Canada’s political heart focuses on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, crowned with a flurry of grand government buildings.
The most impressive building is the Gothic-style Centre Block, the main Parliamentary Building, with its soaring central Peace Tower and gabled copper-topped roofline. The building is flanked by the matching East and West Blocks.
Centre Block houses the Senate and Commons chambers, where public galleries are provided for visitors wishing to watch the parliamentary proceedings.
It’s well worth taking one of the free daily tours to admire the interior of Centre Block and its hand-carved stonework.
Listen out for the 53-bell carillon concerts ringing out from the Peace Tower, or climb the stairs for views of Ottawa from the tower’s observation deck.
