Welcome to a place that's been standing longer than most countries have existed. Yeah, we're that old.
The Beginning
So here's the deal - back in 1247, Lord Edmund Ignivar wasn't messing around. He picked this mountain ridge because, well, you could see enemies coming from miles away. Smart guy. The original fortress took seventeen years to build, with stone hauled up by hand. Can you imagine?
The walls you'll see today? Same ones that've weathered eight hundred Canadian winters. They've got stories we're still discovering.
The Golden Era
Fast forward to the mid-1600s. The Stronghold became less about warfare and more about showing off. The Great Hall got its makeover - those massive fireplaces, the oak beams, that insane vaulted ceiling. All added during this period when being fancy was the whole point.
Fun fact: the wine cellars date from this time too. They knew what mattered.
The Forgotten Years
Not gonna lie - the 19th and early 20th centuries weren't kind to the old girl. The Stronghold sat empty for decades. Weather got in, parts crumbled, locals started calling it a ruin. By 1923, most folks figured she was done for.
Sometimes the best transformations start at rock bottom. Literally, in our case.
The Awakening
Enter Catherine Blackwood - architect, history buff, and honestly a bit crazy (in the best way). She bought the Stronghold when everyone told her she was wasting her money. Spent twelve years restoring it, working with heritage experts to preserve every authentic detail while making it liveable again.
Catherine always said: 'Don't erase history - give it a future.'
Opening Day
October 15th, 1999. That's when we opened our doors as a hotel. The place had underfloor heating, spa facilities, wifi (eventually), but still felt like stepping back in time. We figured out how to give people heated bathroom floors while keeping walls that witnessed medieval banquets.
Best of both worlds, really. You get the Instagram-worthy stone walls AND a working shower.
Today & Tomorrow
We're still here, still standing. The Stronghold's seen twenty-six generations come through these doors. We've hosted everyone from backpackers to royalty, weddings to corporate retreats. Every guest leaves their mark on this place, just like the centuries before them.
The fortress protected people for 800 years. Now it welcomes them. That's progress.
What We're Actually About
Look, we could throw around fancy words about 'heritage preservation' and 'experiential luxury' all day. But honestly? We just think old buildings are cool, and we wanted to share this one with people who get it.
Yeah, we take care of the history stuff seriously - work with heritage boards, maintain everything properly, keep archaeologists on speed dial when we find something weird in the walls (happens more than you'd think). But we're not a museum. You can actually live here, even if it's just for a weekend.
The Team Behind The Walls
Marcus Halloway - General Manager
Been running hotels for 20 years, but this one's different. Marcus says managing the Stronghold is like 'conducting an orchestra where half the instruments are from the 13th century'. He's probably not wrong.
Elena Vargas - Heritage Director
The woman who makes sure we don't accidentally destroy something irreplaceable. Elena's got a PhD in medieval architecture and can date stonework by looking at it. Seriously impressive, slightly terrifying.
Chef Antoine Rousseau
Runs our kitchens like they're his personal kingdom (which, fair). Antoine spent years studying medieval recipes, then figured out how to make them actually taste good. The man's a wizard with a spit roast.
Sienna Walsh - Spa Director
Transformed the old dungeon (yes, really) into our spa. Sienna believes ancient spaces have their own kind of healing energy. Whether that's true or not, her massage therapists are incredible.
Why It Matters
Buildings like this are disappearing. Every year, another historic property gets torn down or falls apart because nobody wants to deal with the hassle. We get it - old buildings are expensive, complicated, and sometimes really stubborn.
But when you stay here, you're helping prove that history's worth keeping around. That there's value in preserving spaces that have stories to tell. Plus, where else can you sleep in a room with 800-year-old walls and still get decent wifi?
See Our RoomsCome Write Your Chapter
The Stronghold's been here for eight centuries. We're hoping for a few more. You should probably visit before we hit the millennium mark - just saying.
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