Old Montreal and Parc Jean-Drapeau
Old Montreal is the very history of the city, where Paul de Chomedey founded Ville-Marie in 1642. Despite the many fires that destroyed the oldest buildings, a number of restoration and development projects have breathed new life into the old town and port, which now welcome thousands of tourists enchanted by this historic European style. Stores, bars and restaurants, museums and art galleries, squares and promenades line the streets.
Located south of downtown, Old Montreal runs along the river, or rather the port, as the former shoreline was filled in by the construction of the present port. Rue de la Commune, which forms the southern boundary of Old Montreal, corresponds to the boundaries of the old fortifications. These fortifications were of little use, as the buildings were built on a height that allowed them to dominate the surrounding area. The fragile perimeter walls proved cumbersome for merchants and were demolished. A few streets, including the oldest, rue Saint-Paul, have retained their original paving along part of their route.
The Old Port has been converted into a recreational park stretching over 2 km and offering a breathtaking view of the majestic St. Lawrence River. There's plenty to do here, in summer and winter alike.
As for the Lachine Canal, which begins west of the Old Port, its redevelopment has led to the revitalization of the banks, which now serve as a playground for Montrealers (kayaking, cycling, etc.). The bike path from Old Montreal to Lake Saint-Louis follows the canal and is nicely landscaped.
Parc Jean-Drapeau. The Sainte-Hélène and Notre-Dame islands, both opposite the Old Port, are today a major vacation spot for Montrealers. La Ronde (an amusement park owned by the Six Flags group), the Biosphère, Jean-Doré beach, the casino and the Formula 1 racetrack are very popular, not to mention the various events and festivals held there. Île Sainte-Hélène is named after Samuel de Champlain's wife, who landed on the island in 1611. The 1967 World's Fair and the 1976 Olympic Games had a major impact on the islands. Many of today's structures, such as the Biosphère (environmental museum) and the casino, were built during Expo, while the rowing basin was built for the Olympic Games.
Downtown and Westmount
Downtown. Located just south of Mount Royal, downtown is the place to be for business and shopping. Rue Sainte-Catherine, which crosses it from east to west, is the center's main thoroughfare, home to the big names in fashion, restaurants and bars, as well as boutiques of all kinds. The architecture is equally diverse, with imposing skyscrapers rubbing shoulders with period buildings. Downtown encompasses several "sub-neighborhoods": the Central Business District, the Museum District (to the northwest; also home to numerous art galleries), the Quartier International and Chinatown (alongside Old Montreal), and finally the Quartier des spectacles (encompassing numerous venues around Place des Arts as well as in the Latin Quarter). But downtown isn't just on the surface... an underground city lies beneath your feet: more than 30 km of corridors and pedestrian passageways are used every day by no fewer than 500,000 people.
Westmount. This predominantly English-speaking city, whose population is among the wealthiest in the country, was founded on one of the three neighbouring peaks that make up Mount Royal, to the west as its name suggests. Now entirely surrounded by the city of Montreal, it is becoming increasingly French-speaking. Wealthy estates can be found on the mountainside. At the summit, a wood has been preserved in its wild state to recall the appearance of the original site. To visit Westmount, you need to be a good walker, as many of the streets are steep.
Latin Quarter and Gay Village
Latin Quarter. Bordered by rue Sherbrooke and boulevard de Maisonneuve (north-south) and by rue Berri and rue Sanguinet (east-west), it's a hub of culture and learning. The eastern part of the Quartier des spectacles is located here. Students from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) and the Cégep du Vieux-Montréal give the district a youthful, festive tone. Important cultural institutions such as Espace Saint-Denis, the Grande Bibliothèque and the Cinémathèque québécoise attract a discerning public. While the district has long been renowned for its cultural life, cafés, bistros, craft breweries and beautiful terraces, it is sadly in decline, as are adjacent neighborhoods such as the Gay Village and downtown.
Le Village. The Village is a place of open-mindedness and joie de vivre in the metropolis. The Beaudry metro station proudly displays the neighborhood's colors. Well-known to the LGBTQ2 community worldwide, it welcomes thousands of tourists every year. Rue Sainte-Catherine, the Village's main thoroughfare, is transformed into a pedestrian street in summer, and is home to numerous cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The LGBTQ2 community also spearheads a number of festive events, such as Mtl en Arts and Fierté Montréal. That said, the neighborhood hasn't looked so good in recent years due to a number of factors, including the influx of homeless people and drug dealers into the area since the pandemic. Various municipal and community players are currently working to restore the neighborhood to its former glory.
Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile End
Composed of four former autonomous villages (Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Louis du Mile End, Coteau-Saint-Louis and Côte-de-la-Visitation), this neighborhood of Montreal - the Plateau as it is familiarly known - underwent rapid development at the beginning of the century. Today, it is inhabited by a fairly young and very trendy population, including many French expatriates. Many of its older residences have been renovated or are in the process of being renovated. Saint-Denis Street and Mount Royal Avenue, which crosses it, are the main arteries.
Mile End, which is part of the Plateau borough, is a haven for hipsters and artists of all kinds, and is one of the most bilingual areas in the city. Trendy restaurants and cafes, designer studios and artist lofts are everywhere. Its main arteries are Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Saint-Urbain Street and Avenue du Parc (north-south axis), and Laurier Avenue, Fairmount Avenue, Saint-Viateur Street and Bernard Street (east-west axis).
The Main. Boulevard Saint-Laurent, colloquially known as "The Main", is one of Montreal's oldest streets. Originally a simple road, it was opened in the 19th century under the French regime. The massive arrival of Russian Jews, who settled here in 1881, made Yiddish the language of the area. Other ethnic groups then settled on this boulevard, which in fact has Portuguese, Spanish, Jewish, Italian sections, etc. It remains the most cosmopolitan street in Montreal, with its nightclubs, bars, restaurants and ethnic businesses. Day and night, it is invaded by a colorful crowd.
Southwest and West
Southwest. Located, as its name suggests, southwest of downtown, it encompasses several neighborhoods clustered around the Lachine Canal and St. Lawrence River, including Griffintown, Little Burgundy, Saint-Henri, Pointe-Saint-Charles, Verdun, LaSalle and Lachine. Most of these neighborhoods developed with the industrial boom spurred by the opening of the Lachine Canal, but eventually fell into disuse: industries abandoned the area, and residents became poorer along with the housing. Today, they're thriving, increasingly dynamic residential neighborhoods, notably Saint-Henri and Verdun, where many young people are moving in. As for Griffintown, this former working-class neighborhood is part of a large-scale urban planning and revitalization project. A number of apartment buildings are being built, fine restaurants are setting up shop and a variety of service businesses are opening their doors.
The West, also known as West Island, is made up of independent towns such as Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Pierrefonds, Beaconsfield, Baie-d'Urfé, L'Île-Bizard, etc., with a large majority of English-speaking residents. The western tip of the island leads to the Suroît region in Montérégie, before reaching Ontario.
East
The eastern part of the city, stretching to the tip of the island, is mainly made up of residential and industrial neighborhoods. However, the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district, which runs along the metro's green line between Préfontaine and Viau stations, boasts a number of major attractions.
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Once a working-class district, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve still bears the traces of a past that played an important role in Montreal's industrial boom. One of the district's main attractions is the Botanical Garden, with over 22,000 plant species, ten exhibition greenhouses, three cultural gardens, the Frédéric-Back Tree House and more than 15 thematic gardens. It is ranked among the world's largest and most beautiful gardens. Other attractions include the Insectarium, the Biodôme, the Planetarium, the Dufresne-Nincheri Museum and the Olympic Park, which hosted the 1976 Summer Games.
North
It encompasses several neighborhoods north of Mount Royal and the Plateau, some of which are well worth a visit.
Outremont. Located on the other (northern) side of Montreal, Outremont is characterized by its imposing residences, particularly along Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, which runs along the side of the mountain. A residential city, Outremont boasts several beautiful parks and few shops. It is bounded by Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Avenue du Parc and a railroad line. Buildings of note include the Beaux-Arts façade of the Académie Querbes (215, rue Bloomfield), Saint-Viateur church (rue Laurier), whose sculpted façade is considered the only one of its kind in Montreal, and the Saint-Nom-de-Marie boarding school, home to the Vincent-d'Indy music school. The building features a colonnade topped by a pediment and a dome.
Mile-Ex. Adjacent to Little Italy, just north of Mile End, Mile-Ex is a fast-growing neighborhood that compares favorably to Mile End. This is where the city's latest trendy addresses are opening up, not to mention where companies specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) are headquartered.
Little Italy. Home to many migrants of Italian origin. The first waves of Italian immigration in the early 19th century were followed by others at the end of the same century. But the most important arrivals took place after the Second World War. Thousands of workers and peasants settled in Montreal, particularly in this neighborhood. Today, the population tends to mix: North Africans, South Americans and Africans are settling here. A stroll through the neighborhood will include a stop at Marché Jean-Talon, Montreal's largest food market, open summer and winter. A stop at one of the many cafés, trattorias and shops on Saint-Laurent and Dante streets is also a must.
Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie. A fashionable district, it's a sort of extension of the Plateau, but less expensive and more family-oriented. Delicatessens, fine dining, cafés, bars and craft breweries line its streets, not to mention the many parks, pretty green alleyways, community gardens and cultural institutions. Its inhabitants are definitely on the left of the political spectrum, very eco-friendly, with a strong community spirit.
