Topped with a gleaming silver dome, Bonsecours Market shines over the cobblestones of Old Montreal. The long marble building is one of Montreal’s unmistakable landmarks. Inside, it is as Québecois as its exterior, with three stories of boutiques, galleries and restaurants showcasing the traditions of Montreal province.
Bonsecours Market was originally constructed in 1847 to impress travelers and to display Montreal’s grandeur. From its beginning it served as the location of the central farmers’ market and for a time housed Montreal’s City Hall before it moved to its present location. Fortunately, the building has been repurposed and refurbished, and will impress travelers for generations to come.
Browse the boutiques inside the building for a variety of upscale goods crafted by Quebec artisans. Québecois kitchenware, clothing and jewelry make beautiful souvenirs and gifts. Visit the free galleries, where the skills of Canadian artists and designers are on display.
Among the restaurants is the Cabaret du Roy, an award-winning themed restaurant that recreates the Montreal of 1705. Here, you can experience Montreal when it was still a colony of Nouvelle-France. While sampling traditional fare from rural Quebec, meet various 18th-century personalities such as a king’s daughter or a bearded trapper.
You’ll also find the Craft Council of Quebec, the Museum of Costumes and Textiles and the Institute of Design Montreal in Bonsecours Market. The site houses exhibitions and conventions in its upper rooms, a great way to experience Montreal culture firsthand. If you enjoy fashion, attend the free Big Fashion Sale by Quebec Designers spread over several days each April and October. Over 100 local designers show and sell their latest creations.
Located on the eastern edge of Old Montreal, Bonsecours Market is easily accessible by bus or metro. Parking can be difficult, but there is a garage that offers secure paid parking two blocks to the west on Rue Champ de Mars. Admission to the market is free, but some of the exhibitions charge. Bonsecours Market is open daily.
