What to see in Montreal, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the Notre Dame Basilica, the Oratory of Saint Joseph and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Tourist information
On the first visit, tourists never fail to be amazed by Montreal, a city where the language spoken is French, the buildings are large and ancient, the atmosphere is markedly European, factors that make it unique compared to other cities in North America.
Montreal combines ancient charm and metropolitan energy, the warmth that a small city gives off with the friendliness conveyed by its very friendly and optimistic people.
In Montreal there are many clubs and restaurants where you can eat well, culinary events are organized all year round and in the public markets you can taste delicious regional specialties including crepes and fried calamari.
The central area is on a human scale and you can easily move from one point to another in the city, taking advantage of highly efficient public transport.
You can take carriage rides or buggies, go along the San Lorenzo river in the historic center or stroll peacefully to discover this fabulous city.
Basilica Notre Dame
Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica, dating back to 1829, is the city's most representative building.
In fact, it was the first Gothic-inspired church to be built in Canada, with its two bell towers and the famous Jean-Baptiste bell weighing 11 tons.
The grandeur of the Basilica, its extraordinary architectural beauty, the works of art and the chapel are able to impress even the less experienced.
With over 350 years of history, the parish of Notre-Dame represents an enormous artistic heritage, completed by urban tales and legends.
Montreal old
Located near the Saint Lawrence River, old Montreal, where the original fortified city was located, is characterized by carefully restored buildings and streets.
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During the summer, the area is full of tourists who come to stroll along the cobblestone streets, visit the boutiques and restaurants, or simply enjoy the joie de vivre among street artists and cafés in the former market area. by Jacques-Cartier.
A horse-drawn carriage ride is a romantic way of visiting these places.
The Old Port was once considered one of the most important commercial ports in North America.
Today, after most of the transport activities have been moved downstream, this area has become a leisure area frequented by hikers, cyclists and skaters, who fill the path along the river that goes from the Clock Tower to the Park Des Ecluses.
King Edward Pier, is a science and entertainment center geared towards a family experience, comprising various exhibits, some giant screen interactive video games and an Imax cinema.
Museum of fine arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, since it was established in 1860, has been at the forefront of promoting Canadian and international art.
The permanent collection is divided between the original Beaux-Arts style building and the post-modern structure, where European masters, prints, drawings and decorative arts are exhibited.
In the tunnel that connects the pavilions there are galleries exhibiting contemporary Canadian artists, as well as a small collection of ancient cultures.
In 2000, the museum received the Liliane and David M. Stewart Collection as a gift, comprising around 5,000 decorative art objects dating back to the period from the late 1930s onwards.
The museum is also often used to host exceptional temporary exhibitions.
What see
The Natural Science Museum is the largest of its kind in Canada, a space for life that offers several attractions.
The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, is housed in a building with two silver cones that point towards the sky like telescopes.
In the Teatro del Caos visitors can travel in space, listening to a symphony of Philip Glass as background music.
The planetarium also contains a permanent exhibition of meteorites and interactive terminals, videos and multimedia games.
Furthermore, in this place it is also possible to know the flora and fauna of five different ecosystems, admire the Insectarium, which offers a varied collection of insects and butterflies, and the Botanical Garden, which covers an area of 73 hectares, including a Chinese garden. , a Japanese garden and a Tree House for viewing information about Quebec forests.
The Canadian Center of Architecture is a place that should be observed both for the wonderful external architectural solutions and for the fascinating temporary exhibitions concerning buildings, architects and architectural movements that take place inside.
Peter Rose is the designer of the modern building, while Melvin Charney is the creator of the sculpture garden behind the museum.
The Oratory of San Giuseppe, located on the north-west side of Mount Royal, is a magnificent Roman Catholic basilica, begun in 1924 by Fra Andrea, a famous healer, and completed in 1967, after his death.
The dome, with its 97 meters high, is one of the largest in the world, the votive chapel and the crypt are also worth a visit.
The Olympic Park was the place where the 1976 Olympics were held.
The exclusive and expensive Olympic Stadium is now a venue for concerts, it also houses a sports center with four large swimming pools.
Half-hour guided tours are available to guests who can take advantage of a funicular to climb the tallest inclined tower in the world, with its 175 m height.
Nearby, the former velodrome has become a popular place of interest, while the Biodome de Montréal is a reproduction of five ecosystems under one roof, where visitors can move from a tropical forest to a polar world, with stops in one Laurentian forest and a marine environment along the way.
The Chapel of Our Lady of Good Aid, built in 1771, is the oldest church in the city, containing original frescoes by Édouard Meloche.
In it there is a small museum dedicated to the life of Marguerite Bourgeoys, the first Saint of Canada.
The tower offers a splendid view of the harbor and the surrounding streets.
The René Blouin Gallery displays works by contemporary Canadian artists, considered very interesting by scholars and art critics.
The Museum of Archeology and History, located in the western part of the historic center, is the museum where the history of the city is told, starting from its earliest days, using high-definition displays installed in the magnificent modern Eperon palace, where there are some remains archaeological.
The science center of Montreal is a very popular place, especially designed for families, which offers a constantly renewed offer of exhibits and interactive programs for learning, special events and fun activities.
An Imax cinema is also available to entertain the little ones.
Adjacent to the Place des Arts, the contemporary art museum is the only one in Canada of this genre, including a small garden decorated with sculptures, where you can sit on a bench for a moment of rest.
The Jean-Drapeau Park, which is the largest in the city, includes two islands, Ile Sainte-Hélène and Ile Notre-Dame, to be explored on foot or by bicycle.
Half of Ile Sainte-Hélène is occupied by the La Ronde amusement park.
In the rest of the island is the Stewart Museum, where the martial history of the region is remembered, with costumed guides and re-enactments.
On Sundays, in the summer, there is a hedonistic party with outdoor dancing to the rhythm of the music selected by the best international DJs.
