British Columbia's Parliament Buildings reside on a five-hectare (12-and-one-half-acre) block across the street from Victoria's Inner Harbour.
Government buildings, called the "Birdcages," were originally erected between 1859 and 1864 on the site where the Parliament Building now stand.
The Birdcages were wood and brick structures that resembled a Pagoda-style architecture.
An architectural competition was held to find a design for the new buildings. A British architect named Francis Rattenbury was just 25 years old when his design won the competition. Construction began in 1893 and was completed in 1897, at a cost of $923,000. Formal opening ceremonies were held on February 10, 1898. Over 3330 lightbulbs illuminate the the facade of the building at night, making it a brilliant nighttime display.
Take a real (buildings open Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm; free guided tours start hourly) or virtual tour!
The Empress Hotel is located in downtown Victoria, right
across the street from the Inner Harbour and the Parliament
Buildings. The hotel was built between 1904 and completed in 1908. It has been enlarged twice to date.
The famous architect Francis Rattenbury designed the building according to the Canadian Pacific Railway desire of employing many elements of the Chateau style. The Empress Hotel is identified by its steep slate roof and Gothic Revival gables modified by a symmetrical plan and flanking pavilions giving the building a strong vertical emphasis.
These elements make the Empress Hotel an important transitional building in the development of the Chateau style and distinguished as the Canadian approach to railway hotel building.
The Empress Hotel is a major attraction in Victoria, attracting visitors for afternoon tea in British tradition.
For more information and reservations, call 1-800-441-1414 virtual tour!
