☰Parliament Hill

The seat of Canadian government, perched on a limestone bluff above the Ottawa River. The three Gothic Revival buildings — Centre Block with its famous Peace Tower, plus the East and West Blocks — were built after the original parliament burned down in 1916. Free guided tours run year-round (book ahead in summer); the Library of Parliament, the only part of the original 1860s building to survive the fire, is the highlight. In summer the Changing of the Guard takes place on the lawn at 10am, and on summer evenings there is a free outdoor sound-and-light show projected onto the buildings.