# Château Laurier

- **Country:** Canada
- **Coordinates:** 45.425567, -75.695108
- **Year Built:** 1912
- **Castle Type:** Hotel
- **Location Text:** Ontario
- **Architectural Style:** Châteauesque

The Fairmont Château Laurier is a historic hotel located at 1 Rideau Street in the downtown core of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Situated near the intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive, the building overlooks the Ottawa River and the Colonel By Valley, home to the Rideau Canal locks. Opened on June 12, 1912, the structure was commissioned by Grand Trunk Railway president Charles Melville Hays and constructed between 1909 and 1912. It was designed by architects Bradford Gilbert and Ross and Macfarlane in a French Gothic Revival Châteauesque style, specifically chosen to complement the adjacent Parliament buildings. The exterior is adorned with Indiana limestone, while the interior features original Tiffany stained-glass windows and hand-moulded plaster decorations dating back to its inception.

Designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980, the hotel holds significant historical value as a landmark tied to the development of Canada's railway system and capital city. Originally featuring 350 bedrooms with varying amenities ranging from private baths to communal dormitories, the hotel has evolved over time. Today, it operates under Fairmont Hotels and Resorts with 429 guest rooms. The property includes several distinct reception areas, such as the Wedgewood-blue Adam Room, the Roman column-defined Laurier Room, and an Empire-style ballroom. A tunnel under Rideau Street historically linked the hotel to the nearby Union Station, now the Senate of Canada Building, highlighting its integrated role in early twentieth-century transit infrastructure.

Currently owned by Capital Hotel L.P., the Château Laurier remains an iconic palace in Ottawa, preserving its elegant architectural details while serving modern travelers. Its strategic location above the Ottawa Locks and view of Major's Hill Park continue to make it a premier destination. The building stands as a testament to early 1900s luxury travel, having transitioned from a railway hub accommodation to a celebrated heritage hotel that maintains its original grandeur and cultural significance within the Canadian capital.

![Photo of Château Laurier](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Ch%C3%A2teau_Laurier_Ottawa_Canada_%286%29.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Château_Laurier (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)