Romance at the Historic Hotel Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello

Famous for being the largest log cabin in the world, the Hotel Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello has absolutely nothing to do with roughing it. This luxurious property, tucked into a serene setting in Western Quebec, began in 1930 as the exclusive and oh-so-private Seigniory Club. Built by a Swiss-American financier and constructed of 10,000 colossal red cedar logs by a master craftsman from Finland, the lodge was completed in an impressively short four-month period, with workmen working around the clock — cutting and setting each of the logs by hand.

In 2018, interior spaces were given a facelift that left the historic aspects and original beauty fully intact. The first sight greeting guests as they enter the rotunda lobby is a massive stone fireplace reaching into the log rafters past the interior balconies encircling the mezzanine and third floor.

Romantic spaces include 211 cozy guestrooms and suites, including spacious Deluxe Jacuzzi Suites perfect for couple’s escapes (or escapades). Outside are terraces and winding paths, while inside, the elegant Aux Chantignoles dining room provides plenty of intimate settings. In the morning, a lavish buffet is set out, and couples can plan their day over freshly baked croissants and delicate pastries while gazing out over the terrace.

For dinner, there’s a classic steakhouse menu, plus seasonal choices such as Nova Scotia halibut with accompaniments that include local mushrooms. The steakhouse offerings include cognac, mushroom, Bordelaise, green peppercorn and chimichurri sauces; and toppings of lobster tail, crab cake, seared foie gras, shrimp scampi and fried duck egg (there’s also a full vegan menu).

Guests can follow an underground tunnel from the main lobby to a separate log structure enclosing a heated, 75-foot pool. The pool building is supported by two immense carved totem poles. Get in your laps, or simply float on your back while gazing at the painted ceiling or while soaking in one of the two steamy jetted hot tubs set above the pool space. A full service spa offers a full range of therapies, along with the Salon La Source couple’s suite. The couple’s suite features a fireplace, a soaking tub that can accommodate two, a rain shower and lovely water views of both the river and marina.

Thanks to multiple spaces and terraces perfect for vow making, the award-winning chateau is popular as a wedding venue. There’s a wedding planner on staff, plus a wedding guide menu to help with narrowing down choices and perusing details.

Couples can venture off-property for golf, hiking, horseback riding or Land Rover expeditions, or to explore the nearby village of Montebello. There’s a great selection of restaurants, cafés, boutiques and galleries set along the main street. Shops include Chocomotive with artisanal, handcrafted chocolates; Lavandine et cie with a variety of lavender-infused soaps and goods; and delectable cheeses at Fromagerie Montebello.