Casa Loma

Casa Loma at 1 Austin Terrace is a Gothic Revival castle on a hill above the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. It was completed in 1914 as the home of financier Sir Henry Pellatt, who spent years and a large fortune on a residence with 98 rooms, but financial trouble forced him to leave in the 1920s. Today the building is run as a museum and event venue. Visitors walk through the Great Hall with its soaring ceiling, the Oak Room library, the Conservatory with its stained-glass dome, and the Peacock Alley corridor. Secret passages, a 250-metre tunnel to the stables and the two towers add to the sense of exploration, and the towers reward climbers with views over the city and toward the CN Tower. The Stables hold the carriage collection and tell the story of the household, and the Estate Gardens at the rear are laid out in formal beds with fountains, best seen from late spring to early autumn. Self-guided audio tours are available in several languages, and the interior includes exhibits on the First World War and the Queen's Own Rifles, which Pellatt commanded. A full visit takes around two hours. The castle is quietest on weekday mornings and busiest on weekends, school holidays and in December, when elaborate holiday decorations attract families and photographers. Spring and autumn offer pleasant garden conditions without summer crowds. The walk from Dupont subway station is short but uphill, and the best exterior photographs come from the Austin Terrace approach and from the gardens. Tickets are cheaper when bought online in advance, and special evening events, including Halloween and holiday programmes, may need separate bookings.