Victoria Square, Montreal

The Victoria Square is a square in Montreal. It is located in the borough of Ville- Marie and is the center of the Quartier international, the seat of many international organizations. The boundaries of the rectangular space of the Rue Viger, rue McGill and rue Saint -Jacques. The Rue Saint -Antoine divides it into two halves. Is named the place after the British Queen Victoria.

History

1813, the north-western bastion of Montreal city wall was torn down. This left a wide area, which served as the location for markets until the early 1840s. Around the square, which was formerly known as Square of Commissaires, emerged first houses and several churches. On October 10, 1860, the court received its present name, in honor of the British Queen Victoria. Twelve years later, on 21 November 1872 revealed Governor General Lord Dufferin, a statue of the queen.

In the second half of the 19th century, the Square Victoria became the center of an upscale residential neighborhood, but also suffered a number of disasters in 1869 and 1872 created two major fires substantial property in 1886 was of course due to a flood completely under water. In the 1960s there was a great upheaval, as the residential and commercial buildings were torn down and kicked several high-rise buildings in their place. The last redesign of the square was carried out in 2002/ 03 as part of the urban development project Quartier international, successfully several international organizations could be persuaded with the to move their headquarters to Montreal.

Several hundred activists of the Occupy movement held the place in October and November 2011 during seven weeks occupied until the police cleared their camp.

Description

Several skyscrapers and skyscrapers lining the square. These include the Centre de commerce mondial (World Trade Center ) on the north side and the Tour de la Bourse, the third tallest building in the city, on the south side. In the southwest is the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization, on the east that of the media group Quebecor.

The square is lined with many trees and adorned by two works of art. The statue dates back to 1872, representing Queen Victoria, was created by sculptor Marshall Wood. It is about nine meters high and is made of bronze and granite. In 1985, the sculpture Taichi Single Whi Taiwaners of Ju Ming, an abstract representation of a martial artist. Urban is the square of the Metro Station Square - Victoria. Main focus is an art nouveau entrance by Hector Guimard, a gift of the Paris Metro. The metro station and surrounding buildings are connected to the Montreal underground city.