Place Ville-Marie

Place Ville Marie, a downtown feat

The Montreal audio-guided tour takes you across Place Ville Marie, a vast business campus surrounded by skyscrapers that reflect one another. In the midst of this dizzying ensemble, you gauge the scale of a project that marked the city's urban history.

Filling a trench to build the city

Building this square was both an extremely difficult challenge and a true stroke of genius to launch the development of downtown. Originally, the site was occupied by a fifteen-metre-deep trench overlooking the railway tracks. The idea was to fill in the space and build over it edifices resistant to vibrations, without interrupting rail traffic during the work.

What there is to see

Built in the 1960s, Place Ville Marie is dominated by its cruciform tower, one of the symbols of downtown. The complex houses offices, shops and a vast underground network connected to Montreal's underground city. Its esplanade, lively and open onto the city, offers fine perspectives over the skyscrapers and is a major landmark.

Practical information

Place Ville Marie is in the heart of downtown Montreal, near the underground city network. The esplanade is freely accessible at all hours and on the level; the shops and the underground gallery keep their own hours.

When was Place Ville Marie built?

It was built in the 1960s, over a former trench overlooking the railway tracks, to launch the development of downtown Montreal.

What made its construction difficult?

The site was occupied by a fifteen-metre trench overlooking railway tracks. It was necessary to fill in the space and build edifices resistant to vibrations without stopping train traffic.