Fairmont Ch芒teau Laurier, Ottawa

Nestled on Rideau Street opposite Parliament Hill, the Fairmont Ch芒teau Laurier towers like a fairy-tale castle in the heart of Ottawa. Commissioned by railroad magnate Charles Melville Hays in 1908, the hotel opened in 1912 but in a twist worthy of a novel, Hays perished aboard the Titanic en route to the grand opening. Fun fact: did you know the dining-room furniture he ordered for the hotel was packed on that same ill-fated ship鈥攁nd went down with it?

Designed by Montreal鈥檚 Ross and MacFarlane, the Ch芒teau Laurier flaunts the Ch芒teauesque style 鈥� conical turrets, copper roofs, floral gables, and Indiana limestone facades inspired by France鈥檚 Loire Valley. Inside, lavish details unfold: Tiffany stained-glass windows, Belgian marble floors, hand-molded plaster ceilings, and an Adam Room echoing 18th-century elegance.

Over the decades, it has hosted royalty, wartime leaders, and icons 鈥� from Nelson Mandela to Princesses and Prime Ministers, earning the nickname 鈥渢he third chamber of Parliament.鈥� Sir Wilfrid Laurier himself opened the hotel in person after the tragic delay.

Legend has it that the ghost of Charles Melville Hays still wanders the halls, probably looking for his lost Titanic dinner reservation. Guests have also reported mysterious footsteps and sudden chills, perfect for those who enjoy a little spooky side with their luxury stay!

Tip: Pause in the lobby and admire the original Tiffany windows, then imagine the titanic twist that shaped this landmark forever.

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Sight Name: Fairmont Ch芒teau Laurier
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Ottawa, Canada

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