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All Canada Québec Québec City Château Frontenac

Château Frontenac

This lovely, if imposing, piece of Canadian gothic is possibly the most photographed hotel in the world.

Québec City, Québec

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Château Frontenac   Dennis Jarvis on Flickr
Château Frontenac   frugg on Flickr
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Château Frontenac   Julia Nogueira on Flickr
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The exterior of the Château Frontenac in Ville de Québec, Québec (Canada).   Michael Barera / Atlas Obscura User
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A view of Château Frontenac from La Citadelle de Québec   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Purpose built as a luxury resort spot even in the late 1800s, the Château Frontenac has remained a stunning example of opulent Victorian architecture ever since, becoming not only the crown jewel of Quebec City, but earning the Guinness World Record for Most Photographed Hotel.

The massive luxury resort was opened in 1893, created as part of a planned series of opulent destinations that would be located along the Canadian Pacific Railway. However the hotel was not finished until 1924 when the central tower was finally completed creating the iconic skyline silhouette that dominates the city today. The hotel is not the tallest building in the city, but it rests atop a cliff that makes it seem much larger than it truly is. This is not to say that the hotel is small by any means, containing over 600 rooms, multiple restaurants and all the modern amenities one might expect from a high-priced resort with more space being added every few decades.     

Canada takes great pride in Quebec City's architectural diamond, featuring it on a postage stamp along with other iconic Canadian structures. Of course the hotel's beauty is not lost on visitors either, as it has inspired enough snapshots to earn it the Guinness World Record for Most Photographed Hotel in the World. The Château Frontenac proves that you don't have to be the tallest to popular, you have to be the prettiest.    

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Published

October 16, 2014

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Frontenac
  • http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1032401
  • http://data4.collectionscanada.gc.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=(architect.A790,C790.)+Or+(null.B742.)&l=20&d=STMP&p=1&u=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/02011702_e.html&r=15&f=G&Sect1=STMP
  • http://www.quebecregion.com/en/hotels/fairmont-le-chateau-frontenac/
Château Frontenac
1 Rue des Carrières
Québec City, Québec, G1R 3Y8
Canada
46.811864, -71.20626
Visit Website
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