MONT-ROYAL PARK

It's THE symbol of Montreal, visible for miles around. It was designed by none other than American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, world-renowned for his masterpiece Central Park in New York. Inaugurated in May 1876, Mount Royal Park features eight distinctive natural environments, including a clearing, a pond, a belvedere and escarpments. A haven of nature in the heart of the city, this park is Montreal's green lung. In summer, hikers and cyclists flock here, not forgetting the percussionists and dancers who gather at the foot of the monument to George-Étienne Cartier for the Sunday drumming event. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and tobogganing. Two lookouts offer exceptional views of the city, including the Kondiaronk terrace, opposite the mountain chalet, which offers panoramic views of downtown skyscrapers, the St. Lawrence River, the South Shore and the Monteregian hills.

On-site services include equipment rental at the Lac-aux-Castors pavilion reception desk and at the kiosk near the dock on the lake, as well as restaurant services (Lac-aux-Castors pavilion, Chalet du Mont-Royal and Maison Smith). The park also organizes conservation activities and special events throughout the year. On the east side of Avenue du Parc, you'll find Parc Jeanne-Mance, with its many sports fields.