Parliament Hill and the Peace Tower — Canada's Most Famous Landmark

# Parliament Hill and the Peace Tower — Canada's Most Famous Landmark

Parliament Hill is the heart of Canadian democracy. It is where federal laws are debated and passed, where Canada Day celebrations fill the lawn every July 1, and where the iconic Peace Tower rises above Ottawa. Here is what you need to know for the citizenship test.

Parliament Hill is a complex of Gothic Revival buildings on a bluff overlooking the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. It is the home of Canada's federal Parliament — the House of Commons and the Senate.

The complex includes:

• Centre Block — the main building, currently closed for a major restoration (since 2019). It contains the Senate chamber, the House of Commons chamber, and the Peace Tower.
• West Block — where Parliament currently sits during the Centre Block restoration.
• East Block — offices and historic rooms, including the original office of Sir John A. Macdonald.
• Library of Parliament — the only part of the original Centre Block that survived the 1916 fire.

The Peace Tower is the most recognisable feature of Parliament Hill. Key facts:

• Height: 92.2 metres (302 feet)
• Built: 1919–1927, replacing the Victoria Tower that was destroyed in the 1916 fire
• Named for: Peace after World War I
• Clock: Four clock faces, visible from across downtown Ottawa
• Carillon: A set of 53 bells that play daily concerts
• Memorial Chamber: A room inside the tower containing the Books of Remembrance — the names of all Canadians who died in service during war and peacekeeping missions

The Peace Tower is arguably Canada's most famous architectural landmark. Its image appears on the Canadian $20 bill and is instantly associated with Canadian government.

On February 3, 1916, a fire destroyed most of the original Centre Block — only the Library of Parliament survived, saved by an iron door that was closed just in time. The fire killed seven people. The current Centre Block and Peace Tower were rebuilt in the 1920s.

At the entrance to Parliament Hill sits the Centennial Flame — a gas flame surrounded by a fountain featuring the shields of all provinces and territories. It was lit on January 1, 1967, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Confederation and has burned continuously since.

Every July 1, Parliament Hill hosts Canada's largest Canada Day celebration. Hundreds of thousands of people gather on the lawn for live music, speeches, military flypasts, and fireworks. The Prime Minister and Governor General usually attend.

Parliament Hill is open to the public (when not restricted for renovations or security):

• Free guided tours of the West Block (where Parliament currently sits)
• Changing of the Guard ceremony (summer months)
• Sound and light shows projected on the buildings (summer evenings)
• The Library of Parliament — one of the most beautiful rooms in Canada

Common citizenship-test questions:

• Where does Parliament meet? *(Ottawa / Parliament Hill)*
• What is the Peace Tower? *(A clock tower on Parliament Hill honouring peace after WWI)*
• What is the capital of Canada? *(Ottawa — see [Why Is Ottawa the Capital of Canada?](/blog/capital-city-canada-ottawa))*

For more on Parliament, see [How Canadian Parliament Works](/blog/how-canadian-parliament-works).

Try our [free practice test](/practice-test) — it includes Parliament Hill questions in the same format you will see on test day.