Cours Le Royer

Old Montréal


Montréal’s first hospital was founded on this narrow lane by Jeanne Mance in 1644. Later a huge commercial complex was built here, leaving several beautiful 19th-century warehouses behind. The buildings caught the eyes of developers in the 1970s and were converted into apartments and offices. Today the buildings line this quiet pedestrian mall pocked with lush greenery.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Old Montréal attractions

1. Rue St-Paul Ouest

0.07 MILES

This narrow cobblestone street, the oldest in Montréal, was once a dirt road packed tight by horses laden with goods bound for the Old Port. Today it’s a…

2. Basilique Notre-Dame

0.08 MILES

Montréal's famous landmark, Notre Dame Basilica, is a 19th-century Gothic Revival masterpiece with spectacular craftsmanship – a visually pleasing, if…

4. Vieux Séminaire de St-Sulpice

0.11 MILES

The seminary by the Basilique Notre-Dame and its grounds are closed to the public, but you can look at them through the gate. The Catholic order of…

5. Place d'Armes

0.11 MILES

This open square is framed by some of the finest buildings in Old Montréal, including its oldest bank, first skyscraper and Basilique Notre-Dame. The…

6. Old Customs House

0.12 MILES

The former customs house was built in 1836 and lies on a historic stretch of Old Montréal.

7. Place Royale

0.12 MILES

This little square in the west of Old Montréal marks the spot where the first fort, Ville-Marie, was erected. Defense was a key consideration due to…

8. Courthouses

0.13 MILES

Along the south side of Rue Notre-Dame Est near Place Jacques-Cartier, three courthouses stand bunched together. The most fetching is the neoclassical…