National War Memorial, Ottawa

Nestled in the heart of Confederation Square, right across from Parliament Hill, the National War Memorial (aka "The Response") is much more than a granite arch with bronze soldiers. Designed by Vernon March and unveiled by King George VI in 1939, this striking monument honors Canadians who fell in WWI, with dedications expanded later to WWII, the Korean War, the Boer War, Afghanistan, and all conflicts past and future.

Carved from granite and topped with 22 larger-than-life bronze figures, the memorial depicts Canadian servicemen marching toward a future shaped by peace, while above them winged figures symbolize Peace and Freedom. In 2000, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added, housing the remains of an unidentified First World War soldier from near Vimy Ridge. Soil from every province, territory 鈥� and the soldier鈥檚 original site in France, was placed in the sarcophagus as a unifying symbol of remembrance.

Tip: Visit on November 11 for a particularly moving Remembrance Day ceremony where Canadians place poppies at the tomb, turning personal grief into a collective vow to honor their sacrifice. This monument is an emotional waypoint on the walking tour where stone, bronze, and ceremony echo Canada鈥檚 enduring gratitude.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ottawa. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: 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.

Download The 911爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: National War Memorial
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.

Historical Buildings Walking Tour

The architecture of Ottawa 鈥� formalistic and functional, for the most part 鈥� 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

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

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

Ottawa Introduction Walking Tour

Perched on the banks of the Ottawa River, the Canadian capital has story that began long before Parliament鈥檚 iconic Gothic towers pierced the skyline. For thousands of years, this land was home to the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, whose traditional territory stretched along the river鈥檚 length. The word 鈥淥ttawa鈥� itself comes from adawe, meaning 鈥渢o trade,鈥� a nod to the waterway鈥檚... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

911爆料网