Province Québec | ||
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Dedicated to: Marie-Marguerite d'Youville Location: Québec City, Quebec, Canada Similar Capitole de Québec, Plains of Abraham, Old Quebec, De l'Artillerie Park, Terrasse Dufferin | ||
Place D’Youville is a public square in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is located on Rue Saint-Jean where it meets the walls of Old Quebec. It marks the boundary between Parliament Hill and Old Quebec and is named in honor of Marie-Marguerite d'Youville. Part of the square is transformed into a skating rink during winter months, and to its west is the sculpture "The Muses" by Alfred Laliberté, donated by the Government of Quebec for the 375th anniversary of the city in 1983.
Map of Place D'Youville
The area where the square is located today has been occupied since the 1730s, and is historically part of the Saint-Jean district of Quebec City. The original buildings were demolished in 1815 to accommodate an open area next to the fortifications. It was leveled in 1871 and then replaced by the Montcalm market, which was replaced with a grassy area in 1932 after the market closed, when the Palais Montcalm was built to the south.
Renovations completed in 1987 give a public and modern character to this square. A year later, however, development intended to encourage strolling and an entertainment-oriented lifestyle was found to be mainly attended only by street youth, especially at night when groups formed at and surrounding fortifications along the rue Saint-Jean. Quebec City declared a policy of zero tolerance vis-à-vis young loafers in 1996.