Quartier des Spectacles (Entertainment District)

Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles ( Entertainment district) was designed to be the central area where most shows and performances occur in the downtown area of Montreal. The Quartier des Spectacles contains various venues with the two most popular being the Place des Arts and the Place des Festivals. It occupies a square kilometer within the city of Montreal.

The Quartier des Spectacles

The Quartier des Spectacles features 80 cultural activity centers, including 30 performance halls, and hosts more than 30 festivals. Some of the various types of entertainment that may be found in this district include film, theater, dance, visual arts, technological arts, music, opera, improvisation, and design. It’s also worth mentioning that they are large international festivals held in this large entertainment district as well. Each summer, nearly 5,000,000 spectators flock to the Quartier des Spectacles for the just for laughs Festival, the Francopholie, and the Montréal international Jazz Festival.

The Place des Festivals

The Place des Festivals is at the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. Officially opened in June 2009, the Place des Festivals is Montreal’s location of choice during the festivals season. During this time, the area becomes a pedestrian-only area that is closed off to vehicles. The distinguishing feature of the Place des Festivals is the dancing waters, an animated fountain with lights. The dancing waters also happens to be Canada’s largest interactive fountain. During the summer, the Place des Festivals is used for large International festivals like the Jazz Festival, the Just for Laughs festival and the Montreal Fracfolies. In the winter, it is the main area for the Montreal Highlights festival.

Venues inside the Quartier des Spectacles

Inside Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles, you’ll find over 80 cultural venues, including 30 performance halls with almost 28,000 seats. The entertainment district has both indoor and outdoor venues that host many of Montreal’s many international festivals at The Place des Festivals. The Place des Festivals (Place of Festivals) officially opened on September 7, 2009. Some of the other facilities available in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles include:

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
Théâtre Saint-Denis
Place des Arts
Théâtre Telus
Les Ateliers de danse moderne de Montréal.
Maison du festival de Jazz
Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
L’adresse Symphonique

Boundaries of the Quartier des Spectacles

Reaching out from the central intersection of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Laurent, the borders of the Quartier des spectacles run along City Councilors, Saint-Hubert and Sherbrooke street and René-Lévesque Boulevard. You’ll find cafes, shops, galleries, fesivals and so much more…