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Champ-de-Mars


Tour route Next section Back to Notre-Dame Est Boulevard Saint-Laurent Rue Notre-Dame West The Old Seminary and Notre-Dame Place d’Armes Rue Saint-Jacques Des Récollets Around Rue de l’Hôpital Rue Saint-Paul, near Place d’Youville Place d’Youville Western end of the Old Port Pointe-à-Callière and Place Royale Saint-Paul and de la Commune From Saint-Amable to Saint-Gabriel Place Jacques-Cartier Eastern end of the Old Bonsecours From Bonsecours to Berri Rue Notre-Dame East Champ-de-Mars

... and came down

Montréal's fortifications were never put to the test. In any case, they would not have prevented the British from taking the city in 1760. Eventually they became a nuisance for the growing town and were demolished in the early 19th century, as set down in a plan prepared by the Commissioners responsible for removing the fortifications. The plan also described the layout of the Champ-de-Mars ("field of Mars") and some new streets around the edges of the old town.

 

 

The fortifications went up...

Champ-de-Mars

 

 

Military parade in 1866

The newly levelled Champ-de-Mars was used as a military parade-ground, a favourite walk for Montrealers and a meeting-place. In 1885, huge numbers of people gathered here to denounce the hanging of Louis Riel, head of the Métis rebels in the Northwest. In 1990, a huge crowd came to cheer on Nelson Mandela, leader of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

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Old Montréal

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Last updated: September 2001