Culture of Edmonton. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

There are more than thousands of restaurants and cafes in the city; it won’t be easy to choose the best among them even for experienced travelers. However, some attractive restaurants …
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Edmonton is home to a huge number of interesting festivals and national holidays; the cultural calendar of the city is simply amazing because of an abundance of cultural activities. There …
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Edmonton and surroundings
Plan your own excursion through Edmonton: churches, museums and castles
St. Josaphat Cathedral , Edmonton

» In 1938, it was necessary to update the building. Architects decided to combine elements of several architectural styles in the exterior of the construction. The building is distinguished by simple forms and moderate ornaments. You can see patterns of light stone on top of the outer walls. The construction lasted 10 years.
» St. Josaphat Church was blessed and became a cathedral.
» It is named after the Holy Martyr St. Josaphat.
» The main white staircase with three flights leads to the red-brick construction. Eight white columns support the vault. You can enter the building through 3 arched doors. Two-level towers are attached to the House of God. They are crowned by high spires ending with crosses. Narrow lancet windows are stained glass.
» The territory of the cathedral is fenced with a cast-iron fence divided by pillars and matching the main building.
St. John Cathedral, Edmonton

» The House of God is headed by the bishop and belongs to the Ukrainian administrative and territorial unit in Canada.
» The religious school at St. John Cathedral was founded in 1965. The Diaspora of Ukrainian people settling in Edmonton used it for educational purposes. Seminars, business meetings, such secular events, as weddings and banquets, are held here. At lectures, interested persons can learn about the saint, after whom the sanctuary is named.
» St. John was the predecessor of Messiah. He predicted the appearance of Jesus Christ. To keep faith, he traveled to the desert and lived as a hermit there. During services, he invited Jews to wash their hands, cleanse them from unrest, and be closer to God. He faced a painful death and was beheaded. He is considered as a historical figure.
» Two chapels were added to the main brick building. They have a pear-shaped dome and are crowned by Orthodox crosses.
Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton
Location on the map:
Facts:
» 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.
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Location on the map:
Facts:
» The construction of the sports arena began in March 1975 and lasted 3 years. 
» Organizers invested about $30 million in it.
» The sports ground was built to host the Commonwealth Games 1978.
» 42 000 people came here to watch matches.
» 1 474 athletes from 46 countries took part in competitions. 128 different competitions were held at the stadium.
» Five years after, 18 000 spectators’ seats were added for the Summer Universiade.
» The Commonwealth Stadium is the home arena of the professional football team Edmonton Eskimos.
» The playing field is covered with artificial grass.
» There is an agreement with the administration that different events, including music concerts, can be held here.
» The Commonwealth Stadium is a multifunctional field. It is used by runners, football and rugby players.
» Its managers applied for hosting the World Football Championship 2026.
» Two two-level stands were constructed for spectators’ convenience. Side seats have cup holders. Seats are painted in colors of the leading team.
» The idea of constructing a dome was abandoned due to the costliness of equipment.
Coast Edmonton House, Edmonton

» The building is 121 m high.
» The construction was completed in 1971.
» The gray building has the shape of a regular polygon or a toothed wheel.
» The Edmonton House is the highest hotel among guest houses located in the settlement. This feature attracts a lot of visitors. Its windows have a view of the neighborhood.
» 302 rooms will satisfy guests with comfort and coziness. You can use the high-speed Internet in the rooms. Pets are also allowed here. There is climate control equipment and a plasma TV. There is also a freezer for storing foods. In the kitchen, there is everything you need: a coffee maker, an electric tea kettle, and a microwave oven. In the bathroom, you can use all toiletries for free.
» The guest house has a well-developed infrastructure. There is a conference hall for business meetings and a separate sector for festive events. Those who want to improve their health can visit spas and a fitness center.
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Reference information
Art galleries in Edmonton and around
♥ Art museum 'Art Gallery of Alberta' Edmonton, Alberta, 0.9 km from the center. On the map
Photo
♥ Art museum 'Art Gallery of Alberta' Edmonton, Alberta, 0.9 km from the center. On the map


Photogallery of cultural heritage of Edmonton
Landmarks of culture on Edmonton map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

