1898 – Place Viger, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Constructed in the French château-style common to railway hotels built across Canada, Place Viger housed a railway station in its lower levels and an hotel on the upper floors. Quite reminiscent of Price’s Chateau Frontenac in Quebec city without the dramatic site and scale. The rail station was the terminus of the Canadian Pacific passenger rail lines running into Montreal from the north and east, while CP passenger rail lines running from the south and west used Windsor Station. A rare Canadian example of the British-style railway hotel where the two facilities were combined in one building, with the hotel lobby also functioning as the station ticket office and waiting room.

Place Viger enjoyed an enviable setting adjacent to the gardens of Viger Square, allowing both railway travellers and hotel guests to stroll along the garden paths. However changing demographics and the great depression meant that hotel was closed in 1935. In 1951, the railway station also closed, and the building was sold to the City of Montreal. Since then it has been gutted internally and used for a variety of purposes.

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