Ottawa is the capital of Canada, this status was given to the city by Queen Victoria, but Ottawa is not a capital built according to a master plan, like, for example, Washington and Brasilia. The picturesque Rideau Canal, which runs through the city center, is dotted with pleasure boats in summer and people on skates in winter, who enjoy using the river as a natural ice rink 7.8 km long.
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| Ottawa Canada |
Basic moments
In the 19th century, Bytown (renamed Ottawa in 1855) was a work camp infamous throughout North America for constant skirmishes between lumberjacks. And on these dirty and dangerous streets in 1859-1865, to the horror of many Canadians, the Houses of Parliament were erected (open daily for free tours).
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| Ottawa Canada |
Today, Ottawa's second source of income after logging is tourism. It is a pleasant city with charming parks and canals, world-class museums and beautiful monuments. Its brief history as the nation's capital is reflected in its imposing Victorian parliamentary complex, modern office architecture and the art housed in the National Gallery of Canada.
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| Ottawa Canada |
Situated on the border between Ontario and Quebec, Ottawa is a bilingual city, but most French Canadians (and many excellent restaurants) now live in Gatineau, on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River.
With the exception of long excursions, it is better to leave the car in the hotel parking lot and explore the city on foot or by bus. The complex system of one-way streets and the added confusion of winding rivers and canals makes driving a car challenging even for locals.