Hotel du Parlement (Parliament Building), Quebec City (must see)

The Parliament Building, home of the National Assembly of Quebec, is one of the most impressive buildings in the province's capital city. Located on one of the highest spots of Upper Town, just outside the city walls, this quadrilateral edifice was constructed between 1877 and 1886 by the French architect Eugène-Étienne Taché. Inspired by the Louvre in Paris, the Second Empire neo-French Renaissance style of construction is unique in North America. The front of the building also features a pantheon representing the province’s rich history.

Incensed by the Durham Report, in which the British lord said that the French-Canadians could not be civilized because they had no history, Taché included 15 statues depicting important figures in the province's history, to show that they indeed had a strong past. These include Samuel de Champlain, Louis de Buade de Frontenac, James Wolfe, the Marquis de Montcalm, and, at the very top, an indigenous family. As the province's political life continues to grow, so does the number of statues; presently, there are 26 statues featured on the building's facade and more scattered across the grounds.

Since it is still a functioning government office, the only way to see the building's interior is to take a free guided tour. At 45 minutes long, the English/French tour provides a great opportunity to appreciate the unique architecture, as well as to gain insight into Quebec's history and political scene.

Make sure to have a photo ID with you; otherwise, you won't pass the security check. In the summer, outdoor tours are also given to discover the surrounding gardens with many trees and flowers of Quebec, which also give an overview of just as many sculptures therein. All tours leave from the visitors' center.

Tip:
The on-site restaurant is outstanding and honors Quebec cuisine, with many of the ingredients grown locally in the Parliament’s garden. Good prices, too!
Note: you must have reservations to eat at the restaurant when the Provincial Assembly is in session.