28 October Haunted Places Series: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac October 28, 2020 By sma Commercial Real Estate News Haunted Places Series, hotel, just for fun 0 HAUNTED PLACES SERIES: FAIRMONT LE Château FRONTENAC October 28, 2020 | CRE News | hotel, just for fun, Haunted Places Series Location: Quebec City, Quebec Architectural Style: Châteauesque Built: 1893 For the next installment of our Haunted Places Series, we’ll be heading to one of the oldest European cities in North America. Quebec City in Canada sits along the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, and is home to the grand Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Called “One of the most photographed hotels in the world,” the Fairmont dominates Quebec City’s skyline. But while taking photos on your trip, you may notice something rather odd. Restoration and the Railroad Beginning in the late 1870s, Quebec saw a resurgence of French architecture in an attempt to restore the province to its 17th century look. One of these projects involved the reconstruction of the Château Saint-Louis, where the Fairmont now stands. Initial funding for the Château by the City Council and the Board of Trade quickly ran out, and several railroad businessmen from the surrounding cities took control. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac would be one in a series of tourism hotels built by the Canadian Pacific Railway during the late 1800s and early 1900s. A Majestic Maze The 18-floor interior of the Fairmont is just as ornate as its exterior. In total there are 611 guest rooms in the hotel, including eight executive suites. These suites bear the names of many famous guests from Queen Elizabeth II to Celine Dion. Currently, four different restaurants operate within the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. There’s also a pool, fitness center, an outdoor terrace and even a rooftop garden where honey is harvested from the almost 70,000 honey bees. The Quebec Conferences A number of foreign diplomats have stayed at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac since its construction. During World War II, allied officials convened at the Fairmont to discuss their plan to defeat the Axis Powers. Winston Churchill, FDR and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King would visit the Fairmont for the First and Second Quebec Conferences from 1943-1944. The Spirit of Louis de Buade de Frontenac The new Château sits on the previous home of the Governor General of New France, Louis de Buade de Frontenac. Frontenac, the hotel’s namesake, was married to Anne de La Grange while in France, and waited for his wife to join him in New France. Sadly, Louis died of an illness before he would see Anne again. Now it seems that Louis is still wandering the halls of the Fairmont, waiting for his beloved. He’s been spotted on the second floor, staring longingly out the windows and quickly disappearing without a trace. Woman in White Another permanent resident of the Fairmont is a bit more active with guests. Not many details are known about this mystery woman, except that she can be seen in a white nightgown. She’s been said to surprise guests in their sleep, oftentimes sitting on their bed, watching them doze off. Although she won’t do you any harm, you may still want to keep your feet under the covers. Visit the Fairmont The Fairmont offers a little bit of something for everyone. Book your stay and experience an elegant piece of history today! Comments are closed.