Château Laurier is quite famous in Ottawa — more than an hotel, it is a landmark and an heritage building. Located between the Parliament, the Rideau Canal, the National Gallery of Canada, the Byward Market, the National War Memorial, the U.S. Embassy, and the Rideau Centre, it is in the heart of the city.
The Château Laurier was constructed between 1909 and 1912 and named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then the Prime Minister of Canada. Over the years, it met with history. For instance, the hotel was to be opened on April 26, 1912, but chairman Charles Melville Hays, who had commissioned the hotel and was returning to Canada fo its opening, perished aboard the Titanic when it sank on April 15.
From July 1924 to October 2004, the sixth floor of the hotel was home to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s local English and French language radio stations. It was also home for many years to Yousuf Karsh, one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers.
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And of course, it is supposed to be haunted by the ghost of Charles Melville Hays who died on the Titanic.
I read somewhere that Chateau Frontenac is haunted as well. I wonder if it’s true or not…
Beautifull pictures Zhu! You are so good at this!
When are you going to create a book with them? Or a calnedar, like DaniGirl did?
.-= Guillermo´s last blog ..Los mejores amigos de la casa [Semana de "Lo+"] =-.
Looks like a nice hotel. I will be sure and stay there the next time I am in Ottawa. Merry Christmas kiddo. I have really enjoyed your blog this year.
.-= Tulsa Gentleman´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Thanks for the lovely photo Zhu….WIshing you a Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2010 😀
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for the pictures, took me into a really good Christmas mood.
.-= Nigel Babu´s last blog ..Pushing 150 kg =-.
What a lovely house! I wonder how much it costs to buy it!…
Anyway I just dropped by to quickly wish you a very MERRY one indeed and a fantastic 2010..!
;->…!
.-= Gledwood´s last blog ..Xmas Eve 2009 =-.
Very swanky! I usually travel backpacker-style, so I don’t have experience in staying in swanky hotels like this one, but I am curious what it would be like to stay in one such establishment.
.-= Linguist-in-Waiting´s last blog ..Superiority Complex =-.
Zhu, have a Merry Christmas and my best wishes of a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!
(I guess one of my Christmas wishes should be that I finally learn how to take pictures like yours)… 🙂
.-= Gabriel´s last blog ..Christmas in Waterloo V – O Holy Night =-.
Titanic is a very popular exhibition theme in England!
I’ve seen Titanic-related exhibitions in London, Southampton, Bath and Liverpool.
That’s really a cross-Atlantic tragedy.
Anyway, you have a good Christmas! 🙂
.-= London Caller´s last blog ..Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars / 寂静星空下的寂静夜晚 / Malam Yang Sunyi Di Bawah Langit Berbintang Yang Sunyi / 静かな星空の下の静かな夜 =-.
i suppose, if i were a ghost, that this beautiful chateau would be a perfect place to rattle some chains and make random floor squeaks.
.-= Seraphine´s last blog ..Merry Christmas =-.
@Bluefish – I think all castles are “supposed” to be haunted, it’s part of the picture!
@Guillermo – A calendar is actually a great idea! I should also add more pictures to my shop.
@Tulsa Gentleman – It has a great location too. I must admit I have never stayed there so I don’t know how comfortable are the rooms… but I don’t think you’d be disappointed!
@shionge – Thank you!
@Nigel Babu – Canada has the best Christmas setting 🙂
@Gledwood – I think it takes more than my salary 😆 Thank you for your wishes!
@Linguist-in-Waiting – I must admit I have never really stayed in this kind of hotel. I’d say it’s a bit over my budget…! But I love going in and taking pictures though, it’s so cozy inside.
@Gabriel – Thank you! For the pictures, it’s a lot of practice, trials and mistakes 😉
@London Caller – Really? I rarely hear about it here, maybe in the USA?
@Seraphine – You’re right! I’d love to haunt this place too. 😆