Palais des congrès, as seen from place Jean-Paul-Riopelle

The Palais des congrès de Montréal ("Palais" for short) is a convention and exhibition centre located at the north end of Old Montreal, in Montreal's borough of Ville-Marie. The Palais was constructed above the Ville-Marie Expressway, the main underground artery of Montreal’s downtown. It is also connected to the metro system at Place-d'Armes and, by extension, to what is called the underground city.

The Palais des congrès is sometimes called in English the Montreal Convention Centre. Situated in the Quartier international de Montréal, the Palais serves local, Quebec and Canadian organizations for the staging of exhibitions, meetings, banquets and special events.

[edit] History

The Palais was inaugurated in May 1983. From 1999 to 2002, the Palais underwent an expansion enabling it to double its capacity. The Palais can now accommodate major conventions and exhibitions and stage two or three large events at the same time.

[edit] Events

Numerous events are held over the year, such as the Montreal International Auto Show, which draws 200,000 visitors annually.

From November 28 to December 9, 2005, it held the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

In 2009, it was be the main venue of the 67th World Science Fiction Convention.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Restaurants near Palais des congrès Montreal
• Article on the decline of the Palais des Congrès in French

Coordinates: 45°30′16″N 73°33′36″W / 45.50444°N 73.56°W / 45.50444; -73.56