Craigdarroch Castle

Craigdarroch Castle is a Victorian mansion from the 1890s set on a hill in Victoria, British Columbia. The 39 rooms spread across four floors with a central staircase that runs through the full height of the building.

Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant and coal industrialist, had the house built starting in 1887 but died before completion in 1889. His widow Joan moved in during 1890 and lived in the rooms until her death in 1908.

The name comes from Scottish Gaelic and means rocky place of oak, a reference to the Dunsmuir family homeland in Scotland. Visitors today see furniture from different continents and handcrafted details that show how wealthy families lived in the late 19th century.

Climbing to the top floor requires several staircases with no elevator, so some fitness helps. A visit typically takes an hour and a half and can be done at your own pace without a guide.

After Joan Dunsmuir died, the building changed hands several times and served as a hospital for soldiers during the First World War. It opened as a public museum only in 1979 and has since shown the interiors as they were used during the family's lifetime.

Location: Victoria

Inception: 1890

Official opening: 1979

Fee: Yes

Address: 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, BC V8S 3L5

Email: info@thecastle.ca

Website: https://thecastle.ca

GPS coordinates: 48.42264,-123.34375

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:22