The Citadel, Montreal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Citadel, Montreal |
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|---|---|
| Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
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| Type | fortress used to defend the city |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1690 |
The Citadel of Montreal was an old fortress (a strong building for defense) that helped protect the city. You would find it where Notre-Dame Street is today, between Bonsecour Street and Berri Street.
What Was the Montreal Citadel?
The Montreal Citadel was a military fort. It was smaller than the famous Citadel in Old Quebec. The French built it in 1690. It took the place of an even older defense structure from 1658. This older structure was called a redoubt (a small fort) and was located near Pointe-à-Callière.
How Was It Built?
The Citadel had a building for soldiers to live in. This building was surrounded by a palisade. A palisade is a fence made of strong wooden stakes. The fort stood on a hill. It was also part of the city's main defense wall. In 1723, a cannon battery was added. This made the fort even stronger.
Why Was It Removed?
The British took control of the area later on. In 1821, they decided to tear down the Citadel. They did this to make way for the extension of Notre-Dame Street. This street is still a major road in Montreal today.
