Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and is located on the border between the Province of Ottawa and the Province of Quebec. The picturesque site of the city was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1859 for being a secure and appropriate location between the two growing areas of this fledgling nation which at that time were called West Canada (British) and East Canada (French). The original settlement dates back to the early 1800’s when it was a logging centre, but its’ location at the confluence of the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers was selected around 1815 as the starting point of the Rideau Canal, the construction of which commenced in 1826. British engineer Colonel John By supervised the construction and laid out plans for a new settlement that became known as Bytown and which later was re-named Ottawa.
The original military barracks at Bytown were built on what is now known as Parliament Hill, a 50 metre rise on the southern bank of the Ottawa River and is today the location of the city’s most visited tourist attractions, the Parliament Buildings. Constructed in 1860 in the Gothic Revival style of architecture the imposing Parliament Buildings include the Centre Block (which houses the House of Commons and Senate), the Parliamentary Library, the East and West Blocks, and the Peace Tower which is recognised as one of Canada’s iconic structures. Ottawa is an easy city to explore on foot as many interesting attractions are compacted into a relatively small area, and Parliament Hill is an ideal location from which to start any tour of the surrounding area. Being the capital of Canada, Ottawa is home to several landmark buildings and architectural masterpieces, as well as major national institutions, numerous museums, official residences, memorials and heritage structures.
Apart from the Parliament Buildings other notable buildings include the National Gallery, Supreme Court, Royal Canadian Mint and Rideau Hall which is the home of the Governor General. There are several interesting museums which are worth visiting including the National Gallery; the Bytown Museum, which relates the history of Ottawa; the Science and Technology Museum; and across the river in the adjacent town of Gatuneau, the impressive Canadian Museum of Civilisation. There are of course many other museums, and if time permits and your interest doesn’t wane there is the Canadian War Museum, Canadian Aviation Museum, Canada’s Cold War Museum and the Canada Agricultural Museum. To experience some local colour and witness the character of cosmopolitan Ottawa it is also worth visiting the busy Byward Market, which is located on the site of the original market established in 1827 by Colonel By, and today attracts locals and visitors, day and night. If your exploration is enjoyed by rambling around the city make sure you follow the shaded footpaths along the riverbank at the foot of Parliament Hill, head towards the Rideau Canal, and remember it was all constructed by hand. Located adjacent to the canal and worth seeing is the huge Fairmont Chateau Laurier which epitomises the grand hotels which were built by the Canadian railroad companies in the early 20th century. These hotels of course include such impressive structures as the Hotel Banff Springs in Alberta, Chateau Frontenac in Quebec and the Empress Hotel in Victoria – can you see the likeness.
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