No, it’s not a scene from some medieval storybook, nor a set built for one of the Harry Potter films. Instead, the spires of Gothic buildings visible all over downtown Ottawa mark the seat of Canadian government — Parliament Hill.
When Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada in 1857, it looked a heck of a lot different than it does today. Back then, it was just a rough lumber town, with shanty houses lining muddy streets.
A far cry from what it looks like now!
But those in charge saw Ottawa’s potential as a capital (it’s location, for instance, was perfect), and plans for a magnificent Parliament complex began in 1859.
Today, Parliament Hill sees close to 1.5 million visitors per year, with many of them taking the free tours offered of Center Block and visiting the observation deck at the top of the Peace Tower. It’s not just Canada’s center for government, though. Its grounds are almost garden-like in the summer, and I’m told people can often be found lounging and even sunbathing on the front lawn.
The lawn in winter.
If you find yourself in Ottawa, be sure to set aside some time to spend at Parliament Hill. It’s an easy walk up Rideau/Wellington Street from anywhere in the downtown area, and I doubt you’ll regret it.
The imposing East and West Blocks will likely be the first buildings you’ll see when approaching Parliament Hill. These buildings — both constructed in the 1860s in High Victorian Gothic style — were originally built to house ministries and federal public servants. However, as Canada rapidly expanded, Senators and members of Parliament took over these buildings.
The East Block.
The West Block.
But it’s Center Block that really dominates the scene — and perhaps rightly so. It’s home to the Senate and House of Commons, as well as the Library of Parliament. This is where all the important stuff happens.
It’s also the newest building in the complex.
On February 4, 1916, a vicious fire ripped through Center Block, nearly burning the whole building to the ground. Only the beautiful Library remained, saved by its heavy iron doors and the direction of the wind on the day of the fire. When it came time to rebuild, even though the Gothic style of architecture was out of style by the early 1900s, architects decided to rebuild Center Block to fit in with the Gothic Revival style of the Library (built originally between 1859 and 1876).
Center Block, seen through the imposing Victorian gates (or "Wellington Wall").
Because of this, touring Parliament is highly recommended — it’s an absolutely gorgeous building. Free guided tours run daily at Center Block, including in the winter time, and are much more interesting than they might at first sound.
Tours will take you into the House of Commons and the Senate on most days, as well as into the Library (where sadly you can’t take photos) and through the Hall of Honor. Fun fact about the Senate and HoC chambers — there are thrones in each just in case the Queen should ever decide to stop by (Canada is still a member of the British Commonwealth), even though she hasn’t been in the country since 1977.
The Senate
The House of Commons
Hall of Honor
Hall of Honor
I’m not a huge fan of government tours (or anything related to politics, really), but this tour was great. I had a young, enthusiastic tour guide (I’m told these gigs are difficult to get) who knew a lot about the building, and pointed out areas that most Canadians could recognize from seeing on TV.
The "media scrum" area outside the HoC.
"Purgatory," outside the House of Commons.
And even if you could care less about the rest of the building, seeing the inside of the Library of Parliament is worth the tour itself. It’s a beautiful round room covered in carved, polished wood and filled with colorful government-y books.
After the tour, take a quick elevator ride up to the top of the Peace Tower. This 302-foot bell tower was constructed after the 1916 fire and opened in 1927 to honor the Canadian soldiers lost during WWI. Its bells chime every 15 minutes, and views from the observation deck span over all of downtown Ottawa, as well as across to Ottawa River into the province of Quebec.
The view over toward Quebec.
On your way out, head to the west side of Center Block to visit the Cat Sanctuary — a cute collection of little wooden huts where volunteers have been caring for the stray animals of Parliament Hill since the 1970s.
Lastly, be sure to strike a pose in front of the Centennial Flame. Erected in 1967, the Flame was built to commemorate Canada’s 100th anniversary of Confederation. It is divided into 12 segments, each representing one of the provinces/territories that existed in 1967.
I was also lucky enough to arrive in Ottawa just after the holidays, when the city was still decked out in its Christmas finery. Parliament Hill is particularly pretty when its contribution to Christmas Lights Across Canada is illuminated after dark.
Even prettier with some fresh snowflakes!
Ottawa’s Parliament Hill certainly stands out in my mind as one of the more striking seats of government I’ve ever seen up close. Maybe it’s just the Harry Potter/Gothic architecture nerd in me, but I couldn’t help walking up to the Hill at least once a day my whole time in Ottawa.
(And, if you’re looking for even MORE great views of Parliament Hill, head across the Ottawa River, or watch the sun set behind the Hill from a nearby park.)
Have you visited Parliament Hill, or taken a tour of any other really cool national capitals?
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Great pics…I had no idea both capitals have the nickname “Hill”…
The World of Deej recently posted..The Mirage Las Vegas – Review
Thanks! And yes, I think it must be a trend to build your capital up on a hill…
Great read, I don’t go on many government building tours either but that has gorgeous architecture!
Thanks, Ryan! And yeah, tours like this are often dry and boring (though the guide can definitely make or break it), but this one was worth it just to see inside the building! Plus, the price was right!
Gorgeous photos! You show off our Parliament really nicely
Thanks! And yes, in the summer, locals do relax on the grass – there are even yoga classes that take place there. Did you walk behind the centre block to see the back of the library and the bell that survived the fire? Those are awesome points too. Glad you enjoyed your time in Ottawa!
Lindsay recently posted..Au Revoir, 2011
Thanks, Lindsay! Your Parliament buildings are definitely worth showing off!
I think that’s so cool that people relax on the lawn (and take yoga lessons!) in the summer. I can’t imagine that happening in Washington D.C.!
And yes, I did take a stroll behind Center Block, but it was on a rather crappy day, so none of my photos turned out very well. I also have tons of pictures of all the statues everywhere! I picked up a brochure all about Parliament Hill that did a fantastic job of explaining all the points of interest.
Great pictures of a city I can’t wait to visit!
William recently posted..Travel Photo Roulette #34 Winter
It is most definitely worth a visit!
I’m planning on visiting Ottawa next month and stumbled across your blog. Great photos!
I’m pretty certain the Queen has visited Canada quite a few times since 1977 though. I saw her in Toronto just last year! It was her next stop after her visit to Parliament hill for Canada day.
Really? Perhaps the guide just meant she hadn’t sat in on a session of Parliament (in the throne) since 1977.
Regardless, enjoy Ottawa next month! Will you be there for Winterlude? I’ve heard that’s a great time to visit!
Ottawa is indeed very beautiful, and quickly becoming a key stop on any Canadian tour. I love its laidback attitude and lovely architecture!
Eurotrip Tips recently posted..Monday’s Postcard: Mont Blanc, France
I can definitely understand why Ottawa is on its way up as a top destination in Canada — it’s pretty great! And it was great to see so many Canadians visiting. When I went on the Parliament tour, I was the only non-Canadian in our group!
We took the tour of the Parliament when we visited Ottawa last year and loved it! So informative, and the inside of the building is just as beautiful as the outside!
Looks very pretty in the winter, btw!
Dani | Globetrottergirls recently posted..Dreamy Savannah in pictures
I’m sure it looks quite different in the summer, but yes, it’s very pretty with all the snow!
And glad to hear you guys enjoyed the Parliament tour, too.
I love the shot with the snowflakes at night! Brrr!
Laura recently posted..FAQs about our Happily Ever After
Thanks, Laura! And yes… it was VERY cold! Lol.
You could get a job as a photojournalist! Great work! This reminds me of my trip to the Parliament Building in Canberra, Australia (which is included in my guest post).
Rachael Sena recently posted..Travel Cheap in Paris, France
Aww, thanks, Rachael. I’m not sure if I’d be cut out for true photojournalist work, but I do definitely love taking pictures.
That is what I love about Canada! It’s like going to Europe with the architecture, but without having to deal with the hellish plane ride.
And ohmigod, you never went on a tour of the Beehive in Wellington?! Even my sister who doesn’t care about politics at all (and of course, knows NOTHING about New Zealand) had a really good time. Such a good tour! And FREEE!!!
Rebecca recently posted..Welcome to 2005: Traveling with a Blackberry
So true about the pluses of going to Canada! Now I really want to see more of it!
And yes, I DID tour Parliament in Wellington, too! The buildings there aren’t as awesome as in Ottawa (with the exception of the Beehive, of course), but it was super neat to go down in the basement in NZ and see how they’ve earthquake-proofed the Parliament buildings. That was my favorite part!
Great photos. I love the one with the snow, it looks (and I know this sounds cheesy) really magical.
Alouise recently posted..Road Trip Memories 16 – Beaver, Utah
Haha, I have no problem with cheese.
It was kind of magical!
Isn’t the library AMAZING?! I was gobsmacked when I walked in there. It kind of reminded me of the library in Beauty and the Beast. I took the tour with my friend who was working at Parliament over the summer so I got to quickly snap a shot of the place
Audrey recently posted..Scenes from Rural Bolivia
OMG, you’re so right, it DOES remind you of the Beauty and the Beast library!! But yes, I was blown away by how awesome it was inside!
I’m afraid the only capitol I’ve toured has been Washington D.C., but I did find it very interesting! That part that grabbed my attention more than anything were the Bible verses etched into stone all around.
I hope to visit Canada sometime soon, especially after reading this post. The area where I live has quite a few old churches built in a gothic style, so at night it can look like castles from the right angle. Thanks!
Patrick Hearn recently posted..3 Tips to Benefit the Most From Writing Workshops
Washington D.C. is a pretty unique capital, I think, mostly because of the National Mall and all the monuments that there are to see. Definitely interesting. But Ottawa is well worth a visit, too! Hopefully you make it up to Canada soon.
Anything with fresh snow around it looks good and Ottawa looks great.
We must introduce some snow to Sydney – it would be perfect falling around our Opera House. I’ll write a note to my local member of Parliament and see what can be done about it.
Richard Tulloch recently posted..POLYGLOT TANGLE – Sydney Festival 2012
Haha, if you can get some snow in Sydney, I definitely want to see it!
Wow, I never knew about Parliament Hill in Ottawa! You are right, it is beautiful, impressive and very interesting. The view towards Quebec is impressive especially with the iced over river!
Debbie Beardsley recently posted..Fondue-Is it Swiss or French?
Well now you know!
The views from the top of the Peace Tower were great, especially in the late afternoon when the sun was hitting everything just right!
This makes me miss Ottawa so much!
Candice recently posted..The Surprises of Central Newfoundland
You should go back!
Are you SURE it has nothing to do with Harry Potter? Because it totally looks like it does.
It’s a very imposing building, and I just love those fires burning in the front. I could definitely see spending an afternoon here… well, by the fires or inside.
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..Fisherman’s Bastion: the Saving Grace of Budapest’s Castle Hill
It wasn’t actually very warm by the flame at all… lol. You couldn’t really get close enough to it to get any of the heat! (Or, if you did, you’d just be blasted by sulfur-y air, since the flame is fed by natural gas). But, regardless, I’d still recommend spending an afternoon here anyway! Maybe you could go in the spring, when it’s not so cold.
Gorgeous photos! Ah, it actually made me miss snow and cold weather a bit!
Lauren recently posted..A Broken Key and a Grope in Hong Kong
Thanks, Lauren! Funny how when you’re away from snow/cold you actually kind of miss it. … Until you see it in person again, and then you wonder what the hell you were ever doing missing it!
I am freezing here and there is no snow on the ground. Heck, it isn’t even cold enough to snow, if precipitation was going to fall. And I am still shivering more looking at these photos. LOL. Great shots, but bring us some warm weather reminder photos!
Michael Hodson recently posted..Jordan Travel Guide
Heh, perhaps another Hawaii photo essay will soon be in order.
Such beautiful architecture inside and out! And all that pretty snow
Andrea recently posted..Now Accepting Guest Posts
Agreed! This was one building definitely worth seeing the inside of as well. And the snow certainly did make for a nice backdrop. I’d love to see how it compares in the summer when everything is green!
Man, that looks cold. I think maybe I’ll visit Canada when it’s having summer
Laurence recently posted..A village of death and memory in France
Haha, yes, it was quite cold! I’ve heard Ottawa in summer can get really hot though! So I guess it’s a matter of which extreme you’d prefer.
Looks cold! However, it must have been pretty magical to see all of the Parliament buildings lit up for the holidays. Love the architecture!
Suzy recently posted..Goodland, Kansas Wishes You Were Here
I was really glad I got there while they still had all the Christmas lights up!
I love all of the snowy photos — it makes the building look so majestic.
Abby recently posted..Different Kind of Pool Club
Thanks, Abby! I really had no idea people enjoyed snowy photos so much!
So Purdy!
I love the snow… it makes it look that much more Canadian
Cam recently posted..How to Travel the World and NOT Pay for Hotels
Haha, I think I have to agree that the snow makes it look “more Canadian!”
Love photos! When I was there in the summer I didn’t get to see it at night, love the snow flakes!
cailin recently posted..The Taste of Travel begins
Thanks, Cailin! That night photo with the snowflakes is definitely one of my favorites.
Wow! Would not have expected photos like that to come from Ottawa. (No offense, Canada).
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..2011 Travel Year in Review from A to Z
Haha, I know, right?? Canada certainly has some surprises up its sleeve.
The tour of parliament is one of my fav things in Ottawa! It is a really great tour, although the name of it does sound potentially boring!
Jade – OurOyster.com recently posted..How Studying Abroad In Denmark Taught Me More About Myself Than About Statistics
Yeah, generally anything that involves government and “tour” doesn’t appeal much to me. But this tour was great, and the inside of Center Block was beautiful!
Awesome, just got a chance to catch up on blog reading. This made me a bit homesick. I’m glad you got a chance to check out the cats, sometimes you can spot a raccoon eating the cat food
A Cook Not Mad recently posted..Guest Post
I only wish it had been warmer, because all the cats were curled up in their houses and wouldn’t come out! Lol. I love cats, so I thought this was such a neat idea.
You really captured this well Amanda! I like the diversity of shots around different times of the day.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Smiling Local | Norte Argentino | Travel Photo
Thanks, Samuel! I made it a point of walking up to Parliament Hill once a day while in Ottawa, just to see what sorts of different shots I could get. The buildings there are so fun to shoot!