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ABOUT MONTREAL |
| Montreal – An Introduction to our Beautiful City |
This unique multicultural city that combines the best of European charm and North American vitality is a one of a kind experience. With over 80 ethnic communities that gives it life, this truly bilingual city of approximately 3.4 million inhabitants beats at a different rhythm than any other metropolis in North America. |
While Montreal may be the second largest French speaking city in the world after Paris, it is also very special because it is situated within predominantly English speaking North America. So while essentially being French, a large number of its inhabitants speak both English and French, making Montreal probably the most bilingual city in the world.
See Josh Freed Montreal Gazette article. |
| The city was established over 360 years ago and is one of North America’s oldest and best preserved historical cities. With its large collection of 18th and 19th century grey stone buildings, Montreal manages to successfully blend the old with the new. Old Victorian manors, century old churches and modern new skyscrapers manage to co-exist in harmony. What is truly incredible is how such a large city can actually seems inviting and cozy. It is probably because Montreal is made up of numerous bustling and diverse neighborhoods that give it its charm and warmth. |
| What truly makes Montreal special are its people and their joie de vivre. There must be something in the water, since Montrealers truly enjoy life and love to experience what their city has to offer. Unlike the typical North American work based mentality, Montrealers instead work to enjoy life and its many pleasures. Montrealers love to eat and drink, love to be entertained, and especially love to celebrate life. And because Montreal loves to celebrate, it has become a city of dazzling world-class festivals. |
| City of Festivals |
| While Paris may be the city of lights and New York the city that doesn’t sleep, Montreal has truly become the City of Festivals. Recognized for how smoothly we throw a party and how efficiently we run our festivals, Montreal is know for hosting the largest and most attended festivals in the world. A few of the more popular ones include: |
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| Gastronomical Feast |
| Due to the large number of cultures that make up this city as well as the French and European influences present, Montreal has a disproportionate number of wonderful eating establishments to choose from. With thousands of restaurants, Montreal is known the world over as being one of the most affordable and gastronomically pleasing cities around. With more restaurants per capita than any other comparable city in the world, Montreal truly enjoys and knows its food. |
| City of Shopping |
| Where to start? With the juxtaposition between the European fashion centers of Paris and Milan and with New York at its doorsteps, Montreal takes the best from both European and North American design and shows it off in a way that is special. Montreal has a savoir fair and design sensibility that can be traced back to its European roots. Slightly more refined and avant-garde than most other North American cities, Montreal is truly unique. With major department stores and countless boutiques around every corner, here are a sampling of some of Montreal’s finest: Centre Eaton, Cours Mont-Royal, Place Ville Marie, Ogilvy, Holt Renfrew, Simons, The Bay, l’Uomo Montreal, Harry Rosen, Parasuco, Buffalo, Les Touilleurs, just to name a few. Did you know that only a few blocks away from Le Petit Price there is Rue Notre Dame with shop after shop of wonderful antique stores to satisfy both the collector and the casual browser? Art galleries can be found all over town, but a large selection is located in Old Montreal and on Crescent Street, Sherbrooke Street, avenue Laurier, and on rue St. Denis. |
| City of Attractions |
| It is truly unfair that one city has so much to offer. Once again, Montreal has been blessed with a large number of world-class attractions and activities for the entire family. The Casino de Montreal, the Old Port, Old Montreal, Montreal’s Botanical Gardens (3rd largest in the world), the Biodome, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (oldest museum in Canada), McCord Museum of Canadian History, Canadian Centre for Architecture (one of North America’s only museum dedicated to architecture), Six Flags LaRonde Amusement Park, Pointe-a-Calliere Museum (award winning archeology museum), Montreal Planetarium, Montreal Science Centre and IMAX Theatre, the Biosphere, the Insectarium, Atrium Le 1000 (indoor year round skating rink), the Olympic Park (Montreal was host to the 1976 Olympics) and much much more. |
| City of Culture |
| Montreal has a diverse arts and cultural scene that is the envy of all major metropolises. From classical music to jazz, from ballet and modern dance to experimental theater, and from comedy to world class musicals, there is never a shortage of events to assist in. A few of the cultural institutions that makes Montreal so special include the Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (with Artistic Director Kent Nagano), L’Opera de Montreal, I Musici de Montreal, Les Grand Ballets Canadiens, Theatre du Rideau Vert, the Centaur Theatre and Place des Arts (our very own Lincoln Centre type facility with five halls and nearly 6,000 seats). |
| City of Churches |
| With some of the most beautiful churches this side of the Atlantic, Montreal is home to an impressive number of places of worship. A few of the more noteworthy examples are Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montreal, Saint Joseph’s Oratory (one of the most visited shrines in the world with a huge dome that is second only in height to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome), and Mary Queen of the World Cathedral as well as St. Patrick’s Basilica in downtown Montreal. |
| City of Neighborhoods |
| The beauty that is Montreal is the diversity and uniqueness of its many neighborhoods. Make sure to ask your host for directions to and information on any of the following wonderful neighborhoods. A visit to Montreal is not complete unless you explore a few of the unique districts that make Montreal so special. |
- Chinatown
- Little Italy
- Quartier Latin
- Old Montreal and the Old Port of Montreal
- Plateau Mont-Royal
- Prince Arthur Street & Square Saint-Louis
- Laurier Avenue
- Bernard Avenue
- Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
- The Village
- Park Jean-Drapeau (Ile Ste-Helene & Ile Notre-Dame)
- Lachine Canal National Historic Site
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| City of History |
| Old Montreal and the Old Port of Montreal will take you back in time to the place where the city was founded in 1642. With its 18th and 19th century architecture, the beauty of this historic area gives it a timeless appeal for all those who visit, locals and tourists alike. The Old Port’s 2.5 km of walkways is Montreal’s window on the St. Lawrence River. The Old Port attracts over seven million visitors annually to its parks, walkways, cruises, exhibitions and just for pure relaxation. |
| The Village |
| Gay-friendly doesn’t begin to describe Montréal, a city founded on diversity and where different lifestyles are not only accepted, but nurtured. Naturally, Montréal is home to one of the largest and most extroverted gay communities in the world. And visitors here will always feel safe and respected. The vivid nightlife is complemented by a high level of daytime energy, when the streets of the Village hustle and bustle with employees from nearby radio and TV production houses. Montreal is also very proud to be the host city of the 1st World Outgames (from July 28 - August 8, 2006) |
| Travel Made Easy |
| While rather compact, the downtown core and many of its special neighborhoods are great places to explore on foot. With an efficient and safe subway and mass transit system, Montreal is one easy city to travel within. The downtown core also has two major train stations and a couple of bus terminals. And with our international airport (Trudeau International) only 20 minutes from downtown, Montreal is one easy city to travel to. |
| World Class Sport City |
| The city is home to the Grand Prix du Canada (Formula 1), Montreal’s Molson Indy, Tennis Masters Canada, the Tour de l’Ile (bicycle race), the famous Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club (proud winner of 24 Stanley Cups), CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, and the Montreal Impact (our local professional soccer team). In 1976, Montreal hosted the Olympics at the Olympic Park. This past summer we successfully hosted the 2005 FINA International Swimming Competition. |
| The Underground |
| The underground pedestrian network is made up of over 32 kilometers (20 miles) of passageways, linking more than 1,700 boutiques, hotels, restaurants, universities, dozens of office buildings and attractions. This vast network of pedestrian walkways below the city provides more than 500,000 people each and every day the ability to move around town and explore the numerous downtown attractions away from the elements. |
| Mount Royal Park |
| Referred to by Montrealers as the Mountain, this sanctuary to both locals and visitors alike, boasts a spectacular park in the middle of the city designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the designer of New York’s Central Park. This is an ideal site to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to admire nature, taking a leisurely walk or bike ride, and simply to enjoy summer and winter activities or to take in a spectacular view of downtown Montreal, the St. Lawrence River and the city. |
| Bicycle Haven |
| Montreal is proud of its reputation as one of the largest bicycle friendly cities in the world with over 400 miles (660 km’s) of bicycle paths. Bicycling Magazine has named Montreal the number one cycling city (among cities of over one million inhabitants) in North America. Why not rent a bike for a few hours and explore the city in a way that is not only healthy but extremely fun to do? |
| Restaurants we recommend |
For a typical French meal with a bistro atmosphere…
Restaurant Au Pied de Cochon
http://www.restaurantaupieddecochon.ca/
L’Express
http://www.montrealfood.com/restos/lexpress.html
Entrecote St-Jean
http://www.entrecotesaintjean.com/
For a European meal we suggest …
Europea
http://www.europea.ca/
Ferreira Cafe
http://www.ferreiracafe.com/
For the vegetarians…
Chu Chai
http://www.toutmontreal.com/cgi-bin/guide/cherche.cgi?restaurants,Chu_Chai,*restaurants
Le Commensal
http://english.montrealplus.ca/portal/profile.do?&profileID=500496
For the meat eaters…
Le Milsa
http://www.churrascaria-milsa.com/
La Queue de Cheval
http://www.queuedecheval.com/
Schwartz’s
http://www.schwartzsdeli.com/
For a little jazz with your dinner…
Upstairs
http://www.upstairsjazz.com/
House of Jazz
http://www.houseofjazz.ca/
Sushi?
Sho-dan
http://www.restomontreal.ca/portal/sho-dan/
Kaizen
http://www.bar-resto.com/kaizen.htm
If you like Indian…
Restaurant Ghandi
http://english.montrealplus.ca/portal/profile.do?profileID=713103
Curry House
http://www.restomontreal.ca/restaurants/index.php?section=viewresto&resto_id=870
Or Ethiopian…
Nil Bleu
http://www.toutmontreal.com/cgi-bin/guide/cherche.cgi?restaurants,Nil_Bleu,*restaurants
And finally, our favorite restaurant for very fine dining…
Bronte
http://www.montrealfood.com/restos/bronte.html |
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