The five most beautiful and important cities in Canada

would you like to discover The five most beautiful and important cities in CanadaThis nation is the largest on the American continent, with almost ten million square kilometersHowever, its population does not correspond to its size, as it only has about forty million inhabitants.

This difference is due to the extreme living conditions of many of its territories. Not in vain, some are bathed by the Arctic Ocean and the northernmost, such as Ellesmere Island, are only 817 kilometres from the North PoleHowever, the country has beautiful citiesNext, we are going to show you the five most beautiful and important cities in Canada.

Toronto, the largest city

We begin our tour in Toronto, which is the largest city in the country. Its population is almost three million inhabitants, although its metropolitan area reaches six. It is also the capital of the province of ontario and one of the financial centers of Canada.

Bathed by the Lake Ontario, its foundation was due to the British who, at the end of the 18th century, participated in the American War of Independence. Specifically, it would be John Graves Simcoe who created it with the name of YIt has been the capital of Canada for two brief periods: between 1849 and 1852, due to serious disturbances in Montreal, and from 1856 to 1858. Also, a big fire devastated it in 1904, although it was quickly rebuilt.

The most important religious building in Toronto is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Michael, which was built in the mid-1600th century and has a capacity for XNUMX people. Its designer was the architect William Thomas, who created a neo-Gothic temple. On the outside, its slender tower stands out, while on the inside, you should notice its magnificent stained glass windows.

As for the civil monuments that you can see in Toronto, the following stands out: Casa Loma, a large mansion with the air of a medieval castle that was built in 1918. Also interesting are the old Town Hall and Union Station, both modernist constructions. But the great symbol of the city is the tCN tower, which opened in 1976 as a radio broadcasting station, reaches 553 meters in height. Finally, don't miss seeing the Royal Museum and Art Gallery, as spectacular on the outside as on the inside.

Vancouver

We now travel southwest to find another of the five most beautiful and important cities in Canada. Vancouver It is the largest of the province of British Columbia, although not its capital (this is Victoria). The first thing that will catch your attention if you visit it is its extraordinary natural environment, among the imposing Coastal Mountains and Strait of Georgia. You have more than four hundred kilometers of trails for you to explore on foot or by bicycle. It also has magnificent parks such as, for example, the Stanley Park and even with summer beaches like the one in english bay.

Although there were much older commercial settlements, Vancouver was officially founded on April 1886, XNUMX, with the arrival of the transcontinental railroad. Also, like Toronto, it suffered a devastating fire which occurred that same year and, likewise, the city was quickly rebuilt.

As for its monuments, precisely related to its green areas is the Capilano Bridge. Hanging type, it has a length of 130 meters and a height of 70 above the river of the same name. You should also visit neighborhoods such as those of Gastown, where the famous steam clock is, and Chinatown. More spectacular is the building of Canada Place, with its roof that simulates sails and declared a National Monument.

Regarding religious buildings, the most important in Vancouver is the Holy Rosary Cathedral, built at the end of the 19th century on a previous one. It responds to the canons of the neo-Gothic style. But the city also has interesting museums. We recommend that you visit the Art Gallery, located in a neoclassical building and with an exhibition of more than nine thousand works. Also interesting is the Anthropology Museum And, to finish your visit, you can stop by the Richmond Night Market (only works from April to October).

Montreal, second largest among the five most beautiful and important cities in Canada

Montreal is the largest city in the province of quebec and has a population of almost two million inhabitants. However, its metropolitan area reaches four and a half. Also, as an anecdote, we will tell you that it is the fourth most populous French-speaking city in the world after Paris, Kinshasa (Congo) and Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

It is located on the island that gives it its name, between the Saint Lawrence and Prairies rivers. It is one of the oldest cities in the country, having been founded in 1642 with the name of Marie-VilleIt was also the most important from a financial point of view until the 1970s, when Toronto took over that primacy.

Montreal has a good number of religious monuments. Not for nothing is it also known as «The City of a Hundred Bell Towers». Among them, the imposing one stands out Notre Dame Basilica, built in neo-Gothic style at the beginning of the 19th century. You will find them in the district of Old MontrealAs its name indicates, it is the true historic center of the city, where its origin is found, specifically, in the current Youville Square. The Pointe-à-Callière Museum, located in it, remembers it. You should also visit in this neighborhood the Town Hall, a spectacular Second Empire style building, and the old port.

Other religious buildings that we recommend you see in Montreal are the Oratory of Saint Joseph, the largest church in the country, with an imposing dome; chapel Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, which is the oldest temple in the city and the Christ Cathedral (this one, Anglican).

But the Canadian city has many other attractions to offer you. We recommend that you visit Underground Montreal. It is an underground pedestrian network of about thirty kilometers that allows its inhabitants to move around sheltered from the harsh winter. You can also see the houses of Antoine de Lamothe-Cadillac and René Robert Cavelier de La Salle, both from the 17th century, but also other modern buildings such as the skyscraper Place Ville-Marie. Anyway, don't forget to visit the Botanical Garden, considered the second largest in the world, and the complex of the square of the arts, where is the Contemporary Art Museum.

Calgary

We now arrive in Calgary, which is not only one of the most beautiful and important cities in Canada, but also one of the best in the world to live. This was confirmed by the British publication The Economist,, which placed it, next to Adelaide (Australia) ranked fifth among the best places on the planet to settle.

In addition, it is the most important city in the province of Alberta, but, as in previous cases, not its capital, which is EdmontonIt was founded in the second half of the 19th century as an outpost for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police under the name Fort BriseboisHowever, it began to be populated with the arrival of the transcontinental railroad in 1883. However, its great development took place in the first decades of the XNUMXth century when oil deposits were discovered in its area of ​​influence. In fact, it continues to be its main economic activity today.

Your visit to Calgary should begin, precisely, with the Fort Brisebois, which houses exhibitions depicting scenes from 19th-century life in the area. But if you really want to get a feel for the city's past, you should visit the Heritage Park and Historic Village, a living museum where you will travel to Canada in 1860. You will walk among people dressed in period costumes and with their vehicles, carrying out the typical jobs of the time.

It also has historical value. Glenbow Museum. But one of the best attractions in Calgary is its nature. Regarding it, you can take numerous hiking trails through the Fish Creek Park, which has more than eighty kilometers of trails. However, if you want shorter routes, you can walk along the Prince's Island or, if it's raining, through the covered park Devonian Gardens, a beautiful botanical garden. In short, don't miss the Calgary Tower, with its almost two hundred meters of height; bridge of peace or skyscrapers like The Bow.

Ottawa, the federal capital

We have left for the end of our tour of the most beautiful and important cities of Canada a the capital of the countryOttawa is located in the southeastern corner of the country, bathed by the river that gives it its name. It has more than one million inhabitants, although its area of ​​influence increases its population to more than two.

The area began to be populated at the beginning of the 19th century, when the American Philemon Wright established an agricultural community. However, the founder of the city is considered to be the military engineer John By, who, destined to build a canal in the region, built housing for the workers and made an urban plan. In his honor, the settlement was initially named Bytown to receive its current name in 1850.

Among the many monuments you must see in Ottawa, the Parliament, with its neo-Gothic style and the Langevin Building, in the Second Empire style. On the banks of the river Rideau canal, which divides the city in two and is a World Heritage Site, you have the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, an equally neo-Gothic construction reminiscent of a castle.

Ottawa's main religious monument also follows this style. It is the Notre Dame Cathedral, which stands out for its interior, with shiny tin ceilings and a beautiful main altar. No less spectacular are the National War of 1812 Memorial and Canadian Museum of Nature.

This is one of the many that Ottawa has to offer. Among them, we also recommend the Canadian Museum of History and National Gallery of Canada, with its sculpture of a gigantic spider similar to that of the Guggenheim of Bilbao. Finally, if you want to enjoy a nice walk visit the Gatineau and Major's Hill parks.

In conclusion, we have shown you five of The most beautiful and important cities in Canada. However, we also recommend you visit others such as Edmonton, capital of the province of Alberta; Quebec, founded in 1608 and therefore with a magnificent historic centre that is a World Heritage Site, or Hamilton, where the Royal Botanic Gardens are located. Come and discover Canada's major cities.