Casa Loma

Posted December 4, 2008 by admin in Ontario Attractions Blog, ontario attractions | No comments yet

Visit Canada’s Majestic Castle, Casa Loma and step back in time to a period of European elegance and splendour. The former home of Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt, Canada’s foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens (open May through October).

An unabashed romantic, Sir Henry engaged the noted architect E.J. Lennox to help him realize a life-long dream – the creation of a ‘medieval’ castle on the brow of a hill overlooking Toronto. Begun in 1911, it took 300 men nearly 3 years to complete and cost $ 3,500,000 at that time.

Sir Henry enjoyed Casa Loma for less than ten years before financial misfortune forced him to abandon his castle home. Today this unique piece of Canadian history is open daily as a tourist attraction and hospitality venue.

Casa Loma is owned by the City of Toronto and has been developed and operated by the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma since 1937. Proceeds from the operation of Casa Loma support a wide range of the Kiwanis Club’s charitable works.

The tour of the castle is self-guided. Visitors can experience the castle at their leisure with the aid of a floor plan tour brochure. Casa Loma provides self guided digital audio tours and tour brochures in the following eight languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Italian and Spanish. The self guided digital audio tour is included with admission.

Now Playing :  Pellatt Newsreel, The Man Who Built Casa Loma

Narrated by Colin Mochrie (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Whose Line is it Anyway), this new 22-minute docudrama is styled as a 1939 newsreel tracing the arc of Sir Henry Pellatt’s life. From his roots as an enterprising stockbroker to his ascent to the heights of the Canadian establishment, Pellatt Newsreel is a story of unbridled optimism and entrepreneurial high stakes. But Pellatt Newsreel also tells the story of hubris and tragedy – how Sir Henry’s dreams were undone, first by the Ontario government and then by his own financial miscalculations, which saw him driven out of his glorious “castle on the hill”, his home and monument. The film was produced by Lush Art & Entertainment and directed by Barbra Cooper. Presented daily in the beautifully restored Billiard/ Smoking Room. Screenings each half hour during operating hours. Pellatt film is included in ticket price.

Hours of operation
Casa Loma is open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Last admission : 4:00 p.m.) Casa Loma closes at 1:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve – December 24 Closed Christmas Day – December 25

Please be advised that the Casa Loma elevator cannot accommodate strollers.  The elevator will be out of service Jan 5-Feb 28, 2009. The Conservatory will be closed Jan 5-April 30, 2009.

There is a $1.00 per person Capital Improvement Surcharge for Adults, Youth and Seniors and $0.50 for Children included in the admission price that will be dedicated to the restoration of the interior, decor and furnishings, and exhibits of Casa Loma.

Location:
1 Austin Terrace
Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1X8

For all questions about Casa Loma, our email address is:  info@casaloma.org

Reach us by telephone or fax:
Telephone: (416) 923 – 1171
Fax: (416) 923 – 5734