The Old Market with Its Holiday Air

The Saint-Hyacinthe market was at the heart of urban life in the 19th century.

It has opened its doors every day since 1830, when Seigneur Jean Dessaulles (1766-1835), married to Rosalie Papineau (sister of the leader of the 1837 Patriotes, Louis-Joseph Papineau), ceded a plot of land to serve as the market square.

The oldest public market still operating in Quebec, it is the only one to have kept its food-trade vocation.

It is a true gourmet destination, offering high-quality food retail that showcases regional products.

Inside are seven (7) merchants: cheese shop, fruit stand, sausage maker, delicatessen, fishmonger, bakery and pastry shop, offering fresh, quality products in a unique and warm atmosphere.

Outside, the public market at 1555 welcomes many seasonal producers.

On the second floor is a contemporary art exhibition centre: EXPRESSION.

On September 3, 1876, a major fire destroyed the market and a large part of the town.

It was rebuilt in 1877 on the foundations of the old market.

The public market at 1555 rue des Cascades has existed in its present form for 148 years, and was designated a historic monument by bylaw of the city council of Saint-Hyacinthe on December 19, 2011.

For several years now, a Christmas market has been held there which, over three weekends in December, each worth the detour, offers three different themes in a magical, warm atmosphere.

It is an event at once authentic, creative and gourmet, showcasing the artisans, producers and processors of the greater Saint-Hyacinthe region, and from elsewhere in Quebec as well.

For 2025, it will be held December 5 to 7, 12 to 14 and 19 to 21.

A Comfort Zone presented by DESJARDINS will be open at all times to warm you up and offer a moment’s rest.

This old market stands in the downtown of the city of Saint-Hyacinthe, which takes its name from Seigneur Jacques-Hyacinthe Simon dit Delorme, founder of the town after he purchased the seigneury of Maska on October 25, 1753.

It stands near the bank of the Yamaska River, whose name comes from the language of the Abenaki hunters. Yamaska is said to mean "where there are rushes". Its diminutive, Maska, is the origin of the demonym "Maskoutains", the people of Saint-Hyacinthe.

In the heart of the Montérégie and close to Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe is the hub of a vast agricultural region, with 60,000 inhabitants.

Long recognized as the agri-food capital of Quebec, it boasts an exceptional concentration of educational institutions, research laboratories and industries tied to agri-food.

Since 1993 it has held the title of Agri-food Technopole and belongs to the International Association of Science Parks, a recognition that was, at the time, a first in Canada.

In 2002, the Government of Quebec confirmed its status as the City of Agri-food, Veterinary and Agri-environmental Biotechnology.