Place des Arts is a backbone performing arts centre of Montreal’s cultural scene. Spanning six theatres, including the grand Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier and the sleek Maison symphonique, it’s home to the city’s biggest artistic institutions: the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Opéra de Montréal, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and Orchestre Métropolitain. What began as Mayor Jean Drapeau’s vision in 1963 has grown into Canada’s largest cultural complex, a hub for everything from opera to contemporary art. The sprawling esplanade, modernized in 2018, transforms into an outdoor stage for the city’s major festivals, from the Jazz Fest to Just for Laughs. Underground, it’s seamlessly linked to the metro and Montreal’s Underground City, making it as functional as it is iconic. With its rich history and ever-evolving role in the city’s artistic life, Place des Arts remains the pulse of Montreal’s creative energy.