| Craigdarroch Castle is a "must see" when you visit
Victoria. The wealthy Dunsmuir family saga and the mansion they built is
a key piece of British Columbia and Canada history.
Located a short drive or a leisurely walk from the
downtown harbour, just off Fort Street at 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria,
BC, Canada,
Craigdarroch Castle is a beautiful historic Victorian-era mansion,
built in the 1890s by wealthy BC coal baron Robert Dunsmuir. It is now
owned by the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society and almost
totally funded by its 150,000 annual visitors.
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 Rising 87 stairs up through the 4 1/2 stories, there
are 39 rooms, most of which are furnished lavishly in the 1890s–1900s
period. With over 20,000 square feet of space, the house and gardens are
being restored exactly as they were originally built, and you will find
artisans working on restorations most days. Step back in time and
experience the life and times of the very rich and famous.
To tour the Castle, you can park on the Castle lot or
on the street where indicated. You enter through the old coach entrance,
pay your
admission fee, clean your shoes and are then provided with a floor
map, family history and introduction as to how to proceed.
Tours are self-guided, so you can stop where you want. It should
take you 45 minutes to an hour to tour through the Castle. It is an easy
climb up the 87 stairs, stopping on all of the four floors to tour the
various rooms and then to the Tower for a panoramic view of Victoria,
the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the snow capped Olympic Mountains. |
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There are volunteer docents (information
providers) available throughout the Castle. If you have any questions,
ask someone with a badge and they will be happy to assist you. The
Castle did not originally have ramps or elevators and is in itself an
artifact. Therefore, there are no ramps or elevators now and it is not
wheelchair accessible. |
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