Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill occupies a commanding bluff above the Ottawa River in the national capital and contains Canada's three parliament buildings — the Centre Block with its famous Peace Tower, the East Block, and the West Block — in Gothic Revival and Gothic Château styles. The Centre Block, built after a 1916 fire destroyed the original structure, is undergoing major restoration that is expected to continue until 2030; the House of Commons and Senate have relocated to the West Block and the Senate of Canada Building during this period. The Peace Tower rises 92 metres above the main entrance and houses a 53-bell carillon; a public elevator reaches the observation platform near the top. The Library of Parliament, immediately behind the Centre Block, survived the 1916 fire and retains its original Victorian iron-and-stone interior. Free guided tours of the West Block are bookable through the Parliament of Canada website and provide access to the temporary House of Commons chamber. From late June through late August, the Ceremonial Guard performs the Changing of the Guard on the front lawn daily at 10 AM, a 30-minute ceremony in scarlet tunics. Summer evenings bring Mosaika, a sound-and-light projection show on the Centre Block facade. The Centennial Flame, burning continuously since 1966 in the centre of the front promenade, commemorates Canada's centennial. Views north across the Ottawa River to the Gatineau Hills in Quebec are unobstructed from the riverside escarpment path.