Place Jacques-Cartier is a large and lovely square located in Old Montreal. Jacques Cartier was an explorer who claimed Canada for France in 1535. The Square forms an entrance to the Old Port of the city. It is full of life with hundreds of visitors walking up and down the wide street which is the Square. There are dozens of restaurants and other shops and stalls with traders selling their wares. The Square originally formed the gardens of a huge chateau, built in 1723, the Château Vaudreuil which was destroyed in a fire, in 1803. The square is home to a number of monuments, like Nelson’s Column and a statue to Vauquelin Lieutenant de Vaisseau, a French naval hero who became commander of the French fleet in the St Lawrence. This is a wonderful Square worth a visit.

We walked through this lovely cobbled square a few times. It’s pedestrian only, a rarity in Montreal. Surrounded by restaurants and cafés with the gardens of Château Ramezay on one side. Also a statue of Nelson for some reason. There’s even a Jardin Nelson opposite. Reminds us of the time there was a Titanic exhibition in some museum on Route 66!

Personally, I thought this huge “Piazza” ended up being my favorite “plaza” in which to hangout. I might have preferred a statue of Samual Champlain instead of Admiral Nelson. It's a very nicely tiled area pleasantly lined with many choices of bars and restaurants. It was very lively the night I was there.

Place Jacques-Cartier is a square located in Old Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is an entrance to the Old Port of Montreal. The broad, divided street slopes steeply downhill from Montreal City Hall and rue Notre-Dame to the waterfront and rue de la Commune.

When you continue from Basilica on Rue Notre Dame East you will come to Nelson's monument which is at the top of this square. There are many restaurants and small cafes and towards the river in the lower part are stands of local artists selling their works. We bought one very nice picture of Rue St Paul.

This place is full of vibes, especially on weekends. Place Jacques Cartier was the site of Montreal’s public market until the 1950s. It’s now one of the main tourist sites in Montreal’s Old City. In the heart of Old Montreal, running from the Old Port to Rue Notre-Dame, Place Jacques-Cartier is a welcoming, open space with benches for resting and leafy trees for a bit of shade in the summer. At the beginning - depending on where you start- there is a Nelson's Column. Restaurants and retail outlets in 19th-century townhouses and mansions line both sides of the square. Many of Montréal's historic tourist attractions and things to do are nearby, including City Hall, the Old Palace of Justice, and the elegant 1705 mansion Chateau Ramezay Museum. Bonsecours Market is just beyond here, along Rue Saint-Paul. No stroll through Old Montréal would be complete without a stop at Place Jacques-Cartier, a lively spot steeped in heritage. A meeting place for centuries, Montrealers and visitors alike gather here to admire the view of the Old Port, sit for a spell at an outdoor terrasse, take in performances of the many street artists, and enjoy entertainment at every time of year. I was talking to shop owners and they mentioned- "This is nothing, come to Christmas season and you will see the real beauty. Wow