Description: The lovely building that houses the Marche Bonsecours (Bonsecours Market) was built in 1847. The long building with the shiny silver dome over looks the St. Lawrence River, the hub of Montreal. The site where the market is now has always been a focal point for social activity, including hotels and a theatre. The building we see there today was a public market and was also used for banquets and other major functions through the years. For a short time, the Parliament of United Canada (before Canada was established as a country proper and was just still a colony) was held here, too.
The building is now renovated and is used to be a focal point on Quebec-made crafts and arts. It is an upscale shopping centre with boutiques and galleries featuring exquisite items such as jewellry, glass and pottery, many of it one-of-a-kind. There's also aboriginal art, furniture, fashion and other crafts. There are little restaurants and cafes, one that has the atmosphere reflecting the 18th century. They aren't inexpensive, though, so probably not the kind of place you want to just stop for a quick coffee and cake while sightseeing. That's what we felt, anyway. It was a bit posh for us but it is a very nice place to browse and it's a beautiful building to photograph. You can see the dome peeking out from around corners and in between buildings in much of the Old Montreal area.
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