Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Active Motel/Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Jun 29 2025

Motel/Hotel

ishootthings

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Sensors Cameras Active Security

Recent status	Active
Location #	21410

Hazards of Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Sensors - Yes. Cameras - yeS. Active Security - YES. Although I did not see them, rest assured that I am certian they saw me. Fuck around, Find out.

History of Fairmont Chateau Laurier

"The Chateau Laurier at Rideau Street and MacKenzie Street, is recommended for designation as being of historical and architectural value. Erected 1908-1912 by the Grand Trunk Railway Company, and subsequently enlarged in keeping with the original architectural style, the hotel was built in the late Victorian French Chateau style, as designed by Montreal architects Ross and MacFarlane. This was in contrast to the initial Gothic Revival proposal. The romantic attractiveness of the Chateau Style became incorporated in a series of hotels across Canada. Sir Wilfred Laurier was the first to sign the register. From 1930-35 R.B., Bennett resided here. Over the years, the Chateau has served as a second home for many M.P.s and Senators, providing a dignified, hospitable and lively Ottawa residence."

Taken from a PDF of Individual Designated Properties in the City of Ottawa, Soirc

"The hotel was scheduled to open on 26 April 1912. However, Hays, who was en route to Canada for the hotel opening, tragically perished aboard the RMS Titanic when it sank on 15 April. Grand Trunk officials held a more subdued opening ceremony on 12 June 1912, with Sir Wilfrid Laurier in attendance." Also told on the walls on the hotel, with all the history blurbs on the interior. Reminiscient of the Chateau Frontenac.

"In 1981, the hotel was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. The Westin Hotel opened across the street in 1983, and the owners undertook a CA$21 million renovation in the 1980s to refurbish and renovate the Château Laurier, thus restoring its position as Ottawa's pre-eminent hotel."

"In 2013, Capital Hotel Limited Partnership (an affiliate of Vancouver's Larco Investments Ltd.) purchased the hotel but retained Fairmont to manage it."

Source

We were on the way to another location nearby as we stayed at a hostel nearby to apparently EVERYTHING. And I saw it. A familiar style of architecture, that immediatly screamed at me. It looked like a castle (of a different variety than the last one I saw) but I recognized the late Victorian French Chateau style of the huge building, then the sun hit the golden letters on the portico. "Fairmont Chateau Laurier". I had the option and toyed with the idea of going there first, but I instead chose to shoot the exteriors I have and move on to come back later.

We come back (Bank of Canada Museum is interesting BTW) and the Rolls or Bentley that was there earlier had dissapeared (but it was back when we exited the hotel at the end). The main lobby was beautiful, and the Lego replica of the hotel was amazingly detailed. It had many of the features I had expected. Aimlessly we walked, and many doors were locked or needed a guest keycard (I assume). Down a very nice hallway and a Hospitality employee grabs our attention and asks if we wanted to see one of the ballrooms (event rooms/dining rooms)...."Oh, wow, of course if its OK!". And that might have been the highlight of the entire hotel for me. The other room I didnt take a singke photo of even with the door open due to a HUGE staff meeting going on at the time. The worker that had shown us the magnificent room had come here, to Canada from Europe (Poland) 20+ years ago to escape communisim, and she ABSOLUTLEY loves her job, and loves it here. Fantastic lady, super friendly, super great for simply taking us into one of the best rooms for events in the City of Ottawa. Truthfully, I was mostly absorbed in the sheer symmetty and beauty of the gold trim and plaster, along with the carpet in that room. It all went together seamlessly. On we continued, up some stairs and around, ending up at the upper mezzanine area of the main lobby. 11/10. So magnificent its not even funny, its rediculous.

Id like to stay here one day, as with the Frontenac, but until then.........Ill just have to marvel at what I can, when I can.

Latlng: (45.425576131563, -75.695290412877)

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