Victoria Has Castles. Real Ones.
People are always a little surprised when I tell them this. We're a fairly small city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island — not exactly medieval Europe. But Victoria does things its own way, and apparently that includes building stone castles with turrets and sweeping grounds. Two of them, in fact.
Here's everything you need to know about both.
Craigdarroch Castle
The Story
Craigdarroch (say it with me: *Craig-DAIR-och*) was built in the late 1880s by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, who made an absolute fortune mining Vancouver Island's rich coal seams. The story goes that he promised his wife Joan they'd have a grand home in Victoria — and he meant it. Construction finished in 1890, though Dunsmuir himself died before he could move in. Poetic, and a little sad.
Joan lived there until her own death, and the castle passed through several incarnations over the decades — a military hospital after WWI, a university, a music conservatory — before it was saved by a dedicated group of locals in the 1970s and restored to its Victorian-era glory.
What You'll See
Four floors of jaw-dropping craftsmanship: hand-carved woodwork, stained glass windows that throw coloured light across every room, period furniture, and the kind of detail that makes you realise how much money coal could make in the 1880s. The views from the upper floors over the city are genuinely lovely.
Self-guided tours let you take your time — grab an audio guide if you want the deeper story on each room. Budget a good 90 minutes to two hours if you want to do it properly.
- Open year-round (hours vary by season — check tourismvictoria.com or the castle's own site before you go)
- Check their website for current admission rates
Getting There from Ocean Island
Craigdarroch is in the Rockland neighbourhood — about a 25-minute walk uphill from downtown, or a very easy BC Transit bus ride. Ask at the front desk and we'll point you to the right route. It's genuinely walkable if you're up for a bit of a climb, and the neighbourhood itself is beautiful.
Hatley Castle
The Story
If Craigdarroch is the father's castle, Hatley is the son's — and the son decided to go even bigger. James Dunsmuir (Robert's son, who inherited the coal empire) had Hatley Park Castle built between 1908 and 1910 on a sprawling 565-acre estate in Colwood, just west of Victoria.
The estate was designed with an almost theatrical ambition: formal Italian gardens, Japanese gardens, a rose garden, forest trails, and a castle straight out of a fairy tale overlooking the ocean. James reportedly told his architect to spare no expense, because he'd never run out of money. The coal eventually ran out. The castle did not.
Hatley later became a Royal Roads Military College and is now part of Royal Roads University, which owns and operates the estate. It's also been a filming location you might actually recognise — *X-Men* and *Deadpool* both used it for Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
What You'll See
The gardens alone are worth the trip, especially in spring and summer when the formal beds are in full colour. Guided tours of the castle interior run seasonally — check the Royal Roads University Hatley Park website for current tour schedules and admission, as they vary a lot by time of year.
- Gardens are open to the public and are a highlight on their own
- Castle interior tours are seasonal — confirm before you go
- The estate has walking trails through old-growth forest right down to the waterfront
Getting There from Ocean Island
Hatley is about 18 km west of downtown in Colwood, so this one needs a bit of planning. BC Transit runs out that way — check bctransit.com for routes and current fares, or ask us at the front desk and we'll help you figure it out. If you're renting a bike or a car for a day, this pairs beautifully with a ride along the Galloping Goose Trail, which passes close by.
Visiting Both: A Castle Day
If you want to do both in one day — totally doable — I'd suggest Craigdarroch in the morning (it's close to downtown and opens early), then head out to Hatley in the afternoon for the gardens and any available tours. Give yourself a full day and don't rush it.
A Few Practical Notes
- Both sites ask you to check their websites for current hours and admission — especially Hatley, where castle tours run on specific days and can sell out
- Craigdarroch is open year-round; Hatley's interior tours are more seasonal
- Comfortable shoes matter — Hatley especially involves a fair bit of walking on uneven ground
- Craigdarroch has a lovely gift shop if you need a postcard that proves Victoria has actual turrets
Have questions about which one to visit, how to get there, or whether to combine it with anything else? Swing by the Ocean Island front desk — we're happy to help you plan the most satisfying castle day possible.
