Hôtel de Ville

Frommer's Review

City Hall, finished in 1878, is relatively young by Vieux-Montréal standards. It's still in use, with the mayor's office on the main floor. The French Second Empire design makes it look as though it was imported stone by stone from the mother country: balconies, turrets, and mansard roofs decorate the exterior. The details are seen particularly well when the exterior is illuminated at night. The Hall of Honour is made of green marble from Campagna, Italy, and houses Art Deco lamps from Paris and a bronze-and-glass chandelier, also from France, that weighs a metric ton. The hall also has a hand-carved ceiling and five stained-glass windows representing religion, the port, industry and commerce, finance, and transportation. It was from the balcony above the awning that, in 1967, an ill-mannered Charles de Gaulle, then president of France, proclaimed, "Vive le Québec Libre!" -- a gesture that pleased his immediate audience but strained relations with the Canadian government for years.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Back to Top