Hearst Castle is a Mediterranean Revival castle in San Simeon, California, and a filming location for Spartacus (1960). Built in 1919-1947, it was designed by Julia Morgan, and is a National Historic Landmark. It is owned by State of California — California State Parks (Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument).
Location: 750 Hearst Castle Road, San Simeon, California, United States
Verified facts
- Located in San Simeon, San Simeon, California
confidence 70/100 · 2 independent sources · SRC-0103, SRC-0104 - Designed by Julia Morgan
confidence 70/100 · 2 independent sources · SRC-0104, SRC-0105 - Built 1919–1947
confidence 70/100 · 2 independent sources · SRC-0103, SRC-0104 - Architectural style: Mediterranean Revival
confidence 95/100 · 6 independent sources · SRC-0106, SRC-0107, SRC-2940, SRC-4982, SRC-4983, SRC-4984 - Historic designation: National Historic Landmark; National Register of Historic Places; California Historical Landmark No. 640
confidence 75/100 · 3 independent sources · SRC-0103, SRC-0108, SRC-0426 - Appeared in Spartacus (movie, 1960) — as Crassus's Roman villa exterior (Neptune Pool)
confidence 75/100 · 4 independent sources · SRC-0109, SRC-0110, SRC-2941, SRC-4241
Ownership history
Current owner — State of California — California State Parks (Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument) (since 1958)
confidence 90/100 · SRC-13733, SRC-2940, SRC-14710, SRC-14711
Current owner — State of California — California State Parks (Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument) (since 1958)
confidence 90/100 · SRC-13733, SRC-2940, SRC-14202, SRC-14379
Evidence & sources
- SRC-0103 — California Office of Historic Preservation – Listed Resource 640 (Tier 1, public_record; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0104 — California State Parks – Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (Tier 1, official_archive; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0105 — Hearst Castle (official operator) – Julia Morgan profile (Tier 1, owner_statement; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0106 — Encyclopaedia Britannica – Hearst Castle (La Casa Grande) (Tier 3, encyclopedia; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0107 — ROST Architects – A Brief History of the Hearst Castle and Architect Julia Morgan (Tier 2, scholarship; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0108 — Noehill – California Historical Landmark 640: Hearst San Simeon (Tier 2, public_record; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0109 — The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations – Spartacus (1960) (Tier 2, journalism; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0110 — American Cinematographer (ASC) – Spartacus: A Spectacle Revisited (Tier 2, scholarship; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-0426 — The Historical Marker Database (HMdb.org) — Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument / Hearst Castle marker (Tier 3, reference_database; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-13733 — https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/591/files/hearstcastle.html (Tier 1, reference; retrieved July 2026)
- SRC-14202 — Hearst Castle (official California State Parks site) (Tier 1, reference; retrieved July 2026)
- SRC-14379 — The History List — Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (Tier 2, reference; retrieved July 2026)
- SRC-14710 — Living History Archive — Hearst Castle (Tier 2, reference; retrieved July 2026)
- SRC-14711 — guide2museums.com — Hearst Castle (Tier 2, reference; retrieved July 2026)
- SRC-2940 — Wikipedia – Hearst Castle (Tier 3, encyclopedia; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-2941 — Wikipedia – Neptune Pool (Tier 3, encyclopedia; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-4241 — slocal.com (Tier 2, journalism; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-4654 — Hearst Castle (California State Parks) (Tier 1, official_site; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-4655 — Wikivoyage (San Simeon) (Tier 2, travel_guide; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-4982 — National Trust for Historic Preservation (Tier 2, press; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-4983 — Rethinking The Future (Tier 3, press; retrieved June 2026)
- SRC-4984 — California State Parks (Julia Morgan Architecture) (Tier 1, official; retrieved June 2026)
How we verify
Every fact above is independently corroborated by at least two reputable sources and
confidence-scored before publication. Claims that cannot clear that bar are withheld. We show the
street address only for non-residential public landmarks (museums, commercial and civic buildings,
publicly documented filming-location sites); the exact addresses of private residences and any
personal information are structurally barred from publication. Last reviewed June 2026.
Plan Your Visit
Hours: Tours run regularly; advance reservations strongly recommended (up to 60 days ahead). Visitor Center and parking free. Check official site for daily tour times/season.
Admission: Most daytime guided tours: adult $35, child (5-12) $18 (incl. $5.50 registration fee). Designing the Dream tour $40/$23; Julia Morgan tour $110. Reserve online or call 1-800-444-4445.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Spartacus filmed?
Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, California, is a real-world filming location used for Spartacus.
Can you visit Hearst Castle?
Yes — Hearst Castle is open to the public. Hours: Tours run regularly; advance reservations strongly recommended (up to 60 days ahead). Visitor Center and parking free. Check official site for daily tour times/season.. Admission: Most daytime guided tours: adult $35, child (5-12) $18 (incl. $5.50 registration fee). Designing the Dream tour $40/$23; Julia Morgan tour $110. Reserve online or call 1-800-444-4445..
Who designed Hearst Castle?
Hearst Castle was designed by Julia Morgan.
Where is Hearst Castle located?
Hearst Castle is located in San Simeon, California.