Hochelaga

Hochelaga was a fortified Iroquois settlement near Mount Royal in Montreal with several longhouses and wooden palisades. The site now lies in the center of the city, where archaeological excavations have uncovered pottery shards and other remains.

Jacques Cartier visited the village on October 3, 1535, during his second voyage of exploration along the St. Lawrence River. When French settlers returned in the 17th century, they found no trace of the community.

The name refers to an Iroquois village that vanished before European settlers returned to the region permanently. Today a marker and museum artifacts recall the people who grew corn here and lived in longhouses.

A national historic site marker stands near McGill University in downtown Montreal. Visitors can walk to the intersection of Sherbrooke and Peel streets, where excavations took place and interpretive panels offer information.

Scientific research dates the settlement to around 1400, decades before European records began. The sudden abandonment of the site remains puzzling, as no written testimony from that time exists.

Location: Ville-Marie

Part of: Mont-Royal Heritage Site

GPS coordinates: 45.50364,-73.57529

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26