Parliament Hill, an architectural compound of state buildings, is in the very center of Ottawa. This site is as significant as Red Square in Moscow. All the most important celebrations of public and other holidays in Canada take place here. In summer, you can come to the front lawn of Parliament Hill to watch the ceremony of changing of the guard and the grand sound and light show in the evening. Fans of a healthy lifestyle also take a fancy to the lawn. Throughout the whole summer season, they hold free yoga classes here.

The construction of Parliament Hill began in 1859 with the Parliament building in the Gothic Revival style. The hilltop was chosen for a reason: it offers beautiful views of the city and river. Later, the parliament building got new neighbors: the residence of the governor-general and others. In 1876, the complex was opened to officials. In 1916, the central building burned down in a fire. The restoration work was managed by Jean-Omer Merchand and John Pearson. So The Hill has become the hallmark of the city and country and has attracted about three million visitors since 1927.

The architectural complex of Parliament Hill covers 88500 square meters. In addition to administrative buildings, a park and a lawn with the eternal flame, it includes picnic pavilions, many monuments and sculptures.

Being on the hill without visiting the magnificent premises of the central building is an unforgivable mistake. The best-known among them is the Confederation Hall. It is a majestic hall with columns and a vaulted ceiling, rich in decoration and paintings. The Hall of Honour used for funeral ceremonies to deceased members of the Senate and Parliament is not inferior to it. The Senate Chamber, the Commons Chamber and the Library of Parliament are still actively used for meetings and other events. That’s why you should study the visiting schedule attentively. It depends on the work of the state and administrative bodies located there.