Area Attractions

Victoria Park

Victoria Park is nearby, at the base of the Riverfront Trail. It caters primarily to local, seasonal boaters. The historic Bay of Quinte Yacht Club is located here. It’s the second oldest Yacht Club in Ontario and fourth oldest in Canada. In addition to docking your boat, you can also enjoy off-shore fishing, dragon boat races, and even rent green space for your family reunion, outdoor wedding, or other events.

The Riverfront Trail

Walk, run, bike, or rollerblade the Riverfront Trail downtown. Take an afternoon stroll along the picturesque Moira river and finish your adventure at one of our many shops and restaurants. The Riverfront Trail begins north of the Downtown District. It runs throughout the Downtown core, following the Moira River and winds around Jane Forester Park, a picturesque green space in the city centre, before ending at Meyers Pier.

City Hall

City Hall proudly stands in the center of the Downtown District beside Market Square. Designed by local architect, John D. Evans, this historic building features a massive 144-foot clock tower, gothic columns, a stained glass window designed by Bloomfield local, Stephen Taylor, and four large clock faces, among other aesthetically pleasing design features. It may come as a surprise that this seemingly opulent building was completed in 1873, during the economic depression. And it still stands tall today, in all its High Victorian Gothic Revival beauty.

The Mighty Moira

Flowing through the Downtown District, the Moira River is widely regarded as a great place to go for a pleasant stroll (the Riverfront Trail runs alongside it). However, back in the mid 19th century, it was more than just a scenic pleasure, it was actually a working river – used to transport more than 100,000 logs from Central Hastings each year.

Fun Fact: Up until the mid 20th century, the Moira River regularly flooded in the spring. You can find a plaque commemorating the Great Belleville Floods in the Downtown core at 224 Front Street!

Historic Architecture

Belleville’s Downtown core is home to a variety of picturesque heritage properties. For example, you can visit what is widely regarded as one of Belleville’s most impressive buildings – 10 Patterson Street (also known as Bellevue Terrace). It was built in 1876 and features “sculptural quoins, window hoods, eave brackets, a frieze with scroll designs, and elaborately detailed porches.”

Other historic properties within downtown include the 1850 Liddle Tailor Shop at 143-145 Pinnacle Street, the Memorial Arena at 15 Market Street, the Cablevue Facade at 160 Front Street, City Hall and Market Square at 169 Front Street, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce at 237 Front Street, Greenleys at 258 Front Street, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel at 296 Church Street, the Bohemian Penguin at 297 Front Street, and the McIntosh-Ridley House at 45-47 South Front Street