Cultural sightseeing in Canada. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

» In the gallery, there is the collection that contains over 5 000 exhibits. These are artistic canvasses of famous masters, sculptures, sketches, pictures, and etchings.
»  Experts estimate the property at $30 million.
»  In the exhibition hall, you can see paintings of artists of different epochs and schools. There are classical and avant-garde paintings.
»  The separate section is dedicated to contemporary art.
»  In 2005, the international competition among companies restoring old buildings was announced. Five years after, the gallery was opened.
»  The total area of the building is 8000 m2.
»  The construction is quite unusual. As the architect admitted, such a bold solution to the facade decoration was inspired by the nature of Edmonton.
»  The facade is adorned with a 200-meter steel ribbon. Then, the ribbon goes inside and separates wall panels. This is how three exhibition levels appeared.
»  This round element is similar to the mountain river that snakes through the area.
»  The first municipal cultural institution was founded on donations in 1924.

» The Art Gallery of Ontario is a big museum that houses 80 000 art exhibits. In the gallery, you can see sculptures, paintings, pictures, installations, and books.
»  Museum exhibits cover the period from the 1st century AD to the present day. They started to be collected in 1900.
»  The main fund is divided into three sectors: European paintings, works of Canadian artists, and Henry Moore’s sculptures. Here, you can see paintings of such European artists, as: Rembrandt, van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Chagall, and Picasso.
»  The exhibition of sculptures was organized by Henry Moore in 1974. He is considered as an enigmatic and inscrutable sculptor of the 20th century.
»  In 2008, the gallery was reconstructed. During the renovation, the halls were designed in the modern style by architect F. Gary. He was famous for such projects, as the Dancing House in Prague, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, and the Music Museum in Seattle. After this, the number of halls has increased twice.
»  In the gallery, there is the biggest library in Canada.

» The Cathedral of Marie-Reine-du-Monde is a cathedral in Montreal that was built in the late 19th century.
»  The cathedral impresses with its beauty and luxury interior. The free entrance and daily services attract a lot of tourists.
»  Visitors of the cathedral are especially interested in beautiful statues of saint patrons of the city that decorate the facade.
»  High Gothic belfries of the cathedral are architectural attractions of the city.
»  Remarkably, the Cathedral of Marie-Reine-du-Monde is a small but exact copy of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rome. Before the construction, the architect traveled to Rome to see masterpieces of famous Italian masters.

» There is an old stone building surrounded by skyscrapers. It was built in 1894 and blessed in a year. Over the years of its existence, the building has been reconstructed several times. Christ Church Cathedral is characterized by a Gothic architectural style. A lot of stained glass windows decorate the building. Christ Church has gained a cathedral status for its merits. It belongs to the Anglican diocese. The first worships were held outside the cathedral because he had not been completed yet. Funds were raised for the construction of the temple. Initially, not so many parishioners came here (about 50 people). There were no funds for completing the building, so the temple was on the verge of being closed. Architect Robert Fripp offered the project of the church completion. The ceiling and the floor were decorated with cedar panels. At the beginning of the 20th century, the organ was replaced by a new one. Candles changed to electric lights. The construction of the bell tower had been delayed due to the refusal of the city authorities. The Royal Family traveled to Vancouver and visited Christ Church. The facade is decorated with a heraldic symbol, the Celtic cross.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » One of the cultural attractions of the city is the Centre of Music.
»  Sir Francis G. Winspear invested about $9 million in its construction. The centre is named after him. Such a donation has been the most substantial in the history of Canada.
»  The building was constructed in 1997. The city symphony orchestra sits exactly here.
»  In 2002, the organ was placed here. It has 6 551 pipes.
»  Traditionally, the concert hall is a rectangular parterre. Lodges have rounded sides. Above them, there are balconies with terraces. The audience hall accommodates 1 930 spectators. It is separated from the stage by velvet curtains.
»  Music fans can listen to both classical and rock music performed on stage. The acoustics of the hall lets enjoy any music regardless of the location of the spectator’s seat.
»  Many people come here to listen to the children’s choir.
»  The Francis Winspear Centre for Music is the institution of global significance that deserves worldwide recognition.
»  The hall is illuminated by a huge chandelier. Each lodge has its lights.

» The railway station services the line between city districts. The passenger point provides both railway and bus services.
» The name of the railway station is symbolic: this is the name of the intendant of New France.
» The building was built upon the order of the administration of the Canadian National Railway in 1915.
» The two-storey construction resembles not an official institution but a castle with its appearance. It was built in the style of so-called chateauesque (Francis I style). It features sophisticated towers, high spires, and a round roof. This architectural style is expressed in the exterior of the railway station too.
» The facade is made of decorative blocks. It is crowned with a blue many-tier roof. There is a tower with an old built-in clock.
» The regular scheduled services were ceased from 1976 to 1985. Today, you can travel on the western line to the Montreal Station.
» Inner rooms are characterized by some solemnity and elegance. The walls are painted milk-white. They make a contrast with the dark tiled floor.
» There are all the conditions for you waiting for the train: a recreation hall, ticket offices, an information desk, and a cafe.

» The Glenbow Museum is a city museum dedicated to the history of Western Canada.
»  20 themed exhibition halls have a total area of 8 600 m2.
»  Its fund is over a million exhibits.
»  100 000 items are presented in the first sector. Here, you can learn about the living conditions of the past, how people dressed and how they lived.
»  The collection of canvasses includes paintings from 1914 to this day.
»  The ethnographic sector houses 48 000 artifacts. Here, you can also see items used by the natives.
»  In the gun room, there are exhibits with 500 years of history.
»  The collection of minerals contains precious and semiprecious natural stones found in different parts of the world. Stones shining in the dark and iridescent crystal are very interesting too.
»  There is an archive in the Glenbow Museum. There are over 2 million photos, manuscripts, documents, periodicals, and other things that represent the development of the western region.
»  The cultural institution was built thanks to the entrepreneur and collector Harvie.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » Initially, in 1885, masses were held for several families. There was no permanent refuge. Holy Rosary Cathedral was built on donations from parishioners.
» Its name is not coincidental, as the first liturgy was held exactly on that day.
» “Rosary” means “entanglement of roses”. Holy Rosary is the symbol of the celestial wreath representing the combination of oral and mental prayers. Sacred beads are also used here.
» Originally, the church was built of wood. Then, the bell tower was constructed. The stone building started to be built in several years. It was completed in a year and a half. The old organ was placed inside.
» Worships are held in three languages, English, French, and Spanish.
» The vault of the cathedral is upheld by red marble pillars. The walls are decorated with carved gilded angels. They hold books and torches in their hands. Each of them has an inimitable face.
» There are two bell towers in the cathedral. Its facade is tiled with dark stones.
» Stained glass windows differ in their shape and size. They are made of small mosaics shining in the sun.
» The temple was blessed at the beginning of the 20th century. Holy Rosary has gained a cathedral status.