Parliament Hill and Buildings, Ottawa (must see)
The capital city of Canada is home to Parliament, which is located directly in the center of the city. Resting on the bank of the Ottawa River, Parliament Hill is a series of Gothic Revival style buildings that date to the mid 19th century. The Parliament Buildings are made up of the East Block, West Block and Centre Block.
The Centre Block contains the House of Commons, the Senate Chamber, Confederation Hall and the Hall of Honor. Each of these areas, along with other part of the Centre Block, are decorated with carvings, stone arches, stained glass windows, cathedral ceilings and marble floors. Visitors are welcome in the Centre Block. Guided tours are offered for free every day of the year. Each tour includes access to Peace Tower, which stands proudly in the middle of the building.
The East Block and the Library of Parliament are the only buildings that are original parliamentary buildings. The East Block contains offices that are currently used by parliament. The East Block is free to tour in July and August. The West Block also contains offices for parliament and a branch of the Library of Parliament. However, the West Block is not open for public tours.
The Parliament Buildings are only one part of Parliament Hill. Tourists also visit the area to see the numerous statues and monuments on the grounds. Statues of royal figures like Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II share space with statues of Canadian prime ministers like John A. Macdonald, Wilfrid Laurier and Alexander Mackenzie.
Tourists should also keep their eyes out for the War of 1812 Monument, the Victoria Tower Bell, the Candian Police Memorium, the Centennial Flame and a statue in honor of Sir Galahad.
Why You Should Visit:
- To admire the Gothic Architecture of the Canadian Parliament
- To tour the center of Canadian democracy
Tips:
Guided tours must be booked in advance. Reserve tickets online through the Parliament of Canada website.
The Centre Block contains the House of Commons, the Senate Chamber, Confederation Hall and the Hall of Honor. Each of these areas, along with other part of the Centre Block, are decorated with carvings, stone arches, stained glass windows, cathedral ceilings and marble floors. Visitors are welcome in the Centre Block. Guided tours are offered for free every day of the year. Each tour includes access to Peace Tower, which stands proudly in the middle of the building.
The East Block and the Library of Parliament are the only buildings that are original parliamentary buildings. The East Block contains offices that are currently used by parliament. The East Block is free to tour in July and August. The West Block also contains offices for parliament and a branch of the Library of Parliament. However, the West Block is not open for public tours.
The Parliament Buildings are only one part of Parliament Hill. Tourists also visit the area to see the numerous statues and monuments on the grounds. Statues of royal figures like Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II share space with statues of Canadian prime ministers like John A. Macdonald, Wilfrid Laurier and Alexander Mackenzie.
Tourists should also keep their eyes out for the War of 1812 Monument, the Victoria Tower Bell, the Candian Police Memorium, the Centennial Flame and a statue in honor of Sir Galahad.
Why You Should Visit:
- To admire the Gothic Architecture of the Canadian Parliament
- To tour the center of Canadian democracy
Tips:
Guided tours must be booked in advance. Reserve tickets online through the Parliament of Canada website.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ottawa. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Parliament Hill and Buildings on Map
Sight Name: Parliament Hill and Buildings
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ottawa, Canada
Create Your Own Walk in Ottawa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ottawa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Statues and Sculptures Walk
As a cultural city, Ottawa abounds in monuments and statues of various sorts. In fact, there are so many of them that the locals, accustomed to their presence, jokingly claim they hardly notice them at all. Still, these artistic creations serve as visual storytellers, sharing tales of courage, peacekeeping, and commemoration.
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Ottawa Introduction Walking Tour
The name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word for trade. It is an appropriate name for the Ottawa River, which was once the primary trade route for Eastern Canada. The capital of Canada gets its name from this river due to its location. Resting on the banks of the Ottawa River, Ottawa is a political and cultural city that also offers outdoor activities and beautiful natural sights.
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Ottawa's Historical Churches Walking Tour
The city of Ottawa has a number of notable religious sites fit to spark interest in both ardent believers and those keen on ecclesiastical architecture. With most of the churches located in the downtown area or nearby, one can visit these locations without trouble.
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
The architecture of Ottawa – formalistic and functional, for the most part – is marked by the city's role as the national capital of Canada. As such, it represents a mix of styles, varying considerably based on the era of construction of any particular object, and reflects the nation's heritage and political significance.
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles