 | The
grand and ultra-gorgeous Chateau Laurier is one of best places to stay while in
Ottawa.
Photo courtesy Chateau Laurier |
I
arrived in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, after having traveled for four
hours from Toronto by Via Rail. My mission was to check out the famous Ottawa
Tulip Festival as well as take in some of the city's sights and sounds - all while
staying
at the fabulous Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
There was plenty of controversy back in 1857 when Ottawa was selected by Queen
Victoria to be the seat of Canadian government. At that point, compared to thriving
cities such as Kingston and Toronto, Ottawa was seen as little more than a backward
town and was known mainly for its drinking and carousing. However,
all that has changed and today Ottawa gives off an aura of dignity and history
but is also filled with vitality and promise. The heart of the city is the Rideau
Canal, a natural system of lakes and rivers made navigable by locks, dams and
canal cuts. It was originally constructed for defense and trading but today it
is popular site of leisure activities such as strolling, boating and
skating. In
my opinion, there isn’t a better place to stay in Ottawa than the Fairmont
Chateau Laurier, an impressive classic hotel that was conceived by Charles Melville
Hays. As the General Manager of Grand Trunk Railway, he came up with a plan to
build grand hotels along the train route built by CN rail in order to encourage
travel across Canada. The
Chateau, which is named after Prime Minister Wilfred
Laurier, significantly
added to the prestige of the city. Sadly, Hays died on the Titanic just before
the hotel was scheduled to open. The Chateau Laurier was built in the same French
Renaissance style as Quebec’s Chateau Frontenac and it certainly adds a sense
of elegance to downtown Ottawa with its castle-like grandeur.
There
are a multitude of spacious corridors, public lounges and lobbies throughout the
hotel, allowing guests to wander about creating the illusion that they are simply
house guests of some royal family. One of the best things about staying at this
grand hotel is its location. On one side of it, you have the majestic looking
Parliament Buildings. A few streets away on the other side is the famous Byward
Market. This area has a wonderful atmosphere, as it is filled with flower venders,
cafes and interesting shops. It was established in 1826 and has the honour of
being Canada’s oldest farmers market. (CONTINUE...)
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