Viger Square
| Viger Square French: Square Viger |
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Agora by Charles Daudelin is a prominent sculpture in Viger Square.
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| Type | Town square |
| Location | Old Montreal, Ville-Marie Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°30′45″N 73°33′14″W / 45.5126°N 73.554°WCoordinates: 45°30′45″N 73°33′14″W / 45.5126°N 73.554°W |
| Created | September 11, 1860 |
| Operated by | City of Montreal |
| Status | Open all year |
Viger Square (officially in French: square Viger) is an urban square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was greatly changed by the construction of the Ville-Marie Expressway in the 1970s. The square is divided into three sections. It is bordered to the west by Saint Denis Street, to the east by Saint André Street, to the north by Viger Street and to the south by Saint Antoine Street.
In the 1840s, the city of Montreal acquired several parcels of marshland permitting for its development. Trees were planted and pathways were traced.
Prior to 1851, a hay market and public scale operated on the site on the east side of Saint Denis Street. The hay market moved a few times on the site, but was always to the east.
Viger Square was inaugurated on September 11, 1860. In 1865, greenhouses were added, although were moved to La Fontaine Park in 1889.
In 1870, Viger Square was the only public place in Montreal to hear live music. Ernest Lavigne directed his orchestra in Viger Square from 1885 to 1889, before he moved to Sohmer Park.
In 1892, to enlarge the square at the request of citizens, the cattle market was demolished near Saint André St. Some members of the French-Canadian elite moved near the square, which experienced a boom with the construction of prestigious buildings such as Place Viger (700 Saint Antoine Street) by architect Bruce Price in 1898 and the École des hautes études commerciales (535 Viger Avenue) in 1908-1910.
In the mid-20th century, several redevelopment projects were suggested for this vast space. Among them were plans to build a municipal library, an auditorium (to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Montreal in 1942) or to accommodate a large parking lot (in the 1950s).
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