Of all of the spectacularly designed hotels in the world, there is one that is salient for being the most creative and well-placed. This hotel is The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, which was built over 100 years ago in 1893. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel is a beautiful structure, in the style of a French chateau. It is located at the apex of a massive hill in the center of Quebec City. Not only can the building be seen from everywhere in the city, it also boasts magnificent views of the city below and the Saint Lawrence river. The hotel has 18 floors but appears far grander due to the elevation it is built on. This historic hotel is Quebec’s most popular and busiest hotel by a wide margin.
The building was designed by Bruce Price to resemble a horseshoe but later additions altered that shape. The structure was inspired by the French chateaux, with its steep roofs and multiple towers and turrets. The hotel was commissioned by the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company. Interestingly, it was not the first hotel located on this site. The Chateau Haldimand predated it, but that hotel was destroyed to integrate the hotel with the Canadian railway system, the primary mode of passenger travel at that time.
Construction of the hotel began in 1892 and was completed in just over a year, allowing the hotel to open almost immediately. Although only a third of the original hotel was built at this time; new sections were added in the 20 years following its opening. The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac continues to function as a hotel and was also determined to be a National Historic Sight in 1981. All in all, this magnificent hotel, located on an elevated landmass in the center of Quebec is not just an incredible hotel, but also a symbol for Quebec City.
