Montréal – Day 3
Wednesday, 19-Jul-2023
Tags: Travel
Eileen headed to Old Montréal on foot. The first stop was Place d’Armes, originally built at the end of the 17th century, home to lavish banks, old seminaries, Art Deco buildings, and a magnificent cathedral. Too many to show, but here are a few.
Shown below is the New York Life Insurance Building (also known as the Quebec Bank Building), built in 1887–1889, and at the time of its completion, the tallest commercial building in Montréal.
The Bank of Montréal Building is a neoclassical style structure. The building, which resembles the Pantheon, was designed by John Wells and completed in 1846. The inside looks like a scene from Gringotts in Harry Potter.
Also of note, of course, is the Notre-Dame Basilica, a Gothic Revival building completed in 1829.
From Place d’Armes, one can walk along the set of parallel streets — Rue Commune, Rue Saint-Paul, Rue Notre Dame – as well as head out to the piers with all their attractions. Walking along Rue Saint-Paul, passing Place Jacque-Cartier with all its restaurants, the first stop was to the Neo-Renaissance Bonsecours Market, completed in 1847, and once used as Canada’s Parliament. It is home to shops, cafes, exhibitions, and restrooms.
Then on to Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. The chapel, built in 1771, was built on top of the first stone chapel built in 1675. As the port grew in importance in the 19th century, the chapel became a favourite place of prayer for sailors.
Then down to the piers and La Grande Roue de Montréal, which had great views of the city. Going from left to right, Place d’Armes, City Hall, Bonsecours Market.
After the piers, a quick walk to just check out the old Montréal City Hall from the outside.
To finish off the day, a visit to the Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archeology and History, presenting history of the settlements of the First Peoples to present day. The museum is a tall structure situated at the birthplace of Montréal, once a point that was formed by the Lawrence River and the Little Saint-Pierre River, used since the time of the First Peoples and where French settlers landed in 1642. The archeological museum itself, with many artifacts, models, and hi-tech displays, is almost entirely underground, with parts of foundations and fortifications left in situ, consisting of several pavilions, going under streets and other buildings that are part of the museum. Note that the Little River was subsequently covered over, becoming the first sewer system.
This picture shows the Royal Insurance Building, built in the 1860s and the current location of the museum, whose design was inspired by the original building.
Part of a stained glass piece depicting Montréal of the past.
The building from the outside.
Dinner was at Modavie on Rue Saint-Paul, a French bistro with live music. Our third visit.
Thursday we headed home after lunch.
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Larry and Eileen Samberg
