Fort de la Montagne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort de la Montagne |
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| Montreal, Quebec | |
Image of fort in front of Collège de Montréal
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| Coordinates | 45°29′38″N 73°35′05″W / 45.4938°N 73.5846°W |
| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | New France: Quebec |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1685 |
| In use | 1685-1854 |
| Official name: Sulpician Towers / Fort de la Montagne National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1970 |
| Type: | Historic monument |
| Designated: | 1974 |
The Fort de la Montagne (also known as Fort des Messieurs or Fort Belmont) was an old fort. Its remaining parts are located on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The fort was built in 1685. Some parts of it were taken down in the mid-1800s.
Two stone towers, about 13 meters (43 feet) tall, still stand today. They were built in 1694 as strong corners of the fort, called bastions. These towers are among the oldest buildings on the Island of Montreal. In 1970, the towers were named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means they are very important to Canada's history.
History of the Fort
A special mission was started in 1675 at the base of Mont-Royal mountain. Its goal was to teach local First Nations people about Christianity. A priest named François Vachon de Belmont came to New France around 1680. He was sent by his religious group, the Society of Saint-Sulpice priests from Paris, to help the mission.
By 1683, about 210 First Nations people lived there. These included members of the Iroquois, Hurons, and Algonquins groups. To keep the mission safe from attacks, especially from the Iroquois, a fort was built in 1685.
Moving the Mission
After about 20 years, the missionaries decided to move the people living at the mission. They wanted to move them further away from the city. This was to help them focus on their new way of life. In 1696, everyone moved to another part of the island. They went to Fort Lorette at Sault-au-Recollet.
The mission at Fort de la Montagne officially closed in 1705. The land was then rented out to local farmers. Some of these farmers even lived inside the old fort buildings. In 1825, a new floor was added to the main house, called the château des Messieurs. A small chapel was also built inside one of the towers.
Changes to the Fort
The original fort had four strong corner sections (bastions). It also had walls and fences made of wood. Most of these parts were taken down in 1854. This happened when the College of Montreal was being built. Only the two southern towers were left standing.
Three bastions were built on the land owned by the Sulpician priests. The first of these was built in 1675. From 1984 to 1986, important repair work was done on the two remaining towers. In 1974, the towers were officially recognized as provincial historical monuments. Then, in 1982, they became part of the Domaine des Messieurs-de-Saint-Sulpice historic site.
Affiliations
- College of Montreal (around 1854-1857)
- List of French forts in North America
