Place d'Armes

Originally built at the end of the 17th century, Place d’Armes has become a prestigious address in Montréal. The surrounding buildings are remarkable mementos of all the major milestones in the city's history. Since 1895, a statue of Paul de Chomedey, "Sieur de Maisonneuve," the founder of Montréal, stands in the centre. Nearby is the city’s oldest building, the "Vieux Séminaire" (130 Notre-Dame Street West), erected between 1684 and 1687, by the Messrs of Saint-Sulpice who were "seigneurs" of the island of Montréal for nearly two centuries. On the north side of the square sits the Bank of Montréal (and its Museum) (119 Saint-Jacques Street West), which was founded in 1817. It is the oldest banking institution in Canada.