PLACE D'ARMES

Facing the Notre-Dame de Montréal basilica, it is the third place of this name in the French-speaking world. On land acquired by the Sulpicians, it was founded in 1693 as a public square under the name "Place de la Fabrique". It then became the city's second public square, the first being the current Place Royale, which was used for the market and as a weapons square. A major place of meeting and socialization, it is on the "Place de la Fabrique" that decrees and ordinances are read at the exit of the church. But following the 1721 fire in the vicinity of Place Royale, military manoeuvres were transferred there and it was renamed Place d'Armes. Some forty years later, in 1760, it marked the end of New France as the French regiments laid down their arms there in front of the British. For nearly a century, Place d'Armes took on various functions before being purchased by the city and became a Victorian square-style public garden around 1848-1850. In 1895, a monument to Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve was erected there, surrounded by Jeanne Mance, Charles Lemoyne, Lambert Closse and an Iroquois. This monument still stands in the centre of Place d'Armes, which was completely restored during the works carried out between 2009 and 2012 in order to enhance this public square. Although it is not huge, it is very popular with tourists and offers an incomparable view of the basilica (don't forget your camera!).