Visit Ottawa

Behind the Center Block, you can admire the stunning Library of Parliament. Established in 1871, it regroups collections from two former legislative libraries in Upper and Lower Canada, which, as you may recall, were once separate Read more

Here we are along the Rideau Canal. It connects the Ottawa River, on your left, to the St. Lawrence River in Kingston, Ontario. Stretching over a total of 202 kilometers, it was opened in 1832 and served for many years as a key commercial Read more

Despite its name, this impressive building is not the Senate’s permanent home. Usually, the Senate meets up in the Centre Block of Parliament, alongside the House of Commons. However, since there are currently renovations on the main Read more

Here, you are looking at the Ottawa Convention Center. It features 37 different rooms, designed to host a wide range of events, including trade shows, business meetings, and weddings. Inside, you’ll find two grand ballrooms and two Read more

This is Ottawa City Hall, composed of two large buildings. The one in front of you is the new wing of the building. Its entrance is on the other side. Originally constructed during World War II to accommodate military staff, this structure Read more

The beautiful church on your left is Knox Presbyterian Church.  Named after the famous Scottish minister John Knox, a theologian and important leader of the Reformation in the 16th century. He founded the Presbyterian Church in Read more

You are now standing in front of the Ottawa courthouse, located on the same grounds as the City Hall. Now’s the time to explain how the Canadian government is organised! Let's start by the fact that Canada is part of the Commonwealth Read more

Take a look to your left. Do you see the beautiful church with its light-green spire? It belongs to Ottawa's first Baptist congregation. The Baptist denomination is an evangelical Christian movement founded by the English in the 17th Read more

You are now in the heart of Confederation Park, one of the largest parks in the Canadian capital. Before you is a fountain made of Peterhead granite. It is a tribute to the founder of Ottawa, Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who came from Read more

Before you stands a monument that will take you back a few centuries. Installed here in 1971, this totem pole commemorates the centennial of British Columbia joining Canada in 1871. It pays tribute to the Kwakiutl, the Indegenous people Read more

Here is one of the greatest jazz pianists and composers of all time! Born in Montreal in 1925, Oscar Peterson went by many nicknames: the “Maharaja of the keyboard”, the “Brown Bomber of boogie-woogie”, the “Master of swing” and the Read more

We've reached the famous Confederation Square, one of the most important plazas in the city. Here, you'll find some of Ottawa's most emblematic buildings. Behind you, on the left, you can see the National Arts Centre. On your right Read more

You may find yourself drawn to the immense building in front of you. But before focusing on the castle, look to your right. Leading down to the quay, these steps are known as the Sappers’ Staircase. It is surrounded by 14 sculptures: nine Read more

Now, let’s talk about the giant building in front of you. This is Château Laurier, a four-star hotel that opened in 1912 after three years of construction. The project was commissioned in 1907 by Charles Melville Hays, president of the Grand Read more

You'll see that Canada’s Parliament consists of several buildings, each one more beautiful and impressive than the other. Here, you are standing in front of the East Block, which like the others, is considered a National Historic Site. Read more

The Centennial Flame is a powerful symbol of Canada, representing the unity of the country through a flame that burns atop a fountain. It was first lit on December 31,1966, by former Prime Minister Lester Pearson to celebrate Canada’s Read more

If there’s one thing you can’t miss in Ottawa, it’s the Parliament. First, because the capital is home to the country’s highest institutions. But also, just look at it, it’s an impressive building! In fact, it’s actually a collection of buildings Read more

Here is an elegant statue depicting Queen Victoria, a figure deeply connected to Ottawa. In fact, Canada even has a public holiday dedicated to her—Victoria Day—celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25. Read more

Let’s take a moment to observe the buildings in front of you. Across the road on your left stands the Bank of Canada Museum. It was opened in 2017, in a modern building next to the Bank of Canada. This museum invites visitors to Read more

To your right stands the Justice Building, designed in the same architectural style as the other Parliament buildings. It was constructed between 1935 and 1938 by architect Thomas Fuller. It used to be the Department of Justice, which is Read more

Here you are in front of another of the country’s most important buildings: the Supreme Court of Canada. As a symbol of Canada’s judicial authority, it is the highest legal authority for civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional Read more

Look to your right—the large building before you is the Library and Archives Canada building. This is where countless works on the federal government and its institutions are preserved, along with numerous records on the Indigenous Read more