Place d'Armes
Montreal
Place d'Armes is the most famous square in Vieux-Montréal. Notre-Dame Basilica faces it, and all around stand buildings from three different centuries, from the 1600s to the 1900s.
A square for everyone
In 1693 the Sulpicians, lords of the island of Montreal, opened a public square here. Notices to the people were read out here. After the fire of 1721 it took the name Place d'Armes. Later it was a hay and firewood market, then a garden with a fountain.
What to see from outside
To the south stands Notre-Dame Basilica, with its two towers named La Persévérance and La Tempérance. To the north, the Bank of Montreal, founded in 1817, has a head office with tall columns from 1847. To the east rises a red stone building from 1889, eight storeys high.
A meeting place
Place d'Armes has always been a meeting place for the people of the city. Montreal was founded in 1642 by Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance. Half a century later this square was born. Since then it has seen merchants, carriages and streetcars go by.
Around the square
Place d'Armes is still a crossroads of streets and people. The Place-d'Armes metro station is a few steps to the north, at the bottom of the slope.
