With Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in theaters, the franchise re-popularized lavish estates and aristocratic drama once more. And for fans who don’t want to travel across the pond, Wilmington, Delaware, and the Brandywine Valley’s historic du Pont family estates offer all the glamour without the price tag of international travel.
The du Pont family estates are known for beautiful gardens, stunning ballrooms and rich history. Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library once belonged to Henry Francis du Pont, featuring 175 rooms. It’s also home to one of the country’s most significant decorative arts collections and even hosted the Costumes of Downton Abbey exhibition in 2014.
Nemours Estate is a 77-room, Versailles-inspired mansion originally home to Alfred I. du Pont. The property has the largest formal French gardens in North America. Designed by Pierre S. du Pont, Longwood Gardens attracts travelers with its stunning conservatories and beautiful gardens. Over at Mt. Cuba Center, this former du Pont estate transformed into a botanical garden featuring plenty of gardens and trails.
While exploring these sprawling estates, make Hotel du Pont your homebase. The hotel opened in 1913 and radiates old-world elegance and charm through architectural details resembling the same grand homes you see on Downton Abbey.
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