In being the second largest city in Canada and second largest French speaking city in the world, Montreal is not only a great city to visit but one of the most livable in Canada. With great culture, historical and modern quarters, and prime location to outdoor activities, you can truly say that Montreal has it all. (Photo "Montreal Sky" by clavarda)
Visit Old Montreal
After exploring the historical side of Montreal, make a quick jump into the Underground City of Montreal, one of the largest underground complexes in the world! This underground site needs to be seen to be believed as it encompasses almost 5 square miles and has approximately 20 miles of tunnels that connect every business and living establishment imaginable. This modern architecture is the perfect balance for the historical in a day out in Montreal. (Photo "Sun Rays into Notre Dame Basilica" by shammeera)
See the City via Outdoor Sports
While exploring the museums and cultural spots in Montreal is an activity well worth your limited time as a visitor, exploring the city through the means of outdoor adventure sports is one option that shines only in Montreal. Between summer and winter activities, you cannot go wrong with exploring some of the best outdoor spots the city has to offer.
Summer - Without a doubt, the best summertime activity to pursue in Montreal is kayaking and the cities waterways offer various spots for kayakers of all skill levels.
Winter - When the temperatures drop outdoor sports come alive in the city. Parks are transformed for opportunities for cross-country skiing and numerous spots for ice skating pop up across the entire city.
Those looking for more adventurous sports need only get out of the city for a few hours and head south to the Adirondack mountains in the US or north to the picturesque mountain community on Mont-Tremblant. Both destinations offer beautiful scenery, many opportunities for skiing in the winter and just about every outdoor activity in the summer months. Regardless of the direction you know, a good time is bound to find you!
The Architecture of Montreal
Since the fair, the Biosphere has been redesigned into an environmental museum and highlights the challenges the world faces on all environmental fronts including water, climate change, air, and sustainable development. But to those who are wanting a grander experience, do not worry! The Montreal Biodome, converted from an Olympic stadium in the 1976 games, is a suitable alternative for those wanting to explore life-size replicas of the four ecosystems in the Americas complete with unique plant and wildlife to match. (Photo "Biosphere Montreal" by Bertrand31840)
The Biosphere and Biodome are just two of the many unique architectural designs that have been developed over the decades in Montreal. For those looking to stay a while, those looking for a modern condo in Montreal can easily find those that suit a number of styles including modern, historical, or even LEED certified for sustainable designs that the city has embraced. So while walking around the city, be sure to take in the building designs that surround you, as you never know what kind of history they truly have!
Get Around Montreal
Getting around Montreal is easy due to a great public rail system known as the Societe de Transport de Montreal. The flat ticket price is $3.00 per ride up to 90 minutes in length; however, for tourists a day pass for $8 may be the best investment or $16 for a 3-day pass for those staying in the city longer to explore.
Whether you visit Montreal for work, pleasure, or to live, the city has something for everyone and is has many wonderful attractions that remain from the last 400 years and look forward to the next 400. No matter what choice you make, your time in Montreal will be a blast!
2 comments:
Good post... and I couldn't agree more... since I live in Montreal and I consider Montreal to be one of the best places to live. It's a mix of European history, with also American architecture, French and English cultures.
Montreal's culture and architecture bloomed after our "quiet revolution" in the 60's when the Quebec society freed itself from the domination of the catholic church and of the English establishment.
That biosphere you show here was the US pavillion during the Expo 67. Expo 67 was held on man-made islands south of Montreal (which is an island itself). Expo 67 was a huge boost for Montreal and our first real exposure to the world.
The next big time in Montreal's history was the 1976 Olympics. With heros like Mike Spitz and Nadia Comaneci. The Biodome has been built winthin the old velodrome (interior cycling track built for the Olympics) and presents plants and animals from 5 different climate zones... in integrated environments. Another legacy of the Olympics is the Stadium tower... the highest inclined tower in the world... with an exterior elevator leading to an observatory on top offering a great view of the eastern part of the city.
If you wanna have a great view of the downtown, you have to go on the Mount Royal... a small mountain right downtown.
In the 80's, the French culture began to export. Cirque du Soleil (created in Quebec City) made their first big shows in Montreal before becoming the huge world success we now know. Our artists are known worldwide... Celine Dion, Simple Plan, Arcade Fire to name a few who sing in English... but our French artists are also hugely popular in France.
We often say in joke that we don't know whats the source of our talent... maybe it's the cold winter (can go down to -40C/-40F in January and February) or maple syrup that runs in our veins. Perhaps it's poutine gravy :-)
Anyway, Montreal is a great place to visit... with dozens of festivals in summer... including the world known Jazz festival with its huge free outdoor concerts gathering more than 100 000 people right in the streets of downtown. Starting this winter, we also have a ice hotel on the old Expo site close to the Biosphere.
I could go on and on... if you want to visit Montreal, don't hesitate to ask me. I've lived in Montreal for more than 20 years now. I'm now in the preparation stage to ditch my current life... and become a full-time traveler.
Sylvain AT sylvainbeauregard.com
Hi Sylvain - Thanks for the great expansion on the topic of your city! I definitely like the way Montreal has taken some of the buildings that were built for the major events and still use them. I find it so upsetting when other cities let them go into ruin, so it is refreshing to see.
As far as Cirque du Soleil, you got my number. I am a huge Cirque du Soleil fan and have seen over a dozen shows so far. Would love to see one on premier weekend in Montreal sometime!
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