Place d'Armes, Montreal, Canada

Visit duration: 30 min Editorial visit time estimate

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Place d'Armes

Place d'Armes is a square in the Old Montreal quarter and the second-oldest public site in the city. First laid out in 1693 at the request of the Sulpicians as Place de la Fabrique, it was renamed Place d'Armes in 1721 when it became the stage for military events. From 1781 to 1813 it served as a hay and wood market, and after the city acquired it in 1836 it was laid out as a Victorian garden.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

What's inside

The square is anchored by the Maisonneuve Monument (1895) by Louis-Philippe Hébert, in memory of Paul de Chomedey, founder of Montreal; foundations of the original Notre-Dame Church lie beneath it. Around it stand Notre-Dame Basilica, the Saint-Sulpice Seminary, the New York Life Building (1887), Montreal's first high-rise, the Bank of Montreal head office (1859), the Art Deco Aldred Building (1931) and 500 Place d'Armes (1968). Horse-drawn calèche tours of Old Montreal leave from here, and Place-d'Armes metro station is within walking distance.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

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Common questions

Is Place d'Armes a good place to start exploring Old Montréal?

Yes. Tourisme Montréal calls it the perfect starting point: it is surrounded by some of the city's most recognisable buildings and directly linked to the metro.

Where it is

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Nearby

Within 5 min on foot

30 min
2 min walk
Notre-Dame Basilica
- Must see · Heritage site
- Place of worship
2 hours
3 min walk
Old Montreal
- Must see
- Historic site
1 hr 30 min
5 min walk
Pointe-à-Callière Museum
- Must see
- Museum