Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, in England and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of England's largest houses, it is the only non-Episcopal English country house holding the title of Palace and unique in its function as a family home, national monument and mausoleum.
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
Built early 18th century as a gift to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, the house would represent the military triumph agains the French and Bavarians at the Battle of Blenheim. It is also the birthplace of Sir Wiston Churchill and residence of the Churchill family for 3 centuries.
The structure was designed in the rare and short-lived English Baroque style, represented through the symmetru of the volume, with lateral wings flanking a central body, large round arched windows, columns on the lateral facades and rich decoration above the cornice. The roof features numerous statues in renaissance style, martial trophies and English lions.
The very extensive residence was planned in perspective, to mellow the heavy appearance of the stone and ornamentation. The state apartments were organized along the south facade, with some suites also in the east wing. The west wing features a gallery originally designed as a picture gallery. The east court contains domestic service areas and the west court adjacent to the chapel houses stables and an indoor riding school. The central block was designed with corner towers crowned with stone belvederes and ornamental chimneys.
The great masses of stone assembled in a severe Baroque form were intended to convey the grandeur and austerity of a national monument of power and civilization, the architect thus choosing to create magnificence over comfort.
The north front entrance is a huge portico crowned with a 30 tonne marble bust of Louis XIV, a glorification of the defeated enemy. Thus, the Duke had a way of keeping his enemy close. The great East Gate is a monumental triumphal arch with statues, entablements and wrought iron. This gate, an architectural body itself, is also the palace's water tower. The second gate toward the Great Court encloses a clock tower.
The inner spaces are as opulent as the exterior. The saloon is decorated in three-dimensional painting technique, having a dome ceiling with the allegorical representation of Peace, the figure of Churchill in a chariot holding a lightning of war. In the west wing there is a long library with saucer domes, housing a valuable art collection and a giant statue of Queen Anne, friend of the Duchess.
The Palace is surrounded by a large, undulating park, which is a classic example of English landscape garden, with a water course and waterfall flowing into a great lake.
The Blenheim Palace is open to the public and provides additional attractions such as a butterfly house, a maze, a plant center and a cafeteria. Occasionally, the palace and park host festivals and concerts.