Château Frontenac

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the grand hotel that dominates the skyline of Quebec City, perched on the cliff above the St. Lawrence River in Old Quebec. Its green copper roofs, turrets and tall central tower are the best-known image of the city. Opened in 1893, the hotel was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway as one of its chain of luxury hotels designed to attract travellers by train, and it was designed by the American architect Bruce Price in the Châteauesque style, a revival of French Renaissance châteaux with steep roofs, towers and ornate stonework.

The name honours Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, governor of New France in the seventeenth century. The hotel stands on a site with a long history as the seat of French and later British authority, where the Château Saint-Louis, the residence of the governors, once stood. The original building was expanded in stages over the following decades, and the large central tower was added in the 1920s, producing the silhouette seen today. During the Second World War the hotel hosted the Quebec Conferences of 1943 and 1944, where Churchill and Roosevelt met to plan the course of the war.

Visitors can enjoy the building from outside and from the Terrasse Dufferin, the broad wooden boardwalk that runs along the cliff in front of the hotel. It is one of the best promenades in the city, with views over the river, the Lower Town and the ferries crossing to Lévis, and it is lively with musicians, strollers and street performers. A funicular nearby drops to the Lower Town, and the Citadelle and Plains of Abraham are a short walk away. While the interior is primarily a working hotel, parts of it can be seen by those who dine or have a drink there, and guided tours of the building are offered at times. Guests can dine at the hotel’s restaurants, among them Le Champlain, and enjoy a drink at Bar 1608, which gives a taste of the setting without an overnight stay.

The best views of the façade are from several angles. Look up from the lower streets or from the ferry, or walk to the Dufferin Terrace and look back at the towers. Evening light on the copper roofs is especially striking, and the building is lit at night.

The hotel suits those who like architecture, history and a grand atmosphere. For most visitors, a stroll on the terrace, a look at the lobby and a photograph from the river side are enough, and the nearby streets of Old Quebec offer plenty more to see. Allow an hour for the terrace and exterior, longer if you plan to dine.