Bonsecours Market is a historic landmark and indoor shopping destination at 350 Rue Saint-Paul E in Old Montréal. Its long, three-storey façade and silver dome make it a striking stop on a walk through the neighbourhood. Inside, boutiques and galleries carry clothing, jewellery, crafts, artwork and other goods by Québec and Canadian makers; you can also find places to eat. The building’s former roles as Montréal’s main public market and a civic building add context to a visit. For a different view, come near dusk, when the dome is illuminated.
A market with civic roles
Bonsecours Market opened in 1847 and served as Montréal’s main public market for more than a century. Its name comes from the nearby Chapel of Our Lady of Good Help, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours.
The building’s uses extended beyond trade. In 1849, it hosted the Legislative Assembly of United Canada for one session. It also housed Montréal City Hall from 1852 to 1878, and later served as a music recital hall and as municipal offices for housing and planning. Those changing roles help explain why the building looks more like a civic landmark than a produce market.
Architecture on Rue Saint-Paul
The market is a long, three-storey structure capped by a silver dome. Its design draws on neoclassical forms and was influenced by Dublin’s Customs House. Tall columns frame the main entrance, while the extended façade has a series of projecting and recessed sections.
The dome is a defining part of the Old Montréal skyline, but the building is also worth taking in at street level. From the harbour side, the scale of the structure is especially apparent. Near dusk, lighting brings attention to the dome and the building’s outline.
Shops, galleries and places to eat
Today, the market’s interior is given over to boutiques, galleries and places to eat. Shops carry items such as clothing, jewellery, crafts, confections and souvenirs, with a focus on work from Québec and Canada. Some goods are made by local artists and designers, so the market can be a place to look for a gift with a regional connection.
This is a different kind of market from a hall centred on fresh produce. The draw is browsing the shops and seeing the historic interior, rather than filling a basket with everyday groceries. Take time to look through more than one shop before choosing a purchase. A café is also located downstairs, away from the main shopping areas.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is Bonsecours Market?
It is at 350 Rue Saint-Paul E in Old Montréal, Québec.
What can you buy at Bonsecours Market?
The boutiques sell items including clothing, jewellery, crafts, artwork, confections and souvenirs, with a focus on Québec and Canadian products.
When is the best time to see the dome lit up?
Visit near dusk to see the dome illuminated.
