Tours and Tickets to Experience Craigdarroch Castle

Craigdarroch Castle was built in the late 19th century by the industrialist Robert Dunsmuir, a Scotsman who immigrated to Canada and made a fortune from Vancouver Island coal. Now a National Historic Site, the castle has been restored and offers a glimpse of life during the Victorian era.

Craigdarroch Castle’s architecture is a revival Romanesque style known as Richardsonian Romanesque—named after the influential American architect H.H. Richardson—which incorporates characteristics from 11th and 12th-century southern French, Spanish and Italian Romanesque. Architectural features include arches, columns, recessed entrances, blank stretches of walling, and cylindrical towers with conical caps.

Inside the 4-storey Craigdarroch Castle, visitors can expect to see lavish furnishings dating from the 1890s. The castle is also known for its intricate woodwork and 43 original stained-glass windows—the castle boasts one of North America’s finest collections of Victorian residential stained and leaded glass windows.

Yes, guided tours are sometimes available at Craigdarroch Castle. Tours of the castle are typically self guided, but throughout the year there are guided tours and other special events focused on specific aspects of the building, the Dunsmuirs, and the objects inside the castle. Check the website for the upcoming schedule.

No, Craigdarroch Castle is not wheelchair accessible. Due to the historic nature and protected status of the historic house museum, there are no ramps or elevators, which means that wheelchair users cannot access the interiors. Visitors should also be aware that the building has many steps to navigate.

Yes, there is a gift shop in Craigdarroch Castle. Located in the visitor center, the shop sells local items, from artisan foods to unique crafts and castle-themed memorabilia. You can also shop online via the castle’s website shop.