Montreal attractions

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Montreal is one of the „most French” cities outside of France, which has created a special atmosphere.

The second largest city in Canada after Toronto. It is the second largest French-speaking city in the western world after Paris. It is surrounded by two rivers, the Ottawa River and the St. Lawrence River.

Montreal attractions

Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)

The most beautiful part of the city features architecture preserved from the French colonial era, with cobblestone streets.

One of its most famous points is Place Jacques-Cartier, a bustling square lined with restaurants, cafes, and art galleries. At the upper part of the square is Château Ramezay, an 18th-century governor’s residence that now operates as a museum, showcasing Quebec’s history.

The old port, Vieux-Port de Montréal, is also an important part of the district. Once the commercial center of the city, it is now a beautiful pedestrian area.

Notre-Dame Basilica

Located in the Old Town on the famous Place d’Armes square, this church is a unique architectural masterpiece.

The basilica was originally built in the 17th century, but due to the needs of the growing congregation, it was completely rebuilt in the 1820s. The new church was designed by James O’Donnell, an Irish architect, who built it in the Neo-Gothic style.

Two huge towers rise above Montreal, one of which houses the famous Jean-Baptiste bell, one of the largest bells in North America. Inside, the Casavant Frères organ is notable, consisting of more than 7,000 pipes and is one of the world’s most significant church instruments.

Clock Tower (Tour de l’Horloge de Montréal)

Located in the Old Port (Vieux-Port) area, it is one of the most famous historical buildings in the city.

Built between 1920 and 1922, the tower pays tribute to the heroes of the Canadian Navy and also served as a lighthouse. The 45-meter-high structure made of white stone was modeled after England’s Big Ben. The tower’s clock was not just a decorative element but also showed accurate time for ships and locals for a long time.

Inside the building, a spiral staircase of 192 steps leads to the top, offering a wonderful view of the St. Lawrence River, downtown Montreal, and the Old Port area.

Near the tower is Clock Tower Beach, an artificial sandy shore that is a popular resting place for locals and tourists during the summer months.

Mont Royal Park

One of Montreal’s largest and most popular green spaces is located on Mont Royal mountain.

The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York’s Central Park, in the late 19th century, and has been a favorite resting place for city dwellers and tourists ever since. It covers more than 200 hectares and offers a diverse natural environment including dense forests, walking paths, open meadows, and a small lake, Beaver Lake.

Mont Royal is one of the highest points in the city and offers breathtaking views of downtown Montreal, especially from the famous Kondiaronk Lookout. One of the special events in the park is the summer Tam-Tams festival, when drummers, dancers, and artists gather at the Sir George-Étienne Cartier monument.

Jean-Talon Market

One of Montreal’s largest and most vibrant markets is located in the Little Italy (Petite Italie) district.

Numerous bakeries, cheese shops, butcher shops, and fish markets operate here, as well as stalls selling authentic Quebec and international foods. One of the most popular places among visitors is the poutine vendors, where you can taste the famous Canadian dish of fried potatoes topped with cheese and brown sauce.

Saint Joseph’s Oratory

The huge basilica is one of the most important pilgrimage sites not only in Quebec but in all of Canada.

The sanctuary was founded by Brother André (Frère André), a humble and deeply religious Montreal monk in the early 20th century. He was known for his devotion to Saint Joseph, and according to many believers, he performed miraculous healings. Interest in the building, which started as a small chapel, grew rapidly, so in 1924 they began building a larger church, which was finally completed in 1967.

Its dome is 97 meters high, making it one of the largest church domes in the world, and dominates the cityscape. A Calvary-like staircase leads up to the basilica, part of which some believers climb on their knees to express their faith and respect for Saint Joseph. Inside the oratory is a special candle chapel where visitors leave many thanksgiving messages and prayers.

Montreal’s Underground City (RÉSO)

One of the world’s largest underground complexes encompasses more than 32 km of interconnected tunnels and passage systems.

It was created in the 1960s when Jean Drapeau, Montreal’s mayor at the time, and urbanist Vincent Ponte envisioned a system that would provide protection against the city’s extreme winter weather. The metro network, opened in 1966, significantly contributed to the expansion of the system, as the new underpasses connected different parts of the city.

It houses more than 1,600 shops, 200 restaurants, and numerous cultural venues. The system connects seven metro stations and is used by more than 500,000 people daily, especially in winter when temperatures often drop below -20°C.

Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique)

One of Canada’s largest and most beautiful botanical gardens boasts one of the world’s most outstanding botanical collections.

Founded in 1931, it was established at the initiative of the famous botanist, Frère Marie-Victorin. It is extremely diverse and consists of several thematic gardens designed according to different climate zones and horticultural styles:

• Chinese Garden (Jardin de Chine): One of the largest Chinese gardens outside China, evoking the beauty of Chinese landscape architecture with traditional pavilions, small bridges, and ponds. The autumn Lantern Festival is particularly spectacular when colorful lanterns decorate the garden.
• Japanese Garden (Jardin Japonais): A calm, minimalist space following the traditions of Japanese garden design. Stone gardens, bonsai trees, and a tea pavilion make it special.
• French Garden (Jardin des Plantes et des Parfums): A classic French-style garden that enchants visitors with its symmetrical arrangement and fragrant plants.
• First Nations Garden (Jardin des Premières-Nations): A garden showcasing the traditional plants and healing herbs of Canadian natives, introducing the plant usage customs of indigenous cultures.
• Greenhouses: Indoor exhibitions feature tropical plants, orchids, cacti, and exotic species that can be visited in winter as well.

All information can be found here!

Biodome de Montréal

The biodome showcases different ecosystems of the world in an enclosed space.

Built for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, its specialty is that visitors can explore five different climates and ecosystems without leaving the space:

• Tundra: A section showcasing the plants and animals of cold, harsh northern landscapes, where freezing wind and snow cover the landscape. Visitors can encounter arctic wolves and tundra birds.
• Rainforest: They create a tropical rainforest where exotic plants such as bamboo, orchids, and palm trees can be found. The warm and humid environment is ideal for various tropical animals like monkeys, snakes, and pygmy deer.
• Wetlands: A section showcasing the plants and animals of marshy, wet areas, where beavers and various aquatic animals such as mirror ducks live.
• Highlands: A section imitating alpine landscape, where visitors can meet Ural rabbits, wild boars, and other high mountain animals.
• Ocean: A section showcasing the ocean environment and the creatures living in it, where penguins, seals, and other marine animals live, while we can also observe underwater wildlife.

All information can be found here!

Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal)

It ranks among Canada’s largest art museums.

The museum was founded by Archibald Lampman, one of Montreal’s most renowned patrons of culture and art. The first exhibitions were held in 1860, and the museum has been continuously expanding since then. It builds on three main collections:

• Canadian Arts: The museum preserves works by significant Canadian painters, sculptors, and graphic artists. Particularly noteworthy is the art of Canadian natives, which presents the traditions and history of local cultures.
• European Arts: It contains works by many famous artists, including Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir. The European arts wing features notable Renaissance and Baroque painting, as well as 19th-century Impressionism.
• Intercultural Arts: The newer wings increasingly focus on global arts and artistic traditions of different cultures. Indian, African, Asian, and Latin American artworks enrich the museum’s collection.

All information can be found here!