Originally constructed to house Montreal's first interior market, this building (1847) occupies the former site of the Intendant's Palace, destroyed in 1796. With its 163m/535ft freestone façade and lofty dome, the elegantly ornamented structure is best viewed from the riverside. The ground-floor merchant stalls were accessible from the outside through large bays. After fire destroyed the Parliament Buildings in 1849, the market became the seat of the Legislature of the United Canadas. From 1852 to 1878, it served as the City Hall, and today is leased for a variety of charming shops, craft boutiques, temporary exhibitions, and other purposes.