The Marché Bonsecours is the most architecturally distinguished building in Old Montreal — a long, symmetrical, two-storey neoclassical structure with a cast-iron portico and a distinctive silver dome that has been a landmark on the waterfront since 1847. For much of the 19th century it served as Montreal's main public market and was briefly the seat of the legislature of the Province of Canada.
Today the building houses boutiques selling Québécois design and craftsmanship, and a small permanent exhibition on its own history. The ground floor tends toward tourist-oriented shops, but the upper level has some quality local artisan work worth browsing. The main reason to come is the building itself and the view from rue Saint-Paul, where it closes the end of the street in a satisfying architectural punctuation mark.