Craigdarroch Castle, Mt. Tolmie & City Highlights

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Victoria, western Canada's oldest city, was founded in 1843 as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post. Victoria's early history has been carefully preserved and can be seen in lovingly restored residential, commercial and public buildings. This city is the most "British" in all of Canada and boasts prominent reminders of its colonial past. On your drive you will see the impressive architecture and beautiful, elegant Victorian and Edwardian-era mansions around every corner.

Driving through the stately downtown area, you'll see the Legislative Buildings dramatically lining the Inner Harbour. Constructed in 1893 in honor of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, a young 25-year-old architect, Francis Rattenbury, was the creative force behind the design. A large statue of Queen Victoria stands on the front lawn of the Neo-Baroque buildings as well a statue of a soldier to commemorate the province's military involvements. Atop the central dome, you can see a gold-covered statue of Captain George Vancouver.

Your tour continues through the country's oldest Chinatown. Travel through the "Gates of Harmonious Interest" and see the quaint shops, narrow alleys and hidden surprises that take you back in time and to another continent.

No tour would be complete without a stop at Mt. Tolmie lookout point. High above the city, it offers breathtaking vistas of the downtown area, the surrounding countryside and the Olympic Peninsula Mountains. A photo opportunity of the panoramic views is a must for all visitors.

Enhance your day with an hour-long visit to historic Craigdarroch Castle. Completed in the late 1800s by Robert Dunsmuir, docents share the interesting story of an impoverished Scottish coal miner who became the wealthiest and most influential man in British Columbia. This stately mansion includes 39 rooms and 17 fireplaces. Explore the exquisite, 20,000-square-foot living spaces, the colorful stained glass windows and the lavish furnishings and woodwork used throughout the castle's design. The castle's art collection includes thousands of outstanding displays of Victorian artifacts. Craigdarroch Castle is truly a masterpiece of "High Victorian" architecture and a very significant Canadian heritage treasure. A walk up the 87 stairs to the high towers is well worth the climb, as the views of the city and the surrounding natural scenery are outstanding.

Your tour concludes with a short motorcoach drive back to port.

Special Notes:

Due to road construction in 2022, a drive past Chinatown may not be possible. This tour requires a good amount of walking including stairs and hills. There is a 100-yard uphill walk from the coach to the castle. The castle has five floors and four flights of stairs within it.

Unaccompanied Minor Policy: Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.