Place des Arts is the city’s major performing arts centre. It is the centrepiece of Le Quartier des spectacles, which includes la Maison symphonique, home to l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, l’Orchestre Métropolitain, Les Violons du Roy The outdoor space is bounded by the Musée d’art contemporain. Performers and visitors from across the globe gather there for free performances as part of yearly Montreal International Jazz Festival and also Just for Laughs, the world’s pre-eminent comedy festival. Few cities manage very large and rambunctious outdoor crowds as well as Montreal does.
In the middle of the riding is Lafontaine Park, a 40-hectare oasis with a fountain and waterfalls, picnic areas, and playgrounds. One can find statues commemorating French-Canadian soldiers who fought and died in the First World War, as well as important figures such as Félix Leclerc, Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, and Charles De Gaulle.
