Perched on top of the hill in Victoria's Rockland neighborhood, Craigdarroch Castle is a massive Victorian castle built in the 1890s for the coal baron Robert Dunsmuir and his family. It was a proud symbol of his wealth, which he had newly acquired from Vancouver Island coal. Today, the four-story building is a house museum that is beautifully restored and open to the public, showing how the rich lived in the era of Queen Victoria.

Spread over 25,000 square feet, Craigdarroch Castle has 39 rooms and no expense was spared in its construction. Granite was brought from British Columbia, an oak staircase came from Chicago, and the tiles were shipped from San Francisco. Originally, the castle was surrounded by 28 acres of landscaped land, but now the majority has been sold. Most of the lavish furniture, intricate woodwork, and magnificent stained glass have been preserved, as well as much of the original furniture, making tours of the castle a pure pleasure.

1050 Joan Cres, Victoria, British Columbia, V8S 3L5, Canada, Phone: 250-592-5323

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