Parliament Hill and Buildings, Ottawa

Parliament Hill and Buildings, Ottawa (must see)

If Ottawa had a crown, Parliament Hill would be the jewel right at its center 鈥� perched high above the Ottawa River, framed by manicured lawns, and crowned with spires straight out of a Gothic Revival fairy tale. This is the political heart of Canada, where history, architecture, and democracy all meet under one very photogenic roofline.

The Parliament Buildings are made up of three main sections: the East Block, West Block, and Centre Block. The star attraction, Centre Block, is home to the House of Commons, the Senate Chamber, Confederation Hall, and the Hall of Honor. Inside, you鈥檒l find soaring cathedral ceilings, intricate stone carvings, and stained-glass windows that tell Canada鈥檚 story in color and light. And then there鈥檚 the Peace Tower 鈥� Ottawa鈥檚 most recognizable landmark, offering panoramic views that are well worth the elevator ride.

But Parliament Hill isn鈥檛 just about politics 鈥� it鈥檚 also an open-air gallery. Wander the grounds and you鈥檒l meet a cast of bronze characters: prime ministers like Sir John A. Macdonald and Wilfrid Laurier, monarchs from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, and even a chivalrous Sir Galahad. Don鈥檛 miss the Centennial Flame, the War of 1812 Monument, and the solemn Canadian Police Memorial.

Tip: Guided tours are free but in high demand 鈥� book in advance on the Parliament of Canada website. And don鈥檛 be surprised if you find yourself lingering longer than planned. Ottawa politics may be polite, but the view from here is downright captivating.

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.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Parliament Hill and Buildings
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Ottawa Introduction Walking Tour

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.

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

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

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

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

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