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As the group gazes up, during our guided tour of The Frontenac Hotel, our tour guide states clearly,
“Chateau Frontenac, is not a castle.”
The assumption is that the world’s most photographed hotel, was originally constructed to house royalty. Surely a King or Queen, or Duke and Duchess, used the building as their home. Though royalty, including Queen Elizabeth II, stayed within its walls, from its birth, The Frontenac, was always meant to be a hotel.
Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the purpose was to provide an overnight accommodation for train passengers. As a hospitality, history, enthusiast, I’m intrigued to take a guided tour of The Frontenac Hotel. The Chateau itself, does not conduct the tour. The experience is provided by Quebec City’s, Cicerone Tours. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to take the tour, but if you are staying at Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, you can book the tour in person at the hotel. We booked our tour ahead of time, online. Tours are offered in either French or English, depending on which time you book.
From the moment our group assembles, at Duffrein Terrace’s, Princesse Louise Kiosk, I know we are in for a unique time. We are greeted by author and etiquette guru, “Emily Post.” Emily Post, maiden name, Price, was the daughter of American architect, Bruce Price, who designed, Chateau Frontenac. I am entranced. I adore Emily’s historically accurate garb, as well as her ability to stay in character throughout our guided tour of the Frontenac Hotel.
The tour begins outside. Emily assures us there will be plenty of opportunities, to take photographs of the world’s most photographed hotel. She delves into the history of Quebec City, Dufferin Terrace, and the inception of the hotel.
What you see or do not see, during your guided tour of The Frontenac Hotel, depends on the day. Your experience may differ. On our tour day, the ballroom is occupied, so we are unable to step inside. We are able to step inside an unoccupied suite. Emily discusses a range of notable guests including Princess Grace of Monaco, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Lindbergh, Celine Dion, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
During World War II, Chateau Frontenac, became a major, military strategy, meeting place. Currently, there are suites, named after Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as D-Day, was planned here at the hotel. As our travels, over the past few years, have contained multiple, World War II sites, it’s exciting to discover an important piece to the history puzzle.
My Harry Potter loving heart swells, as Emily points out the multiple griffins throughout the hotel.
This extraordinarily designed building is named for Louis de Buade de Frontenac, Governor of New France. The Governor of New France’s coat of arms contains griffins, so architect Bruce Price, scattered the mythical creature throughout the hotel.
This is one of my favorite reasons to take guided walking tours. Staying at Chateau Frontenac, I did not notice the griffins until Emily pointed them out. For the remainder of our stay, I notice them everywhere, even during our afternoon tea.
I imagine The Weasley Family vacationing in Quebec City, often. Their in-law Fleur Delacour, feeling right at home, strolling along Rue du Petit-Champlain.
Speaking of Harry Potter, The Rose Room, is Dolores Umbridge’s, dream come true. Located in the hotel’s main turret, the pink carpeted room, offers gorgeous views.
It began as a gathering place for ladies, then a place for politicians to convene, and now operates as an event space.
Emily looks particularly striking, dressed in head to toe pink in the pink room.
I’m ecstatic, as the group is lead through the 1608 Wine and Cheese Bar and into the Le Champlain Restaurant.
Quebec City is an amazing foodie city. Making choices is difficult. Eating at Le Champlain, didn’t make our list this visit, so I’m delighted this guided tour of The Frontenac Hotel, includes a glimpse of this captivating room.
The sparkling chandelier pairs nicely with the dark paneled walls.
The restaurant’s most outstanding feature, is the cheese room, where diners choose their cheeses to begin their multi-course, set-menu meal.
The finale of the tour ends at “the wishing stairs.” With a subtle, theatrical, flare, Emily tells the story of a young couple, staying at Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. While descending a particular staircase, they individually, made a wish. They never revealed their wish, until they returned sixty-years later. They each wished for a lifetime together, and they admitted, their wishes came true. Again, another excellent reason to take guided tours. Our room is located near the wishing stairs. We walked down the stairs this very morning. I had no idea I should have made a wish. Emily invites each tour participant to descend the stairs and make their wish.
She gives her closing speech, then bids us farewell, with a flourishing bow.
Though I worried that taking a tour with a costumed character, would feel a bit touristy, it ended up being a delightful touch, and added to the history immersion. Emily was a
talented storyteller.
She implemented the perfect blend of historical details, architectural/design facts, and some scandalous sass, thrown in for good measure.
We also take Cicerone Tours’, Old Quebec Walking Tour, and find that the tour company, has a signature style, combining education and entertainment. Storytelling-style tours are my favorite type of tours.
Click here to read about our Old Quebec Walking Tour
Lasting only an hour and set at an affordable price, take some time out of your Quebec City, day, and book a guided tour of The Frontenac, with Cicerone Tours. It will give you a chance to see parts of the hotel, you wouldn’t have access to otherwise, and you’ll do a bit of learning, along the way.
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