Spanning four housing blocks, the Sussex Courtyards feature one of the Capital’s oldest neighbourhoods. The courtyards, which have been preserved and developed as part of our architectural heritage, provide a unique urban experience in Canada’s Capital.
Clarendon Court
Pass through an iron archway from George Street into a 19th century world of limestone buildings, where canopied doorways and tall windows provide glimpses of fine art, restaurant terraces and other boutiques.
York Court
From historical buildings with century-old walls, to new constructions with glass and brick accents, this court is a beautiful blend of old-world and modern-day charm.
Jeanne d’Arc Court
The Jeanne d’Arc Institute, for which this courtyard is named, is associated with the sisters of the institute, who operated a boarding house for young working women from 1917 to 1980. As you enter Jeanne d’Arc Court, the quietest of the Sussex Courtyards, you will catch sight of a large, exuberant sculpture of a child with a hoop and an Inuit sculpture of a bear. Century-old windows peer down from old limestone walls in this court.
Tin House Court
This courtyard features an unusual work of art created by tinsmith Honoré Foisy, who lived in Lowertown between 1902 and 1916. He worked for years to embellish his house with hundreds of hand-sized pieces of tin, meticulously soldered to form this elaborate decoration. Restaurant terraces and a fountain are also located within the courtyard.
Beaux-Arts Court
In the shadow of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, and near the National Gallery of Canada, it is the newest of the Sussex Courtyards. An angel statue can be found at its north end, and a restaurant terrace is situated within the courtyard.
