Jacques-cartier It is a square located in the Old Montreal, Quebec, and an entrance to the Old Port of Montreal.
The street is named after Jacques Cartier, a French explorer popularly considered one of the great discoverers of Canada. The wide, divided street descends steeply down from Montreal City Hall and rue Notre-Dame — from the waterfront and rue de la Commune. During the high tourist season, the street is home to many street artists and kiosks.
During the Christmas season, the street is lined with illuminated trees. At any time of the year, one can find restaurants on both sides of the street and many more in the surrounding streets of Vieux Port, in particular, on Rue Saint-Paul.
It is a car free zone in the summer. During high season, Jardin Nelson is a popular restaurant on Place Jacques-Cartier. Other restaurants offer classic Paris "terrace" dining.
Near Place Jacques-Cartier on Rue de la Commune, an original piece of the wall of the old walled city can still be seen in the basement restaurant of the Auberge du Vieux-Port. At the top end of the stands Place what might be the most controversial monument in all of Montreal: Nelson's Column, installed in memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson.
Dating from 1808, it was erected by the English merchants of the city. The 8-foot statue is commemorative but was removed in 1997 to preserve it from inclement weather, and was later replaced with a copy.