Thursday, March 28, 2024

Photo tour: which places in Calgary will make the best background for memories

We have prepared for you a selection of exciting places in Calgary – from impressive architectural details to true natural wonders. More on the website calgary-future.

Central Library

The Calgary Central Library, also known as the New Calgary Central Library, opened on November 1, 2018 in the Downtown East Village area. After its opening, the library was recognized as an architectural masterpiece.

The construction of the four-story building cost 245 million Canadian dollars. It was designed by American-Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta and Canadian firm DIALOG after they won the competition for the best library design in 2013.

The library attracts attention not only because of its rich collection of books, but because of its advanced design: vaulted ceilings; natural light; steel beam; a huge mosaic… The building is raised one floor above the street level, a tram runs below it, and there is also a public square.

The Central Library is undoubtedly one of the best photo spots in Calgary. In addition, a cafe, a performance hall, communication rooms, a board game area and a children’s play area were opened on the library’s territory.

Wonderland Sculpture

This huge 12-meter metal sculpture of a little girl’s head was placed on Central Street in front of The Bow tower. It was created by the Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa.

The sculpture embodies the dreams and hopes of the youth and radiates the fresh youthful energy of Calgarians. The main attraction of “Wonderland” is that visitors can walk inside it – there are two openings in the neck area.

Curiously, when Calgarians were first shown this wire work of art, it did not receive favorable reviews. However, over time, the people of Calgary fell in love with the sculpture and it became one of the most famous locations for photo shoots.

Peace Bridge

Despite the fact that the Peace Bridge once caused much controversy in the community due to its price tag of more than $15 million, it still managed to win the title of one of the most popular photo spots in Calgary.

The bridge was built by the City of Calgary to connect the southbound route across the Bow River and downtown with the northbound route across the Bow River and the community of Sunnyside. This connection was designed to make it easier for people to get to and from work. The bridge is pedestrian, and you can also ride a bicycle there.

The bridge was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and opened for use on March 24, 2012. It is popularly nicknamed “Finger Trap Bridge” due to its visual resemblance to a finger trap puzzle.

Bright red steel beams, against the background of which the city skyline and bright green river are a great idea for a photo.

Scotiabank Saddledome

This is a sports complex, opened in 1983. International competitions in several sports are held here. The complex is also the home arena for the Calgary Flames hockey team. The institution also hosts concerts, conferences and exhibitions.

The Saddledome was damaged during the 2013 Alberta floods, but was repaired and reopened for the 2013–14 NHL season. The roof of the arena has the shape of a saddle on a horse, which is why it is called a “saddle dome”.

Scotland Hill, which overlooks the arena and the city’s high-rises, is one of the favorite spots for local photographers. Locals also like to come here to watch fireworks. There is an off-leash dog park nearby.

Stephen Avenue

Stephen Avenue is a large pedestrian mall in downtown Calgary. The mall is part of 8 Avenue SW.

This space is known for some of Calgary’s best restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars. 8th Avenue also provides an eclectic mix of boutiques and high-class retail. It is home to Calgary’s main convention center, the Telus Convention Center and two hotels. On the territory of “Stephen Avenue” you can see tall skyscrapers and several interesting sculptures.

Prince’s Island Park

Prince’s Island is a park that divides the Bow River between the Peace Bridge to the west and the Center St. Bridge to the east.

The park was named after Peter Anthony Prince, founder of the Eau Claire Lumber Mill. It was built on land donated to the city in 1947 by the Princes family.

The park is so large that it hosts numerous seasonal events and festivals, such as Folk Fest. There is a stage, playgrounds, picnic areas and bike/walking paths.

In the park, you can photograph the office and residential towers of the Clare district, and sometimes you can come across geese and ducks in the river. “Prince’s Island” is also a popular place for photo shoots of couples in love.

Central Memorial Park

This is Calgary’s oldest surviving public park, located in the downtown Beltline district.

The park was designed in 1889, landscaped in Victorian style. It was once called Central Park, but over the years the name was changed to Central Memorial Park, as many sculptures and monuments were erected there to honor veterans of many different international wars.

The most famous sculpture is the statue “Boer War Memorial” by the world-famous sculptor Louis Philippe Herbert. This statue stands proudly in the center of the park and commemorates the Canadian troops who fought in the first Anglo-Boer War in South Africa. At the time of its unveiling, it was considered one of the finest equestrian statues in the world.

There is also a historic library, well-kept gardens, numerous fountains, some of which light up at night, and a small restaurant. In 2018, this park and its library were designated a National Historic Site. It is hoped that by preserving important historical sites and adding new elements to Central Memorial Park, future generations will enjoy this space for a very long time to come.

As for the library, it was built in 1910 with the help of a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. The Central Park Library is Alberta’s first public library. This picturesque structure is an example of the impressive heritage buildings that exist in Calgary.

Such a cultural and beautiful place is a must-see for anyone visiting Calgary.

Centre Street Bridge

The two-lewel Center Street Bridge is a historic landmark that was built in 1916 after the previous MacArthur Bridge was destroyed by a flood.

The bridge is quite complex from an architectural point of view. And its graceful arched spans, classical balustrades, cantilevered balconies and kiosks add beauty and decorativeness. The paired stalls at each end of the bridge are topped with massive lion sculptures, which symbolize the British Empire, and are modeled after the stalls in Trafalgar Square in London. The monumental and decorative aspects of the bridge make it a prime example of Calgary’s “city of beauty” planning.

It is also one of a small number of urban improvements made to align with the principles of Thomas Mawson’s grand city plan for Calgary. Upon completion, the bridge was considered the best in Western Canada.

While descending the bridge to the south to Chinatown, there is a wonderful view of the Calgary Tower – a lookout tower. You can set up a tripod on the eastern walkway of the upper level of the bridge to capture the cityscape in close-up, or you can go into Chinatown to take a shot of the tower in the middle of the road.

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