Saint Louis Square (officially in French: square Saint-Louis) is an urban square in Montreal's Plateau Mont Royal. Its eastern edge fronts onto Saint Denis Street, a major north–south artery. Square Saint Louis Street runs along both the square's northern and southern sides, while Laval Avenue runs along its western side.
| Saint Louis Square | |
|---|---|
| French: square Saint-Louis | |
 Saint Louis Square, looking east from Laval Street, fountain in the distance, 2005. | |
  | |
| Type | Town square |
| Location | Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°31′01″N 73°34′12″W / 45.517015°N 73.569968°W |
| Created | 1876 |
| Operated by | City of Montreal |
| Public transit access |   at Sherbrooke station  Terminus Sherbooke |
Overview
editThe square is located on the site of the city's former reservoir, which was in use until 1852, after which it was replaced by the McTavish reservoir following the Great Fire of 1852. The square was created in 1876 and was named for two businessmen, brothers Emmanuel Saint-Louis and Jean-Baptiste Saint-Louis.[1][2]
The Project for Public Spaces has called the square "the closest thing to a European neighbourhood square you'll find this side of the Atlantic."[3]
Art
editFontaine du Square Saint-Louis
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The square's centrepiece is a cast-iron fountain by Jordan L. Mott. It is one of the earliest public fountains in the city, composed of two basins, one above the other.
Pieces for this type of fountain would be ordered through the catalogue of J.L. Mott Iron Works, which then were assembled to create a customized composition. [4]
Monument à Louis-Octave Cremazie
editA bust of Octave Crémazie was unveiled on June 24, 1906, designed by Louis-Philippe Hébert, near the home of Émile Nelligan, which faces the square.[5][6]
Monument à Émile Nelligan
editNelligan himself was honoured with a bust in the square 99 years later, on June 7, 2005, designed by Roseline Granet.[7]
Surrounding buildings
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The square is also notable for the Victorian-style residences that face the park.[1] The Union des écrivaines et des écrivains québécois used to be headquartered at 3492 Laval Street, which had once been the residence of director Claude Jutra. The apartment at 3614 Laval Street was also used to film the opening scene of the 1967 thriller film Wait Until Dark, followed by an exterior scene showing the Saint-Louis Square. The character in the opening scene (played by Jean Del Val) is named "Louis" as a nod to the park across the street.
References
edit- ^ a b "Le Plateau historique". L’Avenue du Mont-Royal (in French). Société de Développement de l’avenue du Mont-Royal. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Square Saint-Louis". A View on Cities. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Square St. Louis". Project for Public Spaces. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Fontaine du Square Saint-Louis". Public art in Montréal. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "P-0000.859.6 | Cremazie Monument, St. Louis Square, Montreal, QC, about 1910". Website. McCord Museum. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Monument à Louis-Octave Crémazie". Public art in Montréal. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Monument à Émile Nelligan". Public art in Montréal. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
External links
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Media related to Saint-Louis Square at Wikimedia Commons
