Not just a tourist spot, but history, culture, architecture, art, religious artefacts and mythological stories, and most of all, what Montreal has cornered in the Canadian market is the great cosmopolitan feel this trendy and picturesque city has to offer.

Cosmopolitan Montreal

By: Kindah Mardam Bey

Few provinces in Canada hold the history and cultural impact that Quebec does. Given an extremely bad rap by separatists during the 1980s and 90s, much has changed in the progress of Quebec and we can all delight in what it now offers. Not just a tourist spot, but history, culture, architecture, art, religious artefacts and mythological stories, and most of all, what Montreal has cornered in the Canadian market is the great cosmopolitan feel this trendy and picturesque city has to offer.

A hundred years ago and eighty percent of Canadian wealth lived on the Golden Mile, a street just as you enter into Montreal that was where seventy-five families that owned eighty percent of Canadian companies resided. Sherbrooke Street is still full of grandeur but now is the home to Holt Renfrew Headquarters, The Ritz Carlton (the only one in Canada) and the Museum Of Fine Arts. What struck me immediately about Montreal was how well preserved the buildings and architecture are, which allows history and all its beauty to speak for itself. Driving into Montreal you feel you have landed somewhere that is as metropolitan as New York, but as culturally intense as Paris.

You may wander around the circumference of the downtown core of Montreal, along the historic Westmount and atop Mont Royal which is the cornerstone of this city. It is the landmark to which all others are measured by; Maisonneuvre a French colonist landed on the island that would eventually be Montreal in 1643 and while establishing the French stake on Canada a flood threatened the safety of the expedition. Maisonneuvre prayed for the flood to subside and promised he would carry a cross himself to the top of the mountain (Mont Royal) in gratitude for the miracle. Indeed Maisonneuvre’s prayers were answered and he did just as he promised. The cross still sits atop Mont Royal and no other structure can be taller then the cross.

The two hundred and fifty acres of Mont Royal was landscaped by Frederick Law Olmstead who also did the design for Central Park in New York. Montreal is the most bike-friendly city in North America and the fall colours are awash of reds, oranges, and yellows that look like a painter’s palette. Along the way up to Mont Royal is St. Joseph’s Oratory, a stunning Basilica built entirely by donations. Brother Andre performed miracles when he prayed to St. Joseph during the 1800s, regularly performing healings which has become a pilgrimage site for many. It has ninety eight wooden ‘penitence stairs’ you can go up on your knees on, and for every step you say a prayer (regular foot-wielding stairs are also available for all of us tourists who have decided we have nothing to be penitent about).

Montreal maybe the third largest French-speaking place in the world, but it’s population of over 3 million people are majority bi-lingual, if not multi-lingual. A large reason for that is the internationally renowned McGill University, Canada’s first facility for secondary education, as of 1819.

Before heading to the Notre Dame Basilica the downtown core is setup as a virtual Mecca for shopoholics. With 35 kms of underground stores, Montreal has the largest underground city in the world. You have the range from Holt Renfrew to Reitmans’ in this captivating tunnel system of exploration. I do recommend a fast and functional game plan to get around the Underground City as it would be a great shame to miss out on Old Montreal and The Notre Dame Basilica.

Just because Quebec’s greatest export got married in Notre Dame Basilica does not mean that is the only reason to visit and see the prettiest and most stunning Cathedral in Canada. Yes, Celine Dion, that little known singer who sang ‘My Heart Will Go On’ in that obscure and artsy film known as Titanic (I’m sure you don’t remember it!) was draped in enough white lace to actually sink a ship for her marriage to Renee. In truth, The Notre Dame Basilica with it magnanimous presence and stunning artistry within its walls demanded a ‘go big or go home’ dress for the event. Every statue and ornate piece within the Cathedral is hand carved wood (no alabaster) and the shiny parts are 22K gold leaf. All the Stained Glass windows depict stories about the history and founding of Montreal (including the walk Maisonneuvre did with the cross up Mont Royal); all the glass is Limouge. Even though I’ve seen some of the most stunning Cathedrals in Europe, I have never seen such a beautiful ethereal representation as the Notre Dame Basilica in North America to match the European religious structures. It is a delight to see such a structure within the context of Canada.

By the time you reach Old Montreal, your feet may burn a bit from a day of strolling, and doing the tourist trek, but you can immediately put other senses to work among the cobbled stones and historical buildings. Old Montreal might be dubbed ‘little Paris’ as its picturesque passages are filled with little shops, bistros, cafes, and carriage rides. Romance is thick in the air of Old Montreal as are the smells of good food. Couples holding hands (an oddity in Canadian society) and strolling from one destination to another were in abundance; I kept expecting an accordion to strike up La Vie En Rose somewhere in the distance (it didn’t happen by the way). Old Montreal is an idealic way to end an exploration of Montreal.

Don’t feel you can explore Montreal in a day as there is far too much to see and experience. What about the Botanical Gardens? The Biodome? Not to mention Montreal is an art collector’s delight and Shoppers haven. What is most striking about this city are the people who have such a friendly demeanour, they are polite, and all look so fashionable and culturally diverse. Montreal is a city of merging and blending of cultures. An easy city to walk around and a pleasure to enjoy.

To read about Historical Quebec click here.

To read about the Great Canadian Holidays and Coaches trip to Montreal and Quebec City click here.