House of Commons of Canada, Ottawa, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The House of Commons of Canada is the elected lower house of the country's Parliament, where Members of Parliament debate and pass the laws that govern Canada. It meets on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on a bluff above the Ottawa River, in the Gothic Revival complex of buildings along Wellington Street.

The story behind it

Canada's Parliament has met on this hill since the 1860s, when Ottawa was chosen as the capital. The House of Commons is the chamber of the people's elected representatives, and its work is led by the Speaker, who keeps order in debate. Its benches are traditionally green, while the Senate, the appointed upper house, uses red.

The best-known chapter of the site is the fire of February 1916, which destroyed most of the original Centre Block. The Library of Parliament, behind the main building, survived. A new Centre Block was built in the same Gothic Revival spirit and finished in the 1920s, crowned by the Peace Tower, which honours Canadians who served in the First World War. In recent years Centre Block has been under major renovation, and the House of Commons has been sitting in temporary quarters nearby, so check current information before you plan a visit.

What to look for

• The Peace Tower rises above the central entrance, and its clock and carillon make it the easiest landmark to spot from across downtown Ottawa.
• The pointed arches, carved stone and steep copper roofs show the Gothic Revival style chosen for the Parliament buildings.
• The Centennial Flame, lit in 1967 to mark Canada's hundredth anniversary, burns on the lawn in front of the main building.
• The round Library of Parliament sits behind the main block, facing the river, and is the part of the old complex that came through the 1916 fire.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes to walk the grounds and take photos, longer if you plan to join an indoor tour. Check current opening hours and tour availability, as access changes during the renovation.
• Go in the morning for softer light on the stone and smaller crowds, or in the evening when the buildings stand out against the sky.
• The grounds are open air and can be freely explored, but you need to follow security instructions, and the interiors are only open on organised visits.
• The ByWard Market, the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River pathways are all a short walk away, so you can combine them with Parliament Hill in one outing.

See it on a quest

Parliament Hill works well as one stop on a longer walk through downtown. The Oz Escape in Ottawa brings you to the House of Commons on foot, with the app telling you about each place as you arrive and setting a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Downtown, Ottawa suits anyone who likes a darker mood. You pass the House of Commons as part of the route, hear about the place when you get there, and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Lucky Treasure Hunt: The Golden Shamrock in Ottawa is a treasure-hunt style walk that takes in the House of Commons among the other stops on its route. You go at your own pace, with no guide and no fixed start time, and one ticket covers the whole group.