A striking union of European charm and North American attitude, Montréal seduces visitors with a harmonious pairing of the historic and the new, from exquisite architecture to fine dining.
The beautiful offspring of a union between European charm and North American attitude, Montréal’s architecture seduces the visitor with a harmonious chorus of the ancient and the new.
Once home to the First Nations people, this island gem on the magnificent St. Lawrence River in time saw travellers from far and wide land on its shores before becoming a bustling port city. The French colonists were the first to arrive, followed by the English, the Scottish and the Irish. Later, myriad peoples from around the world settled the lush swaths stretching up to Mount Royal.
Today, 120 distinct ethnic communities are represented in its population of more than 3.6 million, making Montréal a veritable mosaic of cultures and traditions. The world’s second largest francophone city after Paris, it merits the moniker ‘international’
city, a cosmopolitan centre with proud roots in the past that
enthusiastically embraces the future. A world leader in such industries
as aeronautics, information technology and biotechnology, the city has
also made significant innovations in medicine, multimedia, the arts and
urban planning. Its avant-garde spirit has not gone unnoticed: in 2006,
Montréal was named a UNESCO City of Design.
Day and night,
Montréal pulses with activity. Each season, it is host to an array of
events, exhibitions and gatherings for the thousands of culture, nature
and thrill seekers who come here to enjoy its diverse offerings. While
Montréal’s masterful chefs continue to elevate its reputation as a
gourmet destination, creative artists and artisans draw admirers in
droves to the haute couture ateliers, arts galleries and charming
boutiques that line the city streets.
Getting around the city on a
day-to-day basis is hassle-free. Its streets, vast parks, underground
pedestrian network, and métro system are safe and easy to navigate. The
best way to get to know the city is on foot, through any one of its many
colourful and vibrant neighbourhoods which overflow with markets,
boutiques, restaurants and local cafés—diverse expressions of the
inhabitants’ joie de vivre. Montrealers are naturally charming and quite
often multilingual. Their spontaneity and ability to welcome visitors
have propelled Montréal to its current position of international host
city, where some of the world’s most exciting events are held annually.
When one considers the urban landscape and its inhabitants, this
resulting passion seems only natural.
From
season to season, day and night, Montréal pulses with activity. Known
for its many festivals, the city hosts a diverse array of events,
exhibitions and gatherings for the thousands of culture, nature and
thrill seekers. While masterful chefs continue to elevate Montréal’s
reputation as a gourmet destination, creative artists and artisans draw
admirers in droves to the haute couture ateliers, arts galleries and
charming boutiques that line the city streets.
For a city the
size of Montréal, its streets, vast parks, underground pedestrian
network and metro system are safe and remarkably easy to navigate. Often
the best way to get to know a city is on foot: walk through any one of
Montréal's colourful and vibrant neighbourhoods and you'll discover an
abundance of markets, boutiques, restaurants and local cafés—diverse
expressions of the inhabitants’
. Montrealers are
naturally charming and quite often multilingual, with a spontaneity and
ability to welcome visitors that has propelled Montréal to its current
position as an international host city. When one considers the urban
landscape and its inhabitants, along with some of the world’s most
exciting annual events, this local passion seems only natural.
