Montréal
Founded in 1642, Montreal was one of Canada's first cities. It is located on an island in the Saint Lawrence River and its name comes from Mont-Royal, the hill with three peaks that is located in its center. Its districts, several of which were once independent cities, include neighborhoods ranging from French-style Vieux-Montréal, cobblestones and the neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica at its core, to the bohemian Plateau.
It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second most populated in the country and the fourth most populated French-speaking city in the world. It is one of the industrial, commercial and cultural centers of North America, hosting several national and international events, including the "Juste pour Rire" festival (one of the largest comedy festivals in the world), the Montreal Jazz Festival ( one of the largest Jazz festivals in the world) and the Formula 1 Montreal Grand Prix. Montreal also hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics.
From centuries-old panoramic views to festivals that featuring the best bands in the modern world, Montreal is a modern and classic city that offers everything but boredom, and as proof of this we recommend some of its many places of tourist interest and entertainment:
- Notre-Dame Basilica: Located in the Old Port neighborhood, it is the mother church of Montreal.
- Old Montreal :It is the oldest neighborhood in the city and is home to the site where Montreal was first established in 1642, Place d'Youville. Its cobbled streets are reminiscent of Europe and in them, you can see carriages with horses. There are many local fashion boutiques and cafes. People frequent it to walk, cycle, take a boat to stroll in the coastal area known as Old Port during the day and at night to have a drink or dine in modern restaurants. The old fortifications of Montreal, transformed in 1717 and demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, mark the borders of the neighborhood. Old Montreal is a mix between the new and the old.
- Mount Royal: It is a mountain located within a park with the same name, in the heart of Montreal, approximately 4 kilometers from east to west and 2.5 kilometers from north to south.
- St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal:Walking around Montreal, you can see a large green round roof on top of a hill that towers over the rest of the buildings, it is the St. Joseph's Oratory, the largest church in Canada and a destination very visited by tourists. At 97 meters high, this great roof is the second highest in the world, only behind St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is a complex with an original chapel, the Basilica, gardens and a museum, which shows religious and artistic exhibitions.
- Museum of Fine Arts: Founded in 1860, it is Canada's most visited museum, attracting more than 1,000,000 art lovers each year. It has 41,000 works in its collection. It is an art museum in every sense of the word, as its walls house traditional fine arts, music, fashion in film and design. Inside you can find an antique glass vase, a Rembrandt painting and unique modern furniture. New “temporary exhibitions” are also presented that join the main collection.
- Space for Life: It is a complex with 4 different spaces: the Bidomo, the Botanical Garden, the Insectarium and the Río Tinto Alcan Planetarium. It is an exciting place to connect nature and the universe, where it is possible to smell nearly 22,000 flowers and plants, eat a sandwich with penguins, lynxes, stick insects and enjoy a 360-degree projection of the Northern Lights.
- Sainte Catherine Street: Rue Ste.-Catherine (as it is called locally) is the neighborhood to do your shopping in Montreal. Whether you're looking for high-end designers, chain stores, local boutiques, or just souvenirs, you can find it on this street. Nine miles long, Sainte Catherine Street crosses downtown Montreal from east to west. You can walk it for hours and always find a different experience around every corner. Restaurants, bars and cafes line the street, making it very accessible by bus or metro. The Montreal Forum, a former home of the legendary Montreal Canadians and the main monument of Place-des-Arts are located on Sainte Catherine Street. If you visit in summer, you will witness how this street comes to life in its crowded terraces.
- The Underground City: After enjoying a of largest shopping streets in the country, it is time for you to see what else this city offers you. Montreal is home to something called the “underground city.” The RÉSO, its official name, is a network of approximately 20 miles of underground roads and tunnels that connect to shopping malls, subway stations and buildings. Access to this network is on the street, in nine main hotels and eight different subway stations, and you have access to 2,000 shops, 17 museums, a hockey arena, a cinema, nightclubs and countless restaurants and businesses. Whether you're trying to escape a cold day, just want to shop, or like to explore, you'll join 500,000 people who are trying to get somewhere through the underground city every day.
