2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC

While visiting Victoria, BC, we boarded the local transit service and headed up the road to explore the Craigdarroch Castle. This 39 room, 20,000 square foot, mansion was built in the 1890's, a time when conspicuous consumption really got its start.  This castle is a great depiction of the Victorian age.

One observation I had was that all of the entertaining spaces, the dining room, ball room, etc, are located on the upper floors of the residence.  Having always thought these spaces should be on the ground floor at the front of the house (like the White House), I asked the curators about this. Apparently this design was intentional by owner Robert Dunsmuir as he wanted to flaunt his wealth to his guests as they made their way through the home to those entertaining spaces.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC A gateway to the castle A gateway to the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC A view of the castle A view of the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC A view of the castle A view of the castle
2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC A view of the castle A view of the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC A view of the castle A view of the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Molly at the castle Molly at the castle
2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC The carriage port at the castle The carriage port at the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC A view of the castle A view of the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Bart and Molly at the castle Bart and Molly at the castle
2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC The entrance to the castle The entrance to the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC A view from the top floor A view from the top floor	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Another view from the top floor Another view from the top floor
2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle
2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC The victorian era bathroom The victorian era bathroom
2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle
2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle	2012 - Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC Touring the castle Touring the castle