Portraits by Gainsborough (including the famous "Pink Boy") and Reynolds share the walls with works by 17th century Dutch and Flemish masters. There are over thirty rooms to see, both public and private, each one unique and full of wonderful treasures. While at times it seemed kind of like eating a big meal in which every course was dessert, overall we appreciated seeing so many beautiful things collected under one roof.

The grounds include lovely Victorian gardens, fountains, statuary, topiary, a rose garden, and a rococo-style aviary with a colorful collection of exotic birds. Truly a sumptuous and satisfying feast for the senses, inside and out.



After returning home to Catslip, we went to the Red Lion pub for dinner.