Montreal’s City Hall (Hôtel de Ville)

Montreal’s City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) is one of Montreal’s most impressive buildings. Located in the middle of Old Montreal,it features a unique French Second Empire architecture. City Hall is used as the administrative headquarters of Montreal. Montreal’s mayor also has an office in the building. Amazingly, it is the only City Hall building that Montreal has ever had.

City Hall’s Architecture

The outside of Montreal’s City Hall features ornate balconies, a grand turret and an attractive mansard roof. In the evening, the building’s architecture is even more impressive, thanks to the hundreds of light bulbs used to light it up.

The Hall of Honour

The inside of Montreal’s City Hall is filled with marble and bronze. The Hall of Honour (Salle d’Honeur) is the most impressive room since it features portraits of every mayor that Montreal has ever had. The Hall of Honour boasts marble from Italy, lamps from Paris and an impressive French bronze and glass chandelier.

History of City Hall

The construction of Montreal’s City Hall took 6 years and was designed by Henri-Maurice Perrault. Construction began in 1872 and it was completed in 1878. A terrible fire ravaged most of Montreal’s city hall in 1922, so most of the interior of city hall was reconstructed during the 1920s.

Visiting Montreal’s Hôtel de Ville

Many areas of City Hall are closed-off to the general public. However, visitors can register for a one hour tour of the building. The tours of City Hall take place several times a week from May till October. Visits to the Hall of Honour can only be done during weekdays. Admission to City Hall is free.

Images of Montreal’s City Hall

Montreal’s Hôtel de Ville (stock photo)

Montreal’s Hôtel de Ville (stock photo)