Located at 657 Bellevue Avenue, Belcourt was designed by Richard Morris Hunt for the heir of August Belmont, a wealthy Prussian banker. Oliver Belmont, at 33, was still a bachelor during the construction of his 50 000 square foot, 60-room summer villa. Based on Louis XII's hunting villa at Versailles, Belcourt incorporated Oliver's love of pageantry, history and horses in its magnificent interior halls, salons and ballrooms.
When construction finished in 1894, Belcourt was noted for its extensive stables and carriage areas, which took up most of the first floor. Scheduled to open for July 4th of that year, Belcourt would sadly remain closed for the summer season. Belmont was hospitalized in New York City, the victim of a mugging. It would be a full year until Belmont saw his completed mansion.
The summer of 1895 witnessed the 30 servants of Belcourt preparing the vast estate for the arrival of its owner. Immediately, Belmont set out to inspect his extensive stables, which entailed the entire south façade. The building was formed of a large quadrangle, with two story wings connecting to a three-story main block (the north wing). The result can be viewed today in the form of a large, 80 by 40 foot central courtyard with half timbers.
Inside the mansion was just as magnificent and somewhat eccentric. Belmont housed his vast carriage collection on the first floor, accessed by two huge carriage entrances on either side of the north façade. To the west of this vast area was Belmont's Francis I Renaissance-style Grand Hall and foyer which exited onto Ledge Road. This area still features the stained glass windows displaying Belmont's coat of arms. The room's original damask, blood red in colour, has long since been replaced with the same fabric in gold.
Ascending the Grand Staircase, now a replica of the stairs in the Cluney Museum in France, guests reached Belmont's second floor Grand Hall. The details are exactly the same as those of its partner room below.
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