Montréal

THE CITY OF MONTREAL

The city of Montreal is the second largest in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec. French Is the official language of Montreal and it makes the city the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world, after Paris. In 2006 the population of the Montreal Census Metropolitan Area was 3.635.571

Montreal is situated on an island at the junction of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. It has a long history as a very important trading post. Originally the city was called Ville-Marie or 'City of Mary' in English. Montreal takes its present name from Mont-Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city, whose name was also initially given to the island on which the city is located, or Mont Réal as it was spelled in Middle French

Culturally, Montreal has a lot to offer. The city has internationally renowned music and comedy festivals. Also, there are numerous museums located in and around the city, such as the McCord Museum of Canadian History.

The city of Montreal is one of Canada's most unique and lively cities, offering a perfect blend of the old and new, which is reflected in the geographical division between the old city and the new city. Old Montreal consists of a maze of narrow streets, restored buildings and old houses. The modern Montreal is characterised by skyscrapers, theatres, museums, more than 7500 restaurants and bustling nightlife.

As the second largest city in Canada, Montreal is also a vibrant centre of commerce, industry, culture, finance and world affairs. It is the largest inland port in the world and is one of the most important. As one of the most important ports in Canada, it is a trans-shipment point for grain, sugar, petroleum products, machinery, and consumer goods.

THE PORT OF MONTREAL

The Port of Montreal, located in Canada's second largest metropolis, is one of the busiest on the North American continent, and the largest inland port on Earth. It has been judged one of the safest and one of the most advanced in the world. Montreal is one of the main attractions for cruise ships along the majestic St. Lawrence River and the North American East Coast.

TRANSPORT IN MONTREAL

Montreal has a clean, safe, and efficient transit system which makes it easy to explore the city. In total, there are 2,550 buses, 5 commuter rail lines (52 stations) and 4 subway lines (68 stations).

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN MONTREAL

The Old city of Montréal has many historical buildings that date mostly from the 17th - 19th century. At night several of the buildings are beautifully lit up.

The most famous aspect of shopping in Montreal is the Underground City offers the best shopping possibilities in Montréal. The Underground City offers a huge range of shops, department stores and services as well as a handy way to get from place to place without weather or traffic problems.

Montreal's Notre-Dame is a neogothic church that was built in 1829. It has been constructed on the site of a much older and smaller church which had become too small for the large numbers of parishioners that visited it. Notre Dame has a lavish and beautiful interior – stained glass windows, paintings, statues, gold-tipped polychrome carvings, rich altarpiece. continent. Notre-Dame shares lies on the Place d’Armes where also the he Vieux Séminaire, from 1683 is situated.

The Parc Jean-Drapeau lies on the site of the 1967 World's Fair. It is now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix., an artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also located on or around the park.  The Casino de Montréal is an ongoing extravaganza of gambling, food and drink that was built inside the pavilions of France and Quebec from Expo '67.

The top of Mount Royal is an excellent goal for an urban walk. It's in Mount Royal Park, laid out long ago by Frederick Law Olmsted, best known for landscaping New York's Central Park.