Top Cottages in Albemarle County in 2026 | Expedia

Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who began designing and building Monticello at age 26 after inheriting land from his father. Located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Piedmont region, the plantation was originally 5,000 acres (20 km2), with Jefferson using slaves for extensive cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops, later shifting from tobacco cultivation to wheat in response to changing markets.

Jefferson designed the main house using neoclassical design principles described by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, subsequently reworking the design through much of his presidency to include design elements popular in late 18th-century Europe and integrating numerous of his own design solutions. Situated on the summit of an 850-foot (260 m)-high peak in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap, the name Monticello derives from the Italian for "little mount". Along a prominent lane adjacent to the house, Mulberry Row, the plantation came to include numerous outbuildings for specialized functions, e.g., a nailery; quarters for domestic slaves; gardens for flowers, produce, and Jefferson's experiments in plant breeding — along with tobacco fields and mixed crops. Cabins for field slaves were located farther from the mansion.

At Jefferson's direction, he was buried on the grounds, in an area now designated as the Monticello Cemetery. The cemetery is owned by the Monticello Association, a society of his descendants through Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson.[4] After Jefferson's death, his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph sold the property. In 1834 it was bought by Uriah P. Levy, a commodore in the U.S. Navy, who admired Jefferson and spent his own money to preserve the property. His nephew Jefferson Monroe Levy took over the property in 1879; he also invested considerable money to restore and preserve it. In 1923, Monroe Levy sold it to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (TJF), which operates it as a house museum and educational institution. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1987 Monticello and the nearby University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson, were together designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Top Cities in Albemarle County

Typical American farm landscape in the fall, Barboursville, Virginia

Our top choices for Albemarle County cottages

Exterior

Brand new serene luxury cottage just off the Brew Ridge Trail

Afton

United States

Joni K.

AED 531 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Mar - 31 Mar

Outdoor dining

Relax at 3100 feet and enjoy the peace and tranquility

Free Union

United States

Dominic S.

Exterior

Rosé All Day: Wine Country Getaway! Walk to Dining

Crozet

United States

Matthew L.

AED 1,210 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Mar - 25 Mar

Exterior

Pine Grove Cottage - Visit Monticello, Charlottesville & Many Local Wineries

Troy

United States

Sandra S.

AED 770 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Mar - 25 Mar

Outdoor dining

Afton Cottage w/ Hot Tub, Firepit, Mountain Views

Afton

United States

Thomas K.

AED 1,167 total

includes taxes & fees

25 Mar - 26 Mar

Exterior

The Firefly Cottage

Staunton

United States

Sandra

Exterior

The Cottage @ Afton Mountain- Close to Wineries!

Afton

United States

Cynda

AED 1,167 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Mar - 25 Mar

Outdoor dining

Charming cottage retreat by Shenandoah National Park and Madison Run Trailhead

Grottoes

United States

Alyssa L.

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Top Albemarle County Hotel Reviews

English Inn of Charlottesville

English Inn of Charlottesville

10/10 Excellent

"Wonderful spot tucked away in the middle of everything! The tea time was a nice touch and the breakfast was impressive. Customer service was amazing. We will definitely be back!"

Massanutten Resort

Massanutten Resort

6/10 Okay

"Everything was close by, the staff is very friendly and the place is clean. But the water park is dated and needs more slides for the price you pay. Tubing was fun but you could barely hear the music and the lights were few. There isn't much to do other than that and what there is to do is very expensive. "

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