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Old Montréal Exudes The Flavour Of EuropeBy Habeeb Salloum
Our fellow passengers were a sample of the some 10 million
tourists who yearly travel to Montréal, in the main, to feel the throb of Europe
without leaving the North American shores.
Old Montréal, which has been turned into a magnificent recreation and tourist centre, was founded in 1642 by a small group of French colonists. Thanks to its location at the junction of the St. Lawrence, Ottawa and Richelieu rivers, it quickly became an important commercial and trading centre. When the British took over New France in 1760, Old Montréal, at that time a walled town of some 5,000, was the richest urban centre in what is today Canada.
Today's Old Montréal, bordered by Rue McGill on the west, St. Antoine on the north, Berni on the east and Rue de la Commune on the south, contains one of North America's most remarkable collections of 17th to 19th century structures which are a medley of old and new architecture – a 40 ha (100 ac) of tourist delights.
Visitors should begin their exploration by stopping at Infotouriste, located on the corner of Notre-Dame and Place Jacques-Cartier, dominated by a statue of Nelson - the heart of the old city. Here one can pick up a pamphlet with a suggested walking tour and information about the historic sites.
Nearby, is the home of one of the fathers of Canadian Confederation, Sir George-Etienne Cartier now housing a museum. Around the corner, the 17th century Notre-Dame-De-Bonsecours Chapel, towers above Rue Bonsecours with its lampposts and evocative paving stones - the only remaining example in Montréal - dating from about 1700. High above in the steeple is a chapel, overlooking the St. Lawrence, which was used to bless ships and their crews before long and difficult journeys. A few minutes stroll away, the rebuilt 1847 Bonsecours Market, now a place for exhibitions, is a fine example of Neo-Classical architecture. The most striking feature of this former farmer's market is its silver dome, which was for years a landmark for ships entering the harbour.
To the west of Jacques-Cartier in the once financial part of Old Montréal, there are a whole series of renovated, ornamental buildings. Around Place d'Armes are found the city's most remarkable structures. These include Notre-Dame Basilica, a masterpiece of Gothic Revival and, when inaugurated in 1829, the largest religious edifice in North America; the eight storey New York Life Building, the city's first skyscraper built in 1888; and the 23 storey AIfred Building with its stylized floral motifs.
There are two ways of exploring the old city - by foot or horse-drawn carriage. To experience the flavour of history to its utmost, a leisurely stroll of about four hours is ideal. The inhabitants, in the main, speak both English and French and are friendly. The only drawbacks are the noisy autos - never ending in the narrow streets. On the other hand, a visitor can explore the old town in comfort by hiring a horse-drawn carriage for one hour at the cost of some $60. The driver will point out all the important sites and stop for photographs. For those with little time to spare, this is an ideal way to see Old Montréal. IF YOU GOImportant Sights not mentioned to see in Montréal: Casino de Montréal, the city's number one tourist attraction - besides its 120 glittering tables and 3,000 slot machines, its cabaret features one of the top musical shows in the world. The Casino sparkles like a polished jewel on the city’s skyline and inside it exudes a welcoming atmosphere. Olympic Stadium with its famous 175 m (575 ft) tower, the world's tallest inclined tower. The Montréal Botanical Gardens - a maze of tropical forests, it is one of the largest and most beautiful gardens in the world. Mount Royal Park with its panoramic view of the city. Biodome, an unusual environmental museum. St. Joseph's Oratory, a world renowned pilgrimage centre. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, one of Canada's oldest museums, and one of the best. Montreal Planetarium, a memorable introduction to the secerts and wonders of the universe. Must See and Must Do in Montreal Montréal Eating Places: For Further Information. Contact: |
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"Bienvenu Vieux Montréal!", our driver beamed as we sat
down with an American couple in his horse-drawn carriage. "Listen! He's
speaking another language! It's as if we're in Europe!" The man's wife
appeared excited at hearing a foreign tongue. Seemingly uninterested, her
husband mumbled, "You know we are in French Canada!"
Here, in Old Montréal where history
is encased in a modern halo, they find it possible to enjoy the Europe of long
ago in the comfort of our times. Touring its boutiques, outdoor cafes, bistros,
galleries, souvenir shops, and countless restored buildings while moving amid an
endless stream of people, they can spend an entire day and more, engulfed in
culture, history and romance.
After the conquest, many industrious Scottish soldiers
settled in town. They soon controlled commerce and made the city prosper,
turning it into the economic capital of Canada. In the ensuing years Old
Montréal deteriorated and was ready to be torn down. However, in the 1960s the
Quebec government designated it as an historic district and a long process of
restoration began. The Vigour Commission was set up and under its watchful eye
and both the inside and outside of the most important structures were renewed.
Fresh life was injected into the area and soon inhabitant and visitor
rediscovered the rich cultural heritage of Canada's first commercial capital.
This
original Montréal corresponds closely to the area covered by the original
fortified city. Its cobbled streets, superb old public squares, some 30
art galleries and five museums, more than a dozen boutique hotels, renovated old
homes, boutiques and other shops, sidewalk cafes and fine restaurants, and
churches are a provocative blend of commercialism and history. Visitors come to
sightsee by day and dine in the evening, then enjoy the nightly illumination of
the streets and buildings or take part in the lively nightlife.
Some of the important sites, not to be missed, are: to the
east, at the corner of Jacques-Cartier, the Montréal City Hall from whose
balcony General Charles De Gaulle in 1969 uttered his famous ‘Vive le Québec
libre’ and further on, two complete historic houses built in 1749.
Past the reconstructed Rosco's Hotel, once a meeting place
for the local elite, a right turn and one is on Rue de la Commune, edging
attractive waterfront parks. Beyond, is the old harbour one of the largest
restored old ports in the world, reconstructed for peoples’ activities. Eating
places, a flea market, movies, ship tours, theatres and numerous other
activities are to be found in and around these former docks.
To the west and south of Place d'Armes there are a great
number of prestigious structures, which include banks, insurance companies and
other commercial buildings. The two most interesting are the Caverhill Building
with its Renaissance Revival façade, the most exuberant structure in Old
Montréal; and the Montréal History Centre, housed in a former fire station -
erected in 1903 in Flemish style. Nearby, a renovated former customs building
housing souvenirs is connected to the Pointe--Calliére, the Montréal Museum of
Archaeology and History which offers six centuries of history - from indigenous
peoples' times to the present.
