Montreal: The Best of Both Worlds

Did you know Canada.. Take a step back in time while you explore centuries of old French heritage, or rumba in the Latin Quarter, see artwork in the Metro, or tour a park in a caliche. On Mount Royal, the city’s panoramic peak, you will be able to scan the horizon all the way to the Laurentian Mountains. If you don’t feel like staying in your rental car, you can explore by walking or cycling along the sun-lit worn paths in Mount Royal Park below, on Ile Notre-Dame. You can return to modern Montreal by visiting the Casino de Montreal, where there are a variety of eateries and a swank cabaret with 120 gaming tables. There is a strict dress code here for the casinos, so be sure to dress the part!

In old Montreal you can relive the city’s vibrant French past along the cobbled stone streets. You can see soft lamps from inside a row of grand Victorian mansions overlooking Square Saint-Louis. Colors of gold and blue stained glass mark the magnificent interior of Basilique Notre Dame de Montreal as they permeate your senses. There are other famous modern architects that have also left their mark on the city, too: I.M. Pei built Galerie Place Ville Marie.

View of the Basilica from Place d'Armes

Montreal’s oldest Catholic church is the Notre-Dame Basilica. It was built in 1656 and is known for its detailed designed interior, which includes a stained glass chronicling of the history of the city. Notre-Dame Basilica is in the historic district of Old Montreal, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The church is located at 110 Notre-Dame Street West at the corner of Saint Sulpic Street. It is next to the Saint-Sulpice Seminary and faces the Place d'Armes square. As you step again into modern Montreal, you can feel the vibrant city come alive. Take a moment to take in this magnificent city. In 2006, Montreal was named as a “UNESCO City of Design”, one of only six in the world. Even the Montreal Metro is a showcase for public art! You can gain a unique perspective on the city through the walls of a geodesic dome—the Montreal Biosphere.

Montreal Biosphere

The Biosphere is a museum in Montreal dedicated to the environment. It is located at Park Jean-Drapeau, on Ile Sainte-Helene, which is in the former pavilion of the United States for the 1967 World Fair Expo 67.

If you didn’t take in enough history already, make your way to Hotel Nelson. This historical building is nestled right in the middle of a 300-year-old neighborhood. Taking its place alongside the Jacques-Cartier, built in 1804. This historic sector of Montreal has buildings dating from 17th, 18th, and 19th century containing one of the largest collections of buildings. You can’t help but feel like you have taken a step back in time. No matter where you go in Montreal, you always can get the best of both worlds. Enjoy!