The Tourist attractions of National Gallery of Canada

National Gallery Tourist Destination

The nationalgallery is a must. As Canada’s premier art gallery, it has an enormous collection of North American and European works in various media, all housed in an impressive building in the centre of town, at 380 Sussex Drove. It’s just 15 minutes walk from the Parliament Buildings.

Opened in 1988, the striking glass and pink granite gallery overlooking the Ottawa River was designed by Moshe Safdie, who also created Montreal’s Habitat (a unique apartment complex) and Quebec City’s Musee de la Civilization. He also renovated City Hall.

The mummeries galleries some arched and effectively colored, display both classic and contemporary pieces, with the emphasis generally on Canadian artists. The USA and European collections do, however, contain examples from nearly all the heavy weights. The gallery of painting also presents changing exhibits and special shows.

National gallery history: The excellent chronological display of painting gallery and sculpture not only gives a history of Canadian art but also, in a real sense, provides an outline of the development of the country itself, beginning with the depictions of Native Indian life at the time the Europeans arrived.

For a recharging break, two pleasant courtyards offer the eyed a rest. Between them sits one of the gallery’s most unusual and most appealing components, the beautifully restored 1888 Rideau St Chapel, Which was saved from destruction a few blocks away.

On level 2, along with the contemporary and international work, is the Inuit Gallery, and one room for the display of some of the extensive and fine photography collection.

 The complex is large; you’ll need a few hours and you’ll still tire before seeing all eh exhibits, let alone the changing film and video presentations, lectures and concerts. There’s a pleasant café, a restaurant, and a very fine gift and bookshop underneath the gallery are two levels of parking.

Admission is free to all the permanent collections. An entry fee of around $8 is charged for special exhibitions. The gallery is open from 10 pm. The rest of the year, it’s open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The n gallery is closed on public holidays in winter.