Champ-de-Mars station - Large image

Ligne 2 orange CHAMP-DE-MARS

Ligne 2 orange  Côte-Vertu

Left arrow Place-d'Armes

Architect

Architects

Adalbert Niklewicz (City of Montreal)
Headhouse extension (2014): Patrice Monfette1

Artist
Start of service

Start of service

October 14, 1966

Ligne 2 orange  Mont­morency

Berri-UQAM Right arrow

Art & Architecture

Panorama of the interior of the headhouse, with the stained-glass window by Marcelle Ferron on the east, south, and west walls. The roof is angled upward to receive the sun, and the concrete beam ceiling is supported at its four corners by large oval columns.
This station’s headhouse is graced with a glorious set of stained-glass windows, whose vivid abstract forms wrap around three sides of the building, brilliantly colouring the sunlight they admit. The antique-style stained glass, installed in 1968 through the sponsorship of the government of Quebec, is by the major Automatiste painter Marcelle Ferron.
Part of the stained-glass window by Marcelle Ferron, on the south wall of the headhouse. The Place des Montréalaises and City Hall are visible through the window. Part of the stained-glass window by Marcelle Ferron, on the west wall of the headhouse, above the overlook from the ticket hall onto the platforms. Also visible above the tracks is the profile of the unusual ceiling of the trainroom, angled up to the sides from a lowered central section.
View upward from the platforms toward the headhouse, showing the play of coloured light from Marcelle Ferron's stained-glass window across the platforms and tracks. The shallow platforms continue eastward under the ground floor. Note the oval columns, tapered downward, that support the western corners of the roof and continue down to the platforms. Coloured light streams from Marcelle Ferron's stained-glass window through the station volume onto a train. The entrance and eastern wall of the station, showing Marcelle Ferron's stained-glass window illuminated from within by night. (This image was taken before the concession inside the headhouse was moved and before the pedestrian tunnel to Old Montreal and its walkway, left, were demolished.)

The headhouse is angled up toward the south to receive sunlight better, and the windows splash brilliantly coloured light throughout the ticket hall. Moreover, as this is the only station of the original network in which sunlight reaches the platforms, the colourful sunbeams even provide a spectacular multicoloured burst to passengers as their trains roll through. The effect is magical both by day and, from outside the station, by night.

Marcelle Ferron's stained-glass window on the southeastern corner of the headhouse, including over the main entrance. Renovation work in 2014 removed a concession that had blocked off part of the window here. Marcelle Ferron’s stained-glass window on the south and west walls of the headhouse, seen from within the fare-paid zone, on the upper level of the ticket hall. The elevator shaft to the Montmorency platform is at left. At right, the lower level of the ticket hall overlooks the trainroom and leads to the stairs to the platforms.

It is also of historical significance as the only piece of abstract art to be sponsored and installed in the initial network; its defiance of the existing art policy favouring representational works on didactic subjects bore witness to the artistic and cultural revolution gripping Quebec when it was created. It is without question the most gorgeous work of art in the metro, and no visit to the metro should omit it.

Outside view of the station headhouse seen from the southwest. The headhouse’s southern façade with Marcelle Ferron’s stained glass, seen from the Place des Montréalaises. The eastern façade of the station’s headhouse, with its main entrance opening onto a small square, now part of the Place des Montréalaises. The headhouse’s diagonal concrete roof, supported on two massive beams, projects out over the entrance.
The street level of the headhouse, just inside the main entrance, facing the gateline and ticket booth. The black framework of the elevator shafts rise on either side of the gateline. Marcelle Ferron’s stained-glass window is beyond on the south and west walls. View down the short, broad staircase from street level to the lower level of the ticket hall, overlooking the platforms. The lower level of the ticket hall at its western end. The wide staircase at right leads down from the gatelines; the parapet at left overlooks the platforms. The ends of this lower level lead to the staircases down to the platforms; this view looks toward the concrete northern wall of the headhouse and the heads of the staircases to the Côte-Vertu platform.

As for the interior of the headhouse, it encloses the ticket hall, which is on two levels: the gateline and elevators are located at street level, with a wide flight of stairs leading down to an overlook and the heads of the staircases down to the platforms. The angled roof is supported on broad oval columns at its four corners, which continue down to the platforms.

The eastern end of the trainroom, showing the cream and blue-green tiling on the station’s walls and floor. Cream-coloured fibreglass platform seating in an alcove lined with blue-green tiles. The main stairwells from the ticket hall to the platforms pass through the open volume at the west end of the headhouse, where the stained-glass window admits coloured light to the platforms. They pass behind the large columns supporting the roof and behind a section of platform wall before opening onto the platforms. This view looks east from the Côte-Vertu platform.
The eastern stairwell down to the Montmorency platform, considerably narrowed to accommodate the elevator shaft. The foot of the elevator and eastern stairwell down to the Côte-Vertu platform. For some reason, while both eastern stairwells, were narrowed to receive the elevator shafts, the one on this platform is about one-third narrower than its counterpart. The foot of the elevator and eastern stairwell on the Montmorency platform, seen from across the tracks. Note the tapered foot of one of the columns supporting the roof, descending through the floor of the ticket hall.

The trainroom is quite shallow and was built cut-and-cover. Its ceiling is an unusual shape, sloping upward toward the sides from a central ridge. Two flights of stairs lead to each platform: the western ones pass through the volume overlooked by the ticket hall and provide a view of the stained-glass window, while the eastern ones have been considerably narrowed to accommodate the addition of elevators.

The station is clad in dark blue-green and cream tiles, speckled in the trainroom and central platforms and the floors, and in sections at the ends of the platform. These colours provide a relatively muted surface to receive the play of coloured light from the stained glass.

The entrance area of the headhouse outside the ticket barrier, left, looking north. The northern wall of the headhouse is mostly exposed concrete with a plain glass clerestory. At centre, doors lead to the 2014 addition and the underground city link to the CHUM. The north side of the headhouse with the addition built in 2014, which provides a second entrance facing west.
Interior of the addition added to the headhouse in 2014. The doorways in the centre lead to the ticket hall. The underground city link to the CHUM is at left, with an elevator leading to it, and the extension's west-facing entrance is at right. Jacques Bilodeau's sculpture Un solide stands at centre-right. Jacques Bilodeau's sculpture Un solide, in the southwest corner of the headhouse extension.

With the construction of the nearby Université de Montréal megahospital (CHUM), the station was modified to provide underground city access to it, through an extension built on the north side of the station building. Completed in 2014, the extension offers a west-facing entrance (the original station only had an entrance facing east) and a stairwell and elevator leading down to the tunnel to the CHUM and its research centre.

The construction was accompanied by a new 1% artwork, Un solide by Jacques Bilodeau. This sculpture, a tall assemblage of brilliantly polished, angled brass panels, captures and scatters sunlight, in homage to Marcelle Ferron’s work. The sculpture is located in the southwest corner of the addition.

Matt’s Rating

*****

Accessibility

This station is equipped with elevators for wheelchair accessibility. Two elevators join the ticket hall, at street level, to the platforms. In the extension, a third elevator provides access to the tunnel leading to the CHUM. Work to install elevators was completed on December 8, 2014.

History & Trivia

Traffic

Traffic

3,511,815 entrances in 2023
25th busiest station

Platform depth

Interstation distances

Interstation Distances

To Place-d’Armes: 370.60 metres
To Berri-UQAM: 720.50 metres

Origin of the Name

Le Champ-de-Mars.2 The Champ-de-Mars park derives its name from its original function as a military parade ground. The term, campus Martius (“field of Mars”) in Latin, originally referred to a certain field dedicated to the war god Mars in ancient Rome, and in medieval times came to mean an area for military exercises or assemblies.

The first parade ground at this site was established in the 1740s. After the adjacent fortifications of Montreal were demolished in the early 1800s and the City Hall and the old Palais de Justice (now Édifice Lucien-Saulnier) were built, the parade ground was expanded and landscaped. The area was also used as a park and public market.

Replaced by a parking lot in the 1920s, it was restored as a park in 1992, as part of the city’s 350th anniversary celebrations. The foundations of the fortifications were rediscovered at that time; they were integrated into the park and are now on public display.

Sometimes erroneously spelled: Champs-de-Mars.

A military parade in the Champ-de-Mars in 1866.

A military parade in the Champ-de-Mars in 1866
(Source3)

The Champ-de-Mars and city wall foundations today.

The Champ-de-Mars and city wall foundations today
(Source4)

Trivia

  • The group Héritage Montréal awarded the STCUM a Prix Orange for their work to restore Marcelle Ferron’s stained-glass windows at this station. Master glassworker Aurèle E. Johnson restored the windows during the Réno-Métro program in 1999 and used new techniques to protect them from the vandalism and deterioration they had suffered up till then.
Architectural sketch of the headhouse exterior.

Architectural sketch of the headhouse exterior
(Source5)

Architectural sketch of the parapet over the platforms.

Architectural sketch of the parapet over the platforms
(Source6)

The headhouse roof and columns under construction.

The headhouse roof and columns under construction
(Source7)

Interior of the headhouse during construction, in July 1966.

Interior of the headhouse during construction, in July 1966
(Source8)

Panorama of the ticket hall in 2002, prior to the installation of elevators and related modifications in 2014. The ticket booth and gateline were previously located at the lower level of the ticket hall; the upper level was extended westward to accommodate the elevators, and therefore the gateline, at street level.

Panorama of the ticket hall in 2002, prior to the installation of elevators and related modifications in 2014. The ticket booth and gateline were previously located at the lower level of the ticket hall; the upper level was extended westward to accommodate the elevators, and therefore the gateline, at street level.

  • Near this station, an enclosed underground tunnel built in the 1970s formerly crossed under the Ville-Marie Autoroute offramps to provide access to the Champ-de-Mars, City Hall, Rue Saint-Antoine, and Old Montreal. It was accessed by a walkway over the autoroute, adjacent to the station, leading to an entrance building. Its three entrance buildings at the south end were signed with the metro logo and at times displayed as metro entrances on maps, although the tunnel was not operated by the STM or directly connected to the station. From 2013, it hosted a mural by Philippe Allard entitled Printemps, a homage to Marcelle Ferron, and another at its north entrance, by the artist Cease and entitled Caballo Asado; both were created through the organization MU. The tunnel was demolished in 2020 as part of the project to cover the autoroute and create the Place des Montréalaises.
  • In 2011, the travel guide company BootsnAll ranked this station number 1 on its list of the 15 most beautiful metro stations in the world, on the strength of Marcelle Ferron’s stained-glass windows.9, 10
STM station neighbourhood map showing the Champ-de-Mars tunnel and its entrances.

STM station neighbourhood map showing the Champ-de-Mars tunnel and its entrances
(Source11)

The footbridge leading across the autoroute from the station headhouse (right) to the entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel.

The footbridge leading across the autoroute from the station headhouse (right) to the entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel

Panorama of the Champ-de-Mars tunnel, seen from the south. The station headhouse is in the centre background; in front of it is the north entrance to the tunnel, at the end of the walkway over the autoroute, next to the headhouse. The two small exits on the north side of Rue Saint-Antoine are at left and right, amid the highway offramps. The large exit in Champ-de-Mars park is behind the viewer.

Panorama of the Champ-de-Mars tunnel, seen from the south. The station headhouse is in the centre background; in front of it is the north entrance to the tunnel, at the end of the walkway over the autoroute, next to the headhouse. The two small exits on the north side of Rue Saint-Antoine are at left and right, amid the highway offramps. The large exit in Champ-de-Mars park is behind the viewer.
(Source12)

The main entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel, located in Champ-de-Mars park just north of City Hall.

The main entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel, located in Champ-de-Mars park just north of City Hall
(Source13)

The entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel located in the Champ-de-Mars park, as modified apparently during renovations to the park in 1992.

The entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel located in the Champ-de-Mars park, as modified apparently during renovations to the park in 1992
(Source14)

The entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel located at the northwest corner of Rue Saint-Antoine and Rue Gosford, with the entrance at the northeast corner in the background.

The entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel located at the northwest corner of Rue Saint-Antoine and Rue Gosford, with the entrance at the northeast corner in the background.
(Source15)

The entrances on the north side of Rue Saint-Antoine, showing how the tunnel passed under the autoroute offramp. The northeastern entrance is at left.

The entrances on the north side of Rue Saint-Antoine, showing how the tunnel passed under the autoroute offramp. The northeastern entrance is at left.
(Source16)

Interior view of the Champ-de-Mars tunnel, featuring the mural Printemps by Philippe Allard of MU Art.

Interior view of the Champ-de-Mars tunnel, featuring the mural Printemps by Philippe Allard of MU Art.
(Source17)

The mural Caballo Asado, by Cease of MU Art, in the north entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel.

The mural Caballo Asado, by Cease of MU Art, in the north entrance to the Champ-de-Mars tunnel

General Information

Platform diagram

Most convenient metro cars to use when travelling to this station

Platform diagram - Champ-de-Mars station

Station surroundings

Champ-de-Mars - Station surroundings

Station address

Borough of Ville-Marie
940 Rue Sanguinet, at Rue Viger

OpenStreetMap link
Google Maps link

STM neighbourhood map (PDF)

Underground city connections

Nearby attractions

Official website

Service information, opening hours, frequency, bus routes

STM logo

Most recent update: 2026-08-15

References
  1. Chaloux, Christian. (2012, August 16.) "La station Champ-de-Mars plus accessible." Portail Constructo. ↩
  2. Fiche descriptive : Le Champ-de-Mars. Commission de toponymie du Québec. ↩
  3. Image source: Notman, William. (1866). Welcome address to returning volunteers from the Fenian Raids, Champ de Mars, Montreal, 1866. Gelatin silver film negative. McCord Stewart Museum, Montreal. ↩
  4. Image source: Jeangagnon, Wikimedia Commons. Used under the Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 Unported License. ↩
  5. Source: Archives de la Ville de Montréal, VM94-M030-032. Used under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 CA License. ↩
  6. Source: Archives de la Ville de Montréal, VM94-M030-018. Used under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 CA License. ↩
  7. Source: Archives de la Ville de Montréal, VM097-Y-02-D005A-009-01. Used under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 CA License. ↩
  8. Source: Archives de la Ville de Montréal, VM94-M184-001. Used under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 CA License. ↩
  9. Bohrer, Isabel Eva. (2011). “15 of the most beautiful subway stops in the world.” BootsnAll. ↩
  10. Bouthillier, Christine. (2011, December 12). “Champ-de-Mars : la plus belle station au monde.” 24 Heures, p. 3. ↩
  11. Source: Champ-de-Mars station neighbourhood map. © 2012 STM. ↩
  12. Composited from Archives de la Ville de Montréal, VM097-Y-02-D003A-406, VM097-Y-02-D003A-408, and VM097-Y-02-D003A-416. Used under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 CA Licence. ↩
  13. Source: Archives de la Ville de Montréal, VM097-Y-02-D003A-403. Used under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 CA License. ↩
  14. Image source: Google Street View, April 2014. ↩
  15. Image source: Google Street View, June 2009. ↩
  16. Source: Archives de la Ville de Montréal, VM097-Y-02-D003A-441. Used under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.5 CA License. ↩
  17. Image source: Jeangagnon, Wikimedia Commons. Used under the Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 Unported License. ↩