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Xanadu Mansion (formerly Dupont House)


Xanadu Mansion (formerly Dupont House)
Xanadu Mansion (formerly Dupont House)
Xanadu Mansion (formerly Dupont House)
Xanadu Mansion (formerly Dupont House)

Contact details

Address: Carreteras de Las Americas Km 8.5, Varadero, Matanzas, Cuba Telephone: (53 45) 66 8482 Website: www.varaderogolfclub.com/en/xanadu.asp


Entrance fee: Free if no meal or drink

Target audience: All

Children love to go up to the terrace at the very top by the very small staircase


Opening hours

Restaurant 12:00 to 22:30, Bar 10:00 to 23:45


Best time to visit: Having an aperitif at the end of the day, with the sunset, is an extraordinary experience.


Presentation

This chic historic (1930) hacienda-style mansion located on the San Bernardino cliff is now a hotel and restaurant in addition to being the clubhouse for the Varadero Golf Club.


The waterfront mansion has 4 floors, where you will find:


  • Ground floor: reception, lobby and Xanadu restaurant (see photos of menus with prices as of October 10, 2021)

  • Second floor: 6 luxurious bedrooms

  • Third floor: Mirador Bar (panoramic views of the sea and the golf course)

  • Basement: a cellar

  • Adjacent building: Golf Club reception, Pro Shop and a restaurant


This mansion was designed by architects Covarrocas and Govantes in July 1927. The first owner of this exclusive estate was the French-born American millionaire Irenée Dupont de Nemours.


It is now possible to take a short tour to see the cellar, the organ, the library and one of the dining rooms. For 2 CUC per person, it is worth it.


A bit of history


Here is the translation of a very interesting text.


" The clubhouse of the "Xanadú Mansion" golf course , located on the cliffs of San Bernardino, was designed by the architects Covarrocas and Govantes in July 1927.


The owner of this exclusive estate was the French-American millionaire Irenee Dupont de Nemours, born on December 21, 1876, who later had 8 children, 35 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Irenee was the Dupont of this generation who took a great interest in the development of the company founded by her great-grandfather Eleuthere Dupont in Delaware in 1802. During Irenee's life, the company became the largest diversified chemical empire in the world, employing 90,000 workers in 74 plants worldwide in 1957. Before becoming president of the company, Irenee had several jobs in construction, finance and development.


In 1927, at the age of 49, he retired from the presidency of the chemical empire and began looking for a quiet place to spend his retirement. Like many Americans, he found it in Cuba. That same year, he bought 180 hectares of land on the Hicacos Peninsula for 90,000 pesos. The property included 8 km of virgin breccia, but he chose the rock houses of the San Bernardino cliffs to build his dream home. The four-story mansion, with 11 bedrooms and adjacent baths, three large terraces, seven balconies and a private dock, was named "Xanadu", after the exotic palace built by the legendary Chinese warrior and conqueror Kublas Khan, described by the English poet Samuel Taylor. According to legend, "Xanadu" was the ancient kingdom of the Tartars, which extended from Central Asia to Western China and parts of Russia. Seven balconies and a private dock were named "Xanadu", after the exotic palace built by the legendary Chinese warrior and conqueror Kublas Khan, as described by the English poet Samuel Taylor. According to legend, "Xanadu" was the ancient kingdom of the Tartars, which stretched from Central Asia to Western China and parts of Russia. Seven balconies and a private dock were named "Xanadu", after the exotic palace built by the legendary Chinese warrior and conqueror Kublas Khan, as described by the English poet Samuel Taylor.


In 1932, Dupont installed the largest private organ in all of Latin America, valued at $11,000. The machinery was installed in the basement and the organ operated automatically and manually. Two gongs carried the music to the watchtower and the lobby, without disturbing the guests in their rooms. The furnishings, including the organ, paintings and piano, were provided by Theodore Baily & Co. and Meras & Rico.


Precious woods were imported, especially from Santiago de Cuba, for the ceilings, stair railings and columns, while the floors and bathrooms were made of Cuban, Italian and Spanish marble. The actual construction was entrusted to the Frederick Sneard Company at a cost of $1,300,000 and was completed on December 30, 1930.

Dupont would stay at Xanadu for a few months each year starting in early January, sometimes inviting important company executives.


The Dupont estate covers approximately 1,328 hectares, covering part of what is now the municipality of Cardenas. The land had been purchased at the ridiculous price of four cents per square meter, but the value of the estate increased years later with the construction of the road, the power plant and the aqueduct.


Dupont introduced potable water to the Varadero area and unlike other Caribbean destinations, the water was safe to drink. He also provided schools for the children of the area. When the local church was destroyed, he had it rebuilt.


The gardens were planted with coconut trees. On the eastern slopes, they planted flowers and a vegetable garden, as well as banana, avocado and papaya trees. Parrots and cockatoos were imported to make the place more enchantingly tropical.

Although architect Herbert Strong designed the first 18-hole golf course, it was later built with only 9 holes, to Sim Cuthrie's design. The first four holes were built on natural soil, with the others having to be filled. The golf course began in December 1931 and shortly after its completion in September 1933 it was hit by a hurricane which swept away the greens and fairways of holes 5 to 9.


The golf course has always been owned by Peñas de Hicacos SA and its total cost, without soil replenishment or soil maintenance, was more than US$41,000. Originally, it was planned to create a golf club with exclusive membership, but this was never done. Playing the 9 holes cost US$1.00, of which US$0.50 was for the caddy and the rest for a public school.

In March 1957, Dupont visited Xanadu for the last time. On December 12, 1963, Xanadu opened as the restaurant "Las Americas", with Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova as the guest of honor. That same day, at the age of 85, Irenee Dupont died in the United States.



Comments from our members

Many say that the restaurant is expensive and not that extraordinary. On the other hand, even if you pay a little more, having a drink at the bar at the top (Le Mirador) is worth the trip for the view!




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