Description of the attraction
Byward Market (also known as Bye Market or Byward Market) is one of the largest and oldest public markets in Canada. It is located in the heart of the city of Ottawa and is a huge shopping area in the southwestern part of the so-called "Lower City" or Lowertown. It is bounded by Sussex Drive and Mackenzie Avenue in the west, Cumberland Street in the east, Rideau Street in the south, and extending north to Cathcart Street.
The market got its name in honor of the founder of Ottawa - British engineer Lieutenant Colonel John Bye, chief engineer of the Rideau Canal project, from which, in fact, the history of the modern city began. It was John Bye who, in 1826, developed the plan for the original market, initially confined to George Street and York Street, which looked more like wide avenues. The width of the streets was about 40 m, which was very prudent, since it made it possible to deliver goods by horse carriages directly to the market. A few years later, shops, hotels, taverns and industrial enterprises appeared around the market square, and by the middle of the 19th century the area had become an important industrial and commercial center.
Over its almost two hundred years of history, Byward Market has undergone dramatic changes and significantly expanded its boundaries. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ottawa and also a favorite destination for the city's residents. You will find here outdoor shopping areas, many shops, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, pubs (including the oldest inn in Ottawa - Chateau Lafayette), beauty salons, a variety of entertainment and much more.
