Mount Royal, A Territory to Discover

The Chalet

At the beginning of the 1930s, the City of Montréal decided to replace the Maxwell pavilions with a spacious heated building. Like the work site at lac aux Castors, the construction of the Chalet, in 1931-1932, was one of the large make-work projects undertaken to reduce the unemployment caused by the Great Depression.

The architect, Aristide Beaugrand-Champagne wanted the Chalet to be well back from the lookout, unlike the Maxwell pavilions. The rhythm of the openings and arrangement of the windows mark the 49.5-metre façade. We find these characteristics of rhythm and symmetry on each side of the Chalet. The gabled tile roof has a large cornice that overhangs the front of the chalet.

The building is a study in contrasts with its imposing size, its luxurious materials (marble, granite), and its elegant doors and paintings by great artists, that combined make it a beautiful, opulent building. But it remains humbly known as the Chalet for its exposed beams, the simplicity of its interior layout and its vocation as a shelter for hikers and skiers. It was renovated in 2001-2002.

Crédit photo

© Les amis de la montagne Collection