This extravagant medieval castle-style hotel rises proudly above the small town. But this is not just a hotel – it is a symbol and the most famous landmark of the city, declared a National Historic Site of Canada. We are talking about Chateau Frontenac, who settled in the city of Quebec, in the east of Canada.
General information
The Frontenac Hotel is the first such elegant chateau-style structure to be built on the initiative of the Canadian Pacific Railway to attract tourists to travel on their roads.
For more than a century, the grandiose structure has been standing on the territory of Old Quebec, on Cape Dimon at the St. Lawrence River. Frontenac is bordered on the north by the Rue Saint-Louis, and on the south by the Rue Mont-Carmel. On the north-east and south-east sides of the building is surrounded by Dufferin Terrace, known for its panoramic view of the St. Lawrence River. Frontenac has two public roads: Trezor and Quarry Streets.
Historical background
In 1870, the Canadian authorities initiated a restoration project in Quebec aimed at restoring the city to its appearance of the XVII century. On the site of the ancient castle of Saint-Louis, towering on Cape Dimon, it was decided to build a grant hotel to attract wealthy tourists to the region. But local authorities could not pay for its construction, and the project was transferred to the Canadian Pacific Railway. So Chateau Frontenac in Quebec became a monumental railway grant hotel in Canada and the brainchild of William Van Horn, the head of the company. William Van Horn wanted to create a hotel that would not only attract wealthy travelers, but also encourage them to travel on a luxury train on the railways.
The Chateau Frontenac was designed by architect Bruce Price. Construction was completed in 1893, after which the hotel was opened to the public. Over the entire history of its existence, Frontenac has experienced a number of major changes. The last major renovation took place in 1993 – a magnificent terrace, a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool were completed.
In 2001, Legacy REIT bought the building from its previous owners, paying $ 185 million. After 10 years, the hotel already had a new owner – Ivanhoe Cambridge, who organized restoration work for $75,000,000.
Architecture and design
The Chateau Hotel in Quebec City is a majestic structure of 18 floors, rising 80 meters high, with a central tower and 5 wings made of brick and stone.
Exterior design
Frontenac in Canada is designed in the style of chateau-the so-called architectural style of the Renaissance. The project of the main tower, which resembles a fortress, has a lot in common with the medieval castles that exist throughout the Loire Valley in France. The elements of the chateau used in this construction are its asymmetrical silhouette with steep roofs and soaring chimneys, massive round and polygonal towers, large dormer windows. The facade of the castle is laid out mainly of gray stone and faced with red clay bricks.
Interior
The interior is also designed in the style of a chateau. Red wood panels, marble steps with wrought-iron railings, and glass elements were used in the design. But, unlike the chateau-style buildings in France, Chateau Frontenac in Canada does not resemble Italian architecture, but contains many elements of Gothic. The castle is also characterized by certain details of the Victorian architectural style, which have rich polychrome surfaces.
The architectural style of the chateau, in which the hotel of Quebec is designed, was used as a model for the construction of other railway hotels in Canada at the end of the XIX-beginning of the XX century.
All details about the operation of the Chateau Hotel
Chateau Hotel – the most extravagant and one of the most popular among guests in Canada. The name of the hotel today is Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. In its arsenal, throughout the building, there are 610 rooms and suites. Each room has a sense of European elegance: all of them are luxuriously decorated and equipped with refined furniture in the style of a chateau. You can book any of them here.
Executive suites are themed. Most of the suites are decorated “for the heads of state” who have stayed in this establishment at various times. So, the Trudeau-Trudeau suite was named in memory of the Prime Ministers of Canada-Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Justin Trudeau. There are rooms named in memory of famous world leaders, for example, in honor of French President Charles de Gaulle, Queen Elizabeth II of Canada. There are also suites dedicated to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin Roosevelt.
Chateau Frontenac also has a room dedicated to the director Alfred Hitchcock, who shot the film “I Confess” in this location. Another room is dedicated to William Cornelius Van Horn, the second president of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Celine Dion’s room is designed not in the traditional chateau style, but in the Art Deco style, and is decorated with family photos of the star.
As for prices, the approximate cost per night for accommodation without breakfast and with breakfast is as follows::
- regular number-from $254 and $317;
- deluxe – from $317 and $484;
- premium room-from $374 and $437;
- luxury $397-750 and $459-812;
- a unique suite – about $1,880.
Part of the premises in Frontenac Castle are occupied by restaurants and other similar establishments. The hotel complex has 3 restaurants: Bistro Le Sam, Champlain and 1608 Wine and Cheese Bar.
The administration of the Chateau Hotel has tried to provide every detail so that guests can relax with maximum comfort:
- Guests can make use of room service and concierge service on site;
- pets are allowed;
- laundry services are also available;
- there is also a Moment Spa and a swimming pool;
- luxury car rental, covered parking and an electric car charging station are also available;
- the La Fleur d’Europe floristry center is also open;
- it is possible to hold weddings and other events.
Frontenac Castle in Canada: interesting facts
- In 1924, when the central tower was completed, the castle became the tallest structure in Quebec. This title remained with him until 1930. Although the city now has several taller structures, the hotel still stands prominently on a high promontory.
- The castle has a total of 12 kilometers of corridors. You can go on a guided tour of them, accompanied by a guide dressed in a costume of the XIX century, and a guide dog.
- The castle stands on the site of archaeological excavations in the forts of Saint-Louis and Chateau, which for more than 200 years were the official residence of the governors of France and Great Britain.
- The hotel has almost 2,000 windows offering stunning views of the St. Lawrence River, the city and courtyards.
- Several of Canada’s most important attractions are located close to Chateau Frontenac. In the north-eastern side there is a monastery of Ursulines, founded in the XVII century. To the south, there is an area with tourist trails laid along it – the Plains of Abraham. On the south side, on Cap Diamond – the highest point of the cape, there is another attraction-the citadel of Quebec, which is an active object of the Canadian Armed Forces and the residence of the country’s monarch. On the east side of the castle is the terrace of Dufferin, and immediately below it is the Lower Town of Old Quebec.
- The castle has a rooftop garden with a real mini-apiary. In 4 hives there are 70,000 honey bees that produce 295 kilograms of honey a year. Throughout the year, honey is collected three times and used in restaurants.
- The Chateau is considered the most photographed hotel in the world: every guest in Quebec tries to capture this unique attraction of Canada. According to local residents, the most picturesque views of the castle can be found from the Place de la Boattier (Old Port), the Citadel of Quebec, the Observatory de la Capitale and the terrace in Levy, which is on the other side of the river.
- When Alfred Hitchcock made the film I Confess in 1953, George Jessop, then a hotel manager, played himself in the film.
- In 1981, the grand Frontenac Hotel was added to the list of National Historic Sites of Canada.
- In 1993, Canada Post launched a series of stamps based on images of Heather Price. One stamp shows the Frontenac Hotel.
- In 2022, the hotel received the “Global Hotel of the Year 2022” award.
- Many famous people made Chateau Frontenac their home during their stay in Quebec: Queen Elizabeth II, Charlie Chaplin, Princess Grace of Monaco, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Leonardo DiCaprio.
