
About Nelson Monument
Nelson's Column on Place Jacques-Cartier in Montreal is the oldest monument in Canada and a significant example of Neoclassical architecture. The 16.5-meter-tall structure was erected in 1809 in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson, whose death at the Battle of Trafalgar prompted the local business community to fund the project. London architect Robert Mitchell designed the column, which is modeled on Trajan's Column in Rome, while the statue and ornaments were made in Lambeth and the shaft, built from local limestone, was worked by a Montreal mason. The monument has a controversial history, as French Canadian residents saw it as a symbol of British rule. Today, you'll see a copy of the statue atop the column, while the original is protected from the elements at the Centre d'histoire de Montréal.
At a glance
- Category
- Sight › Monuments
- Rating
- no reviews yet · write a review
- Address
- Pl. Jacques-Cartier
Montreal, Canada - District
- Ville-Marie
- Phone
- +15148720311
- Website
- —
- —
- Coordinates
- 45.50822° N · -73.55385° E
- Data quality
- confidence 0.83
- Identifier
- ID a0a885ea-56b…
Location & surroundings
Toggle layersFAQ about Nelson Monument
quick answersWhat is the Nelson Monument in Montreal?
The Nelson Monument, also known as Nelson's Column, is the oldest monument in Canada and stands on Place Jacques-Cartier in the Ville-Marie borough of Montreal. The 16.5-meter-tall column was erected in 1809 in honor of the British admiral Horatio Nelson. It is considered an important example of neoclassical architecture.
Who designed and built the Nelson Monument in Montreal?
The Nelson Monument in Montreal was designed by the London architect Robert Mitchell, who took his inspiration from Trajan's Column in Rome. The statue and ornaments were made in Lambeth, while the shaft, built of local limestone, was worked by a Montreal mason. The project was funded by the local business community, which raised money for the monument after Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Why was the Nelson Monument in Montreal controversial?
The Nelson Monument on Place Jacques-Cartier in Montreal was historically controversial because French Canadian residents saw it as a symbol of British rule. The column, erected in 1809, honors the British admiral Horatio Nelson, who fell at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Is the statue on the Nelson Monument in Montreal the original?
No, the column of the Nelson Monument in Montreal is topped today by a copy of the Nelson statue. The original is kept at the Centre d'histoire de Montréal, where it is protected from the elements.
What can you see around the Nelson Monument in Montreal?
Around the Nelson Monument on Place Jacques-Cartier in Montreal, you'll find several historic sites and museums within walking distance. travelguide195 lists, among others, the Château Ramezay history museum (about 80 meters away), the Archives de Montréal (about 76 meters), the Édifice Lucien-Saulnier (about 106 meters), the Pointe-à-Callière Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (about 117 meters), and Bonsecours Market (about 196 meters). travelguide195 also lists around 143 restaurants within 500 meters, and the monument is part of the tour "Montreal in a Nutshell: Olympic Tower, Mount Royal, and the Old Town in One Day."
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