Top 5 Castles to Visit Outside Halton
Published March 28, 2019 at 6:20 pm
If you’re only used to seeing breathtaking and beautiful castles on TV or in movies, you may be excited to learn that there are some you can actually visit right here in Canada.
While these Canadian castles may not feature the moats, dungeons, and knights that are seen on TV, they are still a big part of history and definitely worth checking out.
Some are closer to the Halton Region than others, but the castles that are a little bit further, however, will not disappoint you.
With that being said, here are five castles you should visit outside of Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills.
5. Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff, Alberta
Although the Fairmont Banff Springs, more commonly called the Banff Springs Hotel, is not formally known as a castle it has been dubbed as Canada’s ‘Castle in the Rockies’.
It is a year-round luxury mountain resort that features a golf course in the summer, skiing in the winter, impressive dining experiences, and the award-winning European-style Willow Stream Spa.
This hotel has been accommodating guests for more than 125 years.
Construction for Banff Springsbegan in 1887, and the hotel was open to the public on June 1, 1888.
The appearance of the hotel has changed a bit over the years.
“Disaster struck in 1926 when the original wooden hotel burnt down,” notes the official Fairmont website. “It was rebuilt larger and in its present appearance commencing in 1928.”
Photo is courtesy of the official Fairmont website.
4. Casa Loma
Toronto
Casa Loma was built in 1914 by 300 men and took almost three years to complete.
The castle, which isnow owned by the city, is almost 200,000 square-feet and is situated on five acres.
Every year, more than 350,000 people come out to see Casa Loma and for a good reason. The castle features 98 rooms that are beautifully decorated, secret passageways, an incredible estate garden, and so much more.
Photos are courtesy of the Casa Loma official website.
3. Dundurn Castle
Hamilton
This beautiful and historic 40-room Italianate-style mansion was built in the 1830s.
The mansion was once home to Sir Allan Napier MacNab. However, now, according to Tourism Hamilton, when visiting Dundurn people can learn about the family who lived above the stairs and the servants who lived and worked below them to support the family’s wealthy lifestyle.
For more information about Dundurn Castle, click here.
2. Willistead Manor
Windsor
This 36-room mansion, that sits within Willistead Park, was at one point the home of Edward Chandler Walker and his wife, Mary. It was built back in 1906 and is now a great location for weddings, receptions, meetings, and other events.
Public tours are usually available throughout the months of July and December, however, the official City of Windsor website notes that the ideal time to visit is during the summer. Although, during the winter Willistead is decorated for the holiday season.
For more information about the Willistead Manor, click here.
Photos are courtesy of the City of Windsor website.
1. Castle Kilbride
Baden
Castle Kilbride, as noted on the Wilmot official website, is an impressive Victorian home that was built back in 1877 for James Livingston – a politician, entrepreneur, and flax industrialist.
“The house was designed in the Italianate style of architecture and capped with a belvedere lookout,” reads the website.
Inside, the house features murals that provide an optical illusion of depth, the murals were painted by Henry Scharstein – a German artist – and appear to be three-dimensional.
The Livingston family sold the house in 1988, and the Township of Wilmot purchased the property in 1993. The castle first opened to the public as a museum in 1994 and in 1995 was designated as a National Historic Site by the Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada.
Photo is courtesy of the Wilmot official website.