Description of the attraction
In the middle of the 19th century, Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec) finally merged, and the question arose of choosing a single capital. However, given the confrontation between the French-speaking and English-speaking regions, the choice was not easy. The option of a "mobile" capital was also considered, but since this project promised to be quite expensive, it never received the support of the majority. As a result, the decision was transferred to Queen Victoria, and in 1857 a decree was issued, according to which the city of Byetown (today known as Ottawa) became the capital. This decision was made, among other things, due to the location of the city (actually on the border of Upper and Lower Canada), good transport links, as well as a mixed English and French-speaking population.
In 1859, on a picturesque hill overlooking the southern bank of the Ottawa River, construction began on a grandiose complex of buildings in the neo-Gothic style - the new home of the government of Canada, which later received the name "Parliament Hill". The central block of the complex and its bell tower known as "Victoria Tower" were completed by 1866, and the parliament began its work in the new building. The construction of the parliamentary complex continued for more than one decade.
In February 1916, as a result of a severe fire, the Central Block was almost completely destroyed by fire. In fact, immediately after the fire, work began on the project of a new structure, and already in September 1916, the cornerstone was laid and construction work began. The new Central Block, in order to preserve a single architectural ensemble, was erected in the image and likeness of the original building. In 1927, the construction of a memorial to the Canadians who died during the First World War was completed - the so-called Tower of Peace, erected on the site of the Victoria Tower. Interior design work for the Central Block continued until the 70s of the 20th century.
Today, Parliament Hill is an important historical and architectural monument, as well as one of the most popular attractions in Ottawa. Not far from the Royal Gate is the famous "Centennial Flame" - an original fountain, in the center of which an eternal flame has been burning since 1967 (however, the fire does not always burn - sometimes for technical reasons or due to bad weather conditions it is extinguished). On the territory of Parliament Hill, you will also see many different statues (Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II, Georges-Etienne Cartier, John A. MacDonald, Alexander Mackenzie, etc.), a Canadian police memorial and a well-preserved one, cast back in 1875, the bell of the Victoria Tower, as a memory of the terrible fire and the first building of the Parliament of Canada. The square in front of the Central Block is one of Ottawa's main venues for a variety of cultural and social events, including the annual Canada Day celebrations.
