Designed
to be the centre of the social and cultural
activities of the colony that would become
the modern city of Montreal, Bonsecours
Market served its people both under the
French regime, and later on, after the
Conquest. Acknowledged as one of Canada's
finest heritage buildings, Bonsecours
Market has become an essential part of
any tour of Old Montreal. The main building,
inaugurated in 1847, has become a symbol
Montreal's golden age. Its imposing style
was once filled with the elite of Montreal,
and it was also the city's main agricultural
marketplace for over a century.
The building itself is a symmetrical composition
and Greek Revival portico, with its cast-iron
columns brought directly from England.
It has a tin-plated dome with simple and
varied details; this makes it a perfect
illustration of the Neo-classical style
that was popular during the time that
the market was constructed. Recent renovations
have turned it once again into a modern
bustling marketplace that has more than
a simple hint of class.
The
Bonsecours Market is headquarters of the
Conseil Des Metiers D'art Du Québec
and the Institute of Design Montréal.
The Market houses 15 boutiques featuring
things like clothing, jewellery, art,
pottery, and furniture. It is filled with
restaurants and their terraces, and many
people come to the market just to eat
and take in local dishes inspired by both
North American and European sources.
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