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Old Montreal, Montreal

Old Montreal tips, reviews and photos posted by real travelers and Montreal locals.
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Old Montreal: Marché Bonsecours / Bonsecours Market
  • Tip Rating:
  • tiabunna
  • By tiabunna on January 22, 2008
  • Montreal Page by tiabunna
  • Marché Bonsecours / Bonsecours Market - Montreal
    Marché Bonsecours /
    Bonsecours Market
    by tiabunna,
    1 more photos
    As you head down through the Old Town, you cannot miss seeing the Marché Bonsecours. This very substantial building, dating from 1847, once housed the Canadian Parliament, but also has served as the Montréal City Hall before becoming the main markets for Montréal for over a century. Now it has been renovated and houses restaurants and upmarket shops selling a range of collectable, fashion and tourist-related products. I’m more attracted to things like newsagencies, camera and hardware shops, but looked in vain for one while Pauline happily chased souvenirs. The website link below has a listing of the shops currently there, should you be proposing a visit.

    I considered putting this tip under “to do”, but finally decided that the main activity is shopping. Frankly, as far as the building itself is concerned, the outside is where the architectural interest lies: the interior has been fitted out with the shops in what appears to have been an empty shell (photo 2) – though I understand the upper level is fitted out with rooms.

    Collectable, fashion and tourist-related products

    Let's just say this is not an arcade of discount shops!

  • Theme: Other
  • Address: 350 rue Saint-Paul
  • Website: http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/marchebonsecours/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

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    Old Montreal: not old montreal prices
  • Tip Rating:
  • shashasharon
  • Updated By shashasharon on November 30, 2003
  • Montreal Page by shashasharon
  • Old Montreal - Montreal
    by shashasharon
    this is a gift shop based in Old Montreal without the Old Montreal prices..mostly souvenirs to bring back home..but not one single tacky souvenir in the place...mostly Jewelry, wine accesserios, tableclothes, sushi sets etc..lots of local artisans..some things are over priced..but most is reasonable.

    they will gift wrap anything you buy..just ask its free of charge..I buy stuff for myself all the time and get it gift wrapped..my favorite item they carry is vases...I have one now for every room in my house and my desk at work..if you are reading this get on it send flowers..Joke

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  • Theme: Gifts
  • Address: 347 St Paul est
  • Phone: 514-395-9079
  • Directions: Old Montreal
  • Other Contact: tant qu'il y aura des fleurs
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Old Montreal: Truly Designer Clothing at Bargain Prices
  • Tip Rating:
  • tpal
  • Updated By tpal on August 13, 2005
  • Montreal Page by tpal
  • Shopping frenzy - Montreal
    Shopping frenzy
    by tpal
    As luck would have it, our visit to Marché Bonsecours coincided perfectly with the semi-annual Grande Braderie de Mode Quebecoise held in the lower level. Carol, being the consummate clothing shopper and expert bargain hunter, tells me that this is a genuine "event-not-to-be-missed"!

    What apparently happens is that twice a year many of the local fashion designers offer their original designs for sale at greatly reduced prices. The atmosphere is somewhere between a carnival and a bazaar with a lot of scurrying for the best deals and loooong lines at the fitting rooms.

    Carol was successful at buying a really nice jacket directly from the designer at a price that she assures me was a "steal".

    Advertised as 50% - 80% off the original price

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  • Theme: Women's Clothes
  • Address: 350 rue Saint-Paul Est
  • Phone: (514) 866-2006
  • Directions: Marché Bonsecours in Old Montréal
  • Website: www.braderiedemodequebecoise.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Old Montreal: A Trap In the Summer, A Find Off-Season
  • Tip Rating:
  • gilescorey
  • By gilescorey on January 22, 2004
  • Montreal Page by gilescorey
  • Marche Bonsecours, on right - Montreal
    Marche Bonsecours, on
    right
    by gilescorey
    This tip could just as easily be filed under "tourist trap". The grand-slash-bland Marche Bonsecours is a historic old trading spot, and a regular stop for tour busses stocked with pink-legged tourists and wobbly octogenarians. However, off-season, the shops slash their prices, and the Marche serves as a great place to sample a variety of shops in one convenient setting. The clothing boutiques are stylish(this is Montreal, after all), and the craft shops are refreshingly light on kitsch. And, let me tell you, the bathrooms look like a page from Architectural Digest. Amazing. Hey, stop in to use the bathrooms, at least.

    I shopped, here ,the Quartier Latin, The Plateau, and Downtown...on the whole, the clothing boutiques were competitive at The Marche Bonsecours. But, again: This was October. Hesitate during the Summer.

    Less than average if on sale, off-season

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  • Theme: Other
  • Address: Rue St. Paul
  • Directions: The Marche straddles a city block between Rue St. Paul and Rue De La Commune, Est. It's the grand, domed edifice just East of the Place Jacques Cartier.
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Old Montreal: Shopping in Vieux-Montreal
  • Tip Rating:
  • HORSCHECK
  • By HORSCHECK on November 2, 2002
  • Montreal Page by HORSCHECK
  • Shop in Vieux-Montreal - Montreal
    Shop in Vieux-Montreal
    by HORSCHECK
    Despite the fact that Vieux-Montreal has plenty of touristy souvenir shops, a shopping stroll in that area can be worthwhile. There are many fashion boutiques, art galleries and small shops with unique stuff.

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  • Theme: Other
  • Directions: Stroll around the streets and alleyways near Place Jacques-Cartier in Vieux-Montreal.
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    Old Montreal: In a 17th-century Building
  • Tip Rating:
  • irishgalmtl
  • By irishgalmtl on April 12, 2007
  • Montreal Page by irishgalmtl
  • Old Montreal - Montreal
    by irishgalmtl, 1 more photos
    Bonsecours Market Is and can't miss sight In Old (port) of Montreal. It's 17th century Building Is an unmissable sight there.
    There are about 15 Boutiques inside as well there are Restaurants inside.
    They sell all kinds of stuff such as jewery, Art, Antiques ect.
    Prices vary and I can not give you any pricing as I have not purchased anything there.
    Also they have different arts and crafts exhibitions that are free admission.

  • Theme: Other
  • Phone: (514) 872-7730
  • Directions: 350 St-Paul Street East Old-Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1H2 .
  • Website: http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/marchebonsecours/english/inda_fla.htm
  • Other Contact: Fax: (514) 872-8477
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Old Montreal: Montreal Ceramics
  • Tip Rating:
  • Lisser
  • Updated By Lisser on May 25, 2003
  • Montreal Page by Lisser
  • As the name implies, this gallery, located in the beautiful and historic Bonsecours area of Old Montreal, presents ceramic art both from recognized artists from around the world and recent graduates of the centre's own school.

    The pieces are for sale at reasonable prices; watch for group exhibitions from Quebec ceramists, rotated on a semi-annual basis, and year-round student exhibits. This is a great place to find that unique ceramic gift for that special person.

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  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Address: 444 St-Gabriel St
  • Phone: 514 866 6581
  • Directions: (Old Montreal)
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Old Montreal: It All Looked A Bit Upmarket To Me!
    johngayton
  • Updated By johngayton on April 23, 2009
  • Montreal Page by johngayton
  • Certainly Impressive! - Montreal
    Certainly Impressive!
    by johngayton
    Situated in Vieux Montreal, down by the river, the Marche Bonsecours certainly is one of the city's most impressive buildings with its silvered dome and imposing frontage. The present building dates back to the mid 19th century when the then Municipal Council commisioned it as a public market with meeting rooms. It was briefly home to the Canadian Provincial Government in April/May 1849 whilst the Parliament was temporarily homeless after Tory rioters burnt down the Sainte-Anne Parliament Building. By all accounts the Parliament sat with the building protected by bayonetted troops!

    From 1852 to 78 it was the seat of the City Council during which period it was extended for use as a concert, exhibition and banquetting hall.

    The building continued as a farmers and public market until 1963 when economic factors brought about its disuse.

    In the 1990's the building was restored to its original grandeur, firstly for the 1992 350th anniversary of the city and later as once again a market place.

    The market area is on the ground floor but is no longer a farmer's market, instead comprising various upmarket boutiques and restaurants. This was all a bit upscale for me but makes for a pleasant enough wander around and you can oooh and aaaah at the prices!

    $$$$$!

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  • Theme: Other
  • Address: Rue de la Commune, Vieux Montreal
  • Directions: Down at the Old Port, pretty much unmissable! Nearest Metro is Champ-de-Mars.
  • Website: www.marchebonsecours.ca
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Old Montreal: Christmas all year round
    lotta29
  • By lotta29 on March 5, 2005
  • Montreal Page by lotta29
  • Noel eternel - Montreal
    Noel eternel
    by lotta29
    If you love Christmas (as I do) watch out for this shop! Stepping in to this boutique and seeing all those cute Christmas decorations is a serious threat to your wallet. The high prices are the only reason I didn't empty this store out in a minute =) The decorations also make for a nice souvenir.

    Check out the electronic Santa doing abs...!

    As you could expect in a small, specialized boutique like this the prices are not too low

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  • Theme: Other
  • Address: 461, rue St-Sulpice
  • Directions: Old Montreal, next to Notre Dame Basilica
  • Website: www.noeleternel.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Old Montreal: Bonsecours Market
    buzzz
  • By buzzz on August 12, 2004
  • Montreal Page by buzzz
  • Bonsecours Market - Montreal
    Bonsecours Market
    by buzzz
    Good for a quick browse around. The building itself is more impressive than whats in it.

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  • Theme: Gifts
  • Directions: Near Harbourfront
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
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