ABOUT THE CITY OF MONTREAL:Montreal, the third largest city in Canada is centred on the island of the same name and named after the three-headed peak of Mont-Royal. Europeans first settled here in 1642, although they had been here more than a century earlier when the St Lawrence Valley was claimed for France. This French heritage is still proudly exhibited today, even though the city has a very eclectic mix of cultures and peoples, it still has a distinctly French feel, even though the region became a British possession in 1760. The city predominantly Roman Catholic heritage can be seen in the Basilica of Notre-Dame, St Joseph’s Oratory and the Cathedrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde.
Montreal is justifiably famous for its award winning modern architecture and was recognised as a UNESCO City of design in 2006.
Whether sipping a cappuccino at an outdoor café in Little Italy, gambling at the massive Casino de Montreal complex or exploring historic Old Montreal, you will find the energy of this urban playground contagious. The international flavour of the city pervades all aspects of daily life, from the award winning cuisine to the jazz festival and music scene, large gay community, fashionable shops and edgy arts scene.
Montreal is divided into neighbourhoods, each representing a unique and lively part of this fabulous, tourist-friendly city. There is a wide range of museums, including the fantastic Museum of Fine Arts in the downtown area. This area was formerly known as the ‘Golden Square Mile’, because if the large, luxurious houses built by the wealthy Scottish and English industrialists who helped to shape the city’s political and social life. It is now also home to some spectacular modern architecture.
Cultural life is centred around the Place des Arts, which is home to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestra Metropolitan, I Musici de Montreal, the Opera de Montreal and the Grand Ballets Canadiens, as well as several modern dance troupes and the internationally famous Cirque de Soleil. There is also a lively contemporary music scene. The Quartier Latin is the place for literature and theatre buffs. The city is host to a number of annual festivals including the International Jazz Festival, Francofolies, Just for Laughs, the Osheaga Festival, Pop Montreal and the massive Fireworks Festival.
The oldest part of the city is Vieux-Montreal and it is here that the feeling of being old Europe is strongest, especially is St Denis which feels like the Left Bank of Paris. Saint Laurent Boulevard, Saint-Catherine Street West and Crescent Street are the centres of the city’s nightlife.
For those who want to get away from it all, the Parc du Mont-Royal is a beautiful landscaped park on the mountain of the same name, which offers a range of activities and amazing panoramas.
Shopping is centred around Saint-Catherine Street but in winter the locals head for the Ville Souterraine, an vast underground area with more than 1600 shops, 30 cinemas and some 200 restaurants, all sheltered from the harsh winter above.
Montreal truly is a city with something for everyone.
DON'T MISS IN MONTREAL- The International Jazz Festival in summer
- The Montreal Grand Prix
Habitat 67
- The Metro Stations
- each one is unique
- The international cuisine
YOU SHOULD KNOW:In winter it can be colder here than in Moscow or St Petersburg.
Disclaimer:
By its very nature much of the information in our destination guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
