Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie At North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate
One of my favorite holiday destinations is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. The “castle” is simply stunning. So, it makes sense the network known for everything Christmas would choose the…
One of my favorite holiday destinations is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. The "castle" is simply stunning. So, it makes sense the network known for everything Christmas would choose the house as a backdrop. A Hallmark Channel Christmas movie is coming to North Carolina's Biltmore Estate next year. According to WECT, it will be a part of the 2023 "Countdown to Christmas." Stars Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha star in "A Biltmore Christmas." A spokesperson for Hallmark Media points to the estate as the perfect setting to help fans get into the holiday spirit by being "transported back in time." Filming gets underway in January of the new year. Hallmark describes the story that focuses on screenwriter "Lucy." The character, tasked with a remake of a holiday classic, travels to Biltmore Estate for research on the script. She breaks an hourglass while touring the estate. And, of course, this takes her on a journey through time. Lucy finds herself transported to 1946 and the Golden Age of Hollywood. The leading man takes notice of her. And, in true Hallmark formula, she rebuffs his attention. But, as is the case with time travel, she has to be careful not to alter the future. Lucy hopes some Christmas magic prevents the loss of her potential soulmate. Sounds plausible. As much as we poke fun at some of the syrupy "plots" of Hallmark movies, many of us get excited to see that "Countdown" every year.
This Hallmark Channel Christmas movie isn't the first time Hollywood chose Biltmore Estate for a film. In 1994, "Richie Rich" featured interior shots of the home. Viewers can also notice paintings of the Vanderbilt family in the shots. And, "Forrest Gump" used the estate grounds in one of the cross country running scenes. Also, "Hannibal," the prequel to "Silence of the Lambs," filmed at Biltmore Estate. Southern Living has a complete list of films that used the iconic estate as a setting.
North Carolina Landmark Named Most Beautiful Building In The US
Would it surprise you if I told you that the most beautiful building in the country is right here in our own backyard? And that the same building ranks among the most beautiful in the entire world? It's true! And it probably doesn't take much of a guess as to what it is. Hint, it's a very popular tourist attraction in the mountains of North Carolina. Yes, it's the Biltmore House! This gorgeous estate in Asheville is absolutely stunning. So it's no surprise it tops this list.
The folks at Angi researched TripAdvisor reviews from 132 countries and every U.S. state for mentions of the word “beautiful.” To compile their rankings of the most beautiful buildings in each country as well as the top 20 in the world! Biltmore was named the most beautiful building in the US as well as in the top for the world. George Vanderbilt would be oh so proud of his mountain home.
Below you'll find the full top 20 list and it's hard to pick a favorite from these. They span countries and continents. And the architecture is magnificent. The sleek modern style of today doesn't hold a candle to the intricate details and massive scale of these places. I wish we could be back to this more ornate style instead f the clean almost sterile looks that are trendy today. Which place on this list would you most like to visit? How many vacation days do I get because a trip to Europe and Asia just rose on my bucket list? You can read the full Angi study here or see the top 20 below.
1. Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
Location: Barcelona Spain
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 16,104
2. Cathedral Nortre-Dame de Paris
Location: Paris, France
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 12,931
3. Biltmore
Location: Asheville, NC
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 9,609
4. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 8,771
5. Grand Central Terminal
Location: New York, NY
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 8,270
6. Notre-Dame Basilica
Location: Montreal, Canada
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 7,746
7. Blue Mosque
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 7,309
8. Taj Mahal
Location: Agra, India
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 7,239
9. Basilique de Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre
Location: Paris, France
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 7,160
10. Schonbrunn Palace
Location: Vienna, Austria
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 6,992
11. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Location: Savannah, GA
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 6,806
12. Hungarian Parliament Building
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 6,609
13. Wat Phra Chetuphon
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 6,339
14. Hallgrimskirkja
Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 6,079
15. Duomo di Milano
Location: Milan, Italy
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 5,982
16. Sainte-Chapelle
Location: Paris, France
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 5,946
17. Plaza de Espana
Location: Seville, Spain
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 5,878
18. Hagia Sophia, Mosque
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 5,867
19. Louvre Museum
Location: Paris, France
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions: 5,672
20. St. Stephen's Basilica
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Number of "Beautiful" Mentions" 5,381
