Parliament Hill

Set on a limestone bluff above the Ottawa River, Parliament Hill is where Canada’s laws are made, and its Gothic Revival towers define the capital's skyline. Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as the capital in 1857, and the original buildings, the Centre Block, East Block and West Block, were completed in the 1860s. The Centre Block burned in 1916, and only the Library of Parliament survived, saved when its iron doors were closed against the flames. The rebuilt Centre Block, finished in the 1920s, is topped by the Peace Tower, which rises about 92 metres and holds a carillon of 53 bells.

Since the mid-2010s the Hill has been in the middle of a long restoration programme. The Centre Block closed in 2018 for a decade-long rehabilitation, and the House of Commons now meets in the renovated West Block, in a chamber under a glass-roofed courtyard. The Senate sits in the Senate of Canada Building, the former Ottawa Union Station, which opened in 1912 as a railway terminal and was later converted into a conference centre before taking on its current role. The result is a working parliament in temporary quarters, and the buildings under scaffolding are part of the story.

Visitors begin at the visitor welcome centre, where guided tours are offered. Tours of the accessible buildings explain how Parliament works and point out carved stone, stained glass and historic detail. Admission is free, and timed tickets are normally required, so it pays to arrange them early in summer. Outside, the grounds hold the Centennial Flame, lit in 1967, and statues of prime ministers and monarchs. In summer the Changing of the Guard draws a crowd on the lawn in front of the Peace Tower. On the river side, a path along the bluff gives views toward Gatineau and the Canadian Museum of History.

Like much of Canada's capital, the Hill is easy to reach on foot from the Rideau Canal and ByWard Market, and Major's Hill Park and the National War Memorial are a short walk away. It suits families, civics enthusiasts and anyone curious about how a country governs itself. Since access varies with security and sitting schedules, check the official site for tour availability, ceremonies and closures before visiting.