Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill in Ottawa is the federal government precinct of Canada, containing the principal parliamentary buildings on a landscaped hill overlooking the Ottawa River. It is the symbolic and functional seat of Canada’s federal legislature.

The precinct comprises Gothic revival buildings, formal grounds and ceremonial spaces used for legislative business and public events. Highlights include the Peace Tower with its carillon, the Centre Block containing the parliamentary chambers and the ornate Library of Parliament.

The parliamentary precinct developed in the 19th century as government institutions were established in Ottawa, with major construction of the original Centre Block completed in the late 1800s. A 1916 fire destroyed the original Centre Block, which was subsequently rebuilt in the 1920s to house Canada’s federal legislature.

Perched beside the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Parliament Hill is within walking distance of the ByWard Market and major museums and is well served by the city’s transit network.

• 1916 fire and reconstruction: The original Centre Block was destroyed by fire in 1916 and the current building was reconstructed in the 1920s, with the Peace Tower as its central feature.
• Ceremony and tours: The site hosts the Changing of the Guard ceremony on summer days and offers free guided tours when Parliament is not in session or for scheduled visits.

What to See #

• Peace Tower: The Peace Tower, the central clock tower and national memorial that contains a carillon and is a visual focal point of the parliamentary precinct.
• Centre Block: The Centre Block, the main parliamentary building that houses the chambers for the House of Commons and the Senate; it was rebuilt after a 1916 fire.
• Library of Parliament: The Library of Parliament, a distinctive round stone building attached to the main complex that houses parliamentary research collections and historic interiors.