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Place d'Armes is in the old town Montreal (Vieux-Montreal) The Square is surrounded with remarkable buildings – on one side is the majestic Notre-Dame Basilica. Place d'Armes stands for the second oldest public area in Montreal. It is located in the historic district of the city, offering a beautiful panorama. The site gathers different periods of the city’s past in one place. It is centered around a monument, which is dedicated to the founders of the city. The section houses the first skyscraper in the city completed in 1888 that was only 8 stories high, the head office of Canada’s oldest bank, Bank of Montreal.

This site was a hay and wood market between 1781 and 1813. It became property of the city council of Montreal in 1836. After this time, it was developed as a Victorian garden, and it retained this layout until 1960. In 2009, the city launched renovations of the square.

Among the highlights here are the monument dedicated to Paul de Chomedey, which dates from 1895. Adorned with bas-reliefs, it is known as the Monument Maisonneuve. The monument was created in 1895 by the prominent artist Louis-Philippe Hebert. It honors Chomedey's defense of the young settlement of Montreal against the Iroquois Indians, who were battling the Hurons. Beneath the square are the foundations of the early Notre-Dame Church.

The surroundings of Place d’Armes are very interesting in that they document the main periods of the city's development. The Notre-Dame Basilica and the Saint-Sulpice Seminary are located in front of the square. Other structures in the area include the first high-rise in the city, New York Life Building, which dates from 1887, and the headquarters of the Bank of Montreal, which was built in 1859 – this was actually the first bank in the country. Found here are the International style 500 Place D'Armes (built in 1968) and the Aldred Building (1931), which features the Art Deco style of architecture. Its design was inspired by the Empire State Building and made of limestone. Finished in 1931, the Aldred Building has an art-deco style, L-shaped lobby. In 1967 The National Bank of Canada Tower was built.

You can reach the square from either Saint Jacques street or Notre-Dame street, as it is located right between them. The square is a starting point for rides in horse-drawn carriages. In fact, quite a few such tours are available in the historic area of Montreal, and you should not turn them down if you have the chance. If you choose to travel by subway, you need to get off at Place d’Armes station, and the square is just within walking distance. In the early 19th century, the city had a plan to enlarge the site down to Saint-Antoine Street so that there could be a better view of the Notre-Dame basilica, but the plan was never implemented. Today, the Côte de la Place-d'Armes connects the square to Saint-Antoine Street. In the past, the square hosted the meeting point of the city's tramway lines.

There are three sites named d'Armes in Montreal. The name means “location where the protectors of the city gather” in French. Known as Place de la Fabrique earlier, the square received its current name after it became the site of a number of military events in 1721. It dates from 1693. The name references the bloody battles led by First Nation tribes and religious settlers, aiming to take control of the area of what would become Montreal.

Vieux-Montreal is a charming neighborhood with narrow cobblestoned streets. The streets are lined with little bistros, restaurants, cafes and fashionable boutiques. The 18th century buildings are well preserved. Vieux-Montreal is a popular tourist attraction and City Hall, Bonsecours Market, Notre-Dame Basilica and Vieux –Port are all at a walking distance.


Where is Place d'Armes: Vieux-Montreal

How to get to Place d'Armes: Subway Orange line to Place d’Armes station

Place d'Armes, Monument, Montreal



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