Montréal Magnifique!
Montréal Magnifique!
Swept up in the timeless joie de vivre
By Lorie Steiner
What to expect when you don’t know what to expect? If you’re a first timer to Montreal, you have a treat in store! The largest city in Quebec, Montreal is aglow night and day with a melding of old-world ambiance and modern urban vibes. Arriving by plane, train or car, you’ll be greeted with a friendly “bonjour” from everyone you meet. Not to worry, Montreal is bilingual, but wouldn’t it be nice to expand your horizons and pick up some beautiful French-Canadian phrases to take back home?
No matter your interests or tastes, Montreal doesn’t disappoint. Here are some snapshots and snippets to inspire a memorable adventure!
Wander at will
Once you’ve settled into a luxe five-star hotel in the heart of downtown or a charming bed & breakfast further out, it’s time to reward your savvy destination choice with a wander through the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal. Here, architecturally gorgeous historic buildings are home to art galleries, craft workshops, fashion boutiques, restaurants and cafés. It’s like vacationing in Europe but without the passport!
Activities are on tap year-round in the Old Port, another walking paradise with recreational paths to stroll while enjoying a splendid view of the city and the St. Lawrence River. Then take time to relax and breathe deeply as you immerse yourself in the lush natural splendour of the 180-acre Montreal Botanical Garden.
Parc Jean-Drapeau sits pretty on a pair of islands in the St. Lawrence River, directly across from Montreal’s downtown core. Well known for hosting Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics, it continues to welcome international events, including the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival and Lasso Montréal. Hikers love this verdant oasis, with its 25-km winding network of multi-disciplinary trails interspersed with valuable public artworks and panoramic vistas of the city.
It seems at every turn, Montreal is tempting guests with unique museums, landmarks, green spaces, shoppes, open-air markets and galleries to keep you awed and entertained.
Angels in the Architecture
The city’s oldest Catholic church, the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal is an imposing neo-Gothic house of worship dating back to 1824. Adorned with statues, chapels and stained-glass windows, Notre-Dame towers over the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal beckoning visitors to enter. Daily tours are available, showcasing the amazing interior architecture, as well.
If you’re an arts enthusiast, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has more gallery space than anywhere else in Canada and thousands of paintings, sculptures and other artworks to admire. International art is emphasized with early, modern and contemporary pieces from all over the world featured in its stunning collection and intriguing exhibits.
To market, to market…
The colourful Jean-Talon Market first opened in 1933 and has hosted generations of vendors over the decades. Situated in Montreal’s Little Italy neighbourhood, the market is a thriving community staple and the perfect place to buy goods from local fishmongers, butchers and fruit and vegetable growers. Not only will you find the freshest produce, meats, seafood and floral bouquets, you’ll also be supporting local businesses and taking in another rich Montreal experience.
Bon appetit!
From award-winning fine dining restaurants to traditional Montreal bagel shops and cafés to innovative upscale cocktail bars, it’s all here for the tasting.
Of course, no trip to Montreal would be complete without indulging in the pleasure of poutine. The comfort food combo of fries, gravy and cheese curds that was invented in Quebec has become a worldwide fan fave, with chefs everywhere inspired to put their culinary stamp on new recipes.
Montreal boasts many such creative souls. A great example: La Banquise in the trendy Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood is one of the most visited poutine purveyors in Montreal. Conveniently open 24/7, you can sate your appetite day or night with their variety of menu options, from the meaty T-Rex to the entirely vegan Véganomane.
Montreal’s Chinatown is another must-go for dining. Serving traditional Chinese specialities, such as fresh-made noodles, dim sum and dumplings, you can also try the famous dragon’s beard candy. This delicious ancient sweet treat is made of hand spun cotton candy filled with crushed peanuts, chocolate pieces, sesame seeds or coconut. Hard to resist!
Pride and passion
So many options, we’ve barely touched on the secrets to Montreal’s allure. Explore local culture, get out and play with the kids or rekindle romance in the midst of history. Montreal is famous for embracing diversity. Gay and lesbian travellers love the warm welcome and the eclectic variety of queer-friendly activities in and outside of the Village.
Whether you reserve a year ahead for the thrilling F1 Canadian Grand Prix or book a summer/fall journey to feast on iconic Montreal bagels and the captivating jazz scene, you’re sure to be swept up in the joie de vivre. Even if you visit during the snowy season, or rain tries to spoil your parade, you can escape the inclement weather and travel to many of Montreal’s major attractions by walking through La Ville Souterraine (the Underground City), a subterranean pathway populated with shopping malls, museums, eateries and movie theatres.
Come find your Montréal! at mtl.org.
