Victoria Things To Do

BC Legislative Buildings

The BC Legislative Buildings dominate the architectural landscape of Victoria's Inner Harbour. Designed by renowned architect Francis Rattenbury in the 1890s, they are a visual feast inside and out.

Gold and silver leaf, murals, ornate plaster details and wood mouldings ornament the richly-hued walls and ceilings. Visitors also encounter solid marble columns, statuary, stained glass as well as unique architectural flourishes. Be sure to take some time to appreciate the beauty of the grounds, which feature flower gardens, fountains, statues and exhilarating views of the harbour and mountains. Tours are available Monday through Friday.

The BC Legislative Buildings are located within easy walking distance of downtown Victoria.

> Legislative Assembly website

Fairmont Empress Hotel

Architect Fancis Rattenbury tended to blend architectural styles in his buildings; the Empress, built in 1908, was no exception.

Domed polygon turrets draw on classical influences, while Tudor arches in the lobby give that part of the hotel an Elizabethan feel. The picturesque broken roofline is dotted with Gothic dormers, while the 475 guest rooms are decorated in Edwardian-Victorian vintage style.

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is the Episcopal seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of British Columbia. Built in the Gothic style between 1926 and 1929, the church is faced with rusticated sandstone, granite and moulded "art stone." Two square towers of equal height flank a 26-m (85-ft) Gothic arch and rose window. Inside, a vaulted ceiling soars 20 m (80 ft) above floors of marble and red tile. Take note of the pulpit, which was carved from a 500-year-old oak! For an unexpected stylistic twist, sneak a peek at the modernist stained glass windows in the upstairs Chapel of New Jerusalem. Staff on site provide information to visitors.

The cathedral is one of the last churches in Canada with real bells. They chime every Sunday to call parishioners to worship.

Christ Church Cathedral is located in downtown Victoria.

> Christ Church Cathedral website

St. Andrew's Cathedral

St. Andrew's Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Victoria, was built in 1892 to a design inspired by the medieval cathedrals of Europe. Its 22-m (72-ft) facade features asymmetric, sharply tapered bell towers as well as a colourful array of red brick, stone and slate. While the interior architecture is typical of late Gothic Revival style, a few of the elements of this church will surprise you. The altar and lectern, for example, were designed by First Nations artists. They feature colourful Christian religious themes rendered in the artistic style of BC's native peoples.

St. Andrew's Cathedral is located in downtown Victoria.

> St. Andrew's Cathedral website

Bastion Square

The site of the old Hudson's Bay Company trading post that gave rise to present-day Victoria, Bastion Square is a place of special significance to Victorians.

Because of its old-world charm and open views of the Inner Harbour, the Square is a popular spot for outdoor dining, strolling and resting. Visit the old Provincial Supreme Court building, now the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, or simply walk around and enjoy the square's unique features, such as the ceremonial entry arch at View Street and Government or the floorscape mosaic at the foot of the staircase linking the square with Wharf Street.

Bastion Square lies between downtown Victoria and the Inner Harbour, within easy walking distance of both.

Craigdarroch Castle

Experience lavish, Edwardian-era luxury at Craigdarroch Castle, former home of local coal baron Robert Dunsmuir.

Built in the 1890s, its design mixes Jacobean, Scottish Baronial and French Gothic elements. Interesting exterior details include heavy stonework, a castellated roofline and 35 iron-braced chimneys. Inside, Scotch Granite columns, decorative tiling, stained glass, oak staircases and mahogany fireplaces hold their own against the rich furnishings and draperies.

 

Gate of Harmonious Interest

Chinese and non-Chinese communities worked together to erect the Gate of Harmonious Interest in 1981. Two inscriptions allude to this cooperative effort: "To work together with one heart" and "To help each other achieve harmony."

The 11.5-m (38-ft) ornamental gate was modelled on similar gateways in China and is now the symbolic entrance to Chinatown. It follows the principles of symmetry in its design: a hand-carved stone lion from Suchow, China, stands on either side and art displayed on the gate incorporates many symbols of Yin-Yang equilibrium in nature. The Gate of Harmonious Interest is located in Chinatown, within walking distance of downtown Victoria.

Fan Tan Alley

Fan Tan Alley is a curious little street. At its narrowest, it's only 0.9 m (3 ft) wide and you can still see signs of the gambling dens that once existed there. Look for an old peephole in the wall to your right as you walk toward Fisgard Street; it was used to screen visitors in the days when the illegal games of mah jong, fan-tan and dominoes were in play day and night and the air inside was heavy with the smoke of opium pipes.

The architecture along this 73-m (240-ft) alley is typical of Edwardian commercial buildings. There are eight contiguous brick buildings in all.

Fan Tan Alley is located in Chinatown, within walking distance of downtown Victoria.