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The delightful city of Montreal is the ideal holiday spot for those who are already jaded with the usual entertainment offered to tourists in other major cities. New to tourism there’s something different to be discovered everyday and there’s no reason why the young as well as the old cannot enjoy a wonderful holiday in this friendly cosmopolitan city in Canada. What is unique about Montreal is that while it caters to the palate of the everyday tourist, it does so in a way that is charmingly different from what one is used to in the run of the mill tourist destinations. Conversational Hypnosis

 

Montreal festivals begin in the month of January with its “Festival of Snow” Its customary for Montreal to have enough snowfalls during this month to make it possible for this to be a fun event for children and adults alike. Contests include skating, sledding, building snowmen and displays of ice sculptures that bring the locals and visitors together. Celebrity Gossip Hub February and March are the months set aside for the annual Lights Festival that provides an opportunity to bathe the city in various lighting displays and end with fireworks. Movie buffs are sure to be interested in the Film Art Festival that takes place during the first week in March. This is actually a competition where movies and videos on the subject of art are shown at theatres across the city.

While these are only a very few of the festivals that one can enjoy in Montreal, there are many others that celebrate different cultures that make up the cosmopolitan society in the city. There’s the Iberian Latin culture festival held in April, the Chamber Music Festival which can be attended free of charge, the Asian Festival which started as recently as 10 years ago in response to the many Asians residing in the city and the Montreal Bike Fest that features three cycling tours. This is a very interesting festival where tribute is paid to the bike as a means of transport and lessons in the history of biking as well as new technologies in the manufacture of bikes are also shown. The Power Of Conversational Hypnosis

Montreal is definitely a city where everyone can learn something new while having loads of fun trying out the different venues for exciting new events.

 

The Montreal of Old

Many historic attractions can be found in an area south east of downtown Montreal. In this area the old cobbled streets and original architecture have been meticulously maintained to enhance the atmosphere of the Montreal of old. In a bygone age the old port of Montréal was a thriving hive of activity but in this progressive age a much larger port has been built to provide for modern container traffic. The new port is the largest inland port in the world while the old port continues to be maintained to its former glory. This part of the city is easily accessed by bus or metro.
In the centre of the city is Mount Royal. Rise Up Inc This has remained unchanged for many years and covers a vast stretch in which there are two cemeteries and a large wooded area. Today, the great expanse that the park covers encourages pursuits such as cross country skiing, hiking and cycling.
Many changes began to occur to the Montreal of old in the mid 1950s and were due to the influx of many refugees from Hungary as a result of the communist crackdown. Cafes and restaurants started to open introducing Canadians to European cooking and culture. Texas High School Football Hall Of Fame
In the sixties, the Vietnam War had an effect on Montreal and became a haven for draft dodgers and veterans alike. There was also Expo 67 which is now a very modern amusement park, visited by many.
The Montreal of old has given way to many villages within the city and these villages are frequently being developed thus enhancing the original atmosphere that the city possesses. Fat Loss 4 Idiots
Montreal has entered the 21st century with a history that it is proud of and the ability to cater for the many tastes that its visitors, of different generations and cultures, can enjoy.

 

The Hidden Charms of Montreal

The hidden charms of Montreal, the second largest city in Canada, are an intricate delight to discover. If you have ever thought that Montreal is not for you and tended to pass over an opportunity to visit such a metropolitan city, then it is worth reconsidering and investigating further. Journal Con
Not only does Montreal offer favourable climatic conditions, with summers often reaching pleasant temperatures and winters bringing the much awaited snow for the winter sports, but the hidden charms of Montreal are abundantly found in the history and culture which it prides itself on.
Montreal has a distinctive feel for the cultural characteristics prominent in this community. Theatre, visual arts, dance and music talents are all displayed at such a profound level creating exuberant flair. In summer, many festivals spring to life and the Place des Arts is a venue for many events. One of the world’s principal orchestras is based in the Place des Arts alongside Opera de Montreal and an eminent ballet company. Additionally, this city produces one of the world’s largest comedy festivals and, of course, the ever popular Montreal International Jazz festival is one not to be missed.
The ability to visit the many interesting places that Montreal offers is aided by an excellent transport system. Sinopnkp This is further enhanced by the friendly, helpful nature of its natives and the knowledge that it is known as one of the safest cities in North America and has been so for more than fifty years.

As well as the hidden charms of Montreal which appeal to its booming tourist industry it is also reputed to be one of the worlds most liveable cities and is known as Canada’s cultural capital. All of these assets aid the strong economy that the city has and add to its ability to remain the hub of many important industries throughout the region.

 

Sport Activities in Montreal

Sport activities in Montreal have become an important part of the community. Whereas ice hockey seems to be the sport favoured by many of the city’s residents, the list of other sporting activities is endless. Whether it is to participate or simply observe, the option is there for you to take advantage of.
One of the most prolific sporting events in Montreal was in 1976 when the Summer Olympic Games was held. Now the stadium is home to soccer, football, marathons and motor cross fixtures.
On the sporting calendar, Montreal has become one of the major boxing cities in the world hosting many events and currently has two world boxing champions and a number of top contenders.
Montreal is also the proud host to the famous and popular annual event, the Formula 1 Grand prix as well as several other significant motor races held each year.
Canadian football is another high profile, spectator event and the Montreal Alouettes, who play at the Molson Stadium, have been a very successful team, constantly playing to sell-out crowds.
Baseball is also a sport that has a massive following, being supported by all ages. Other less favoured events such as golf and hurling can all be observed or enjoyed.
There are also a number of rugby clubs in Montreal and this has contributed to Canada becoming more prominent in the world of international rugby, making them a force to be reckoned with in the future.
These events represent an enormous revenue for the city by way of paying spectators and sponsorships. The Formula 1 Grand Prix alone represents 84 million dollars in economic benefits. A further 9 million dollars in tax benefits is collected every year from this one event. This highlights the importance of sport activities in Montreal as the overall benefits represent a high percentage of the city’s economy.

 

Montreal is a City to Explore

Montreal is a city to explore because it is known for its ability to cater for all requirements, whether it is sport, music or eating out: there is literally something for everybody.
Although its population is in excess of one and a half billion and it is the second largest city in Canada, it is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and friendliness. It is understood that it appears to be one of the safest cities in North America which enables visitors to walk anywhere, day or night, in safety.
Montréal is a city to explore for all sporting enthusiasts as basketball and baseball are major sports followed by the locals but ice hockey is Montreal’s most popular sport. The Montreal Canadians represent the city in the National Hockey League.
The height of the summer season is July and temperatures of up to 30 degrees can be experienced although this can drop to below zero in the winter months: the coldest month being January. This is why you will notice many buildings in Montreal are starting to use UPVC windows and doors as they are energy efficient and provide excellent insulation to keep you comfortable and warm in the winter and cooler in summer.
All types of music are available in Montreal and if you are a music fan you should frequent the Place-des-Arts. This is the cultural centre of art and music and many summer festivals are held there. If you just want to go clubbing then areas such as Downtown, Plateau Mont-Royal, St.-Laurent and Quarter Latin are the places to visit for Rave festivals are becoming more of a feature in these areas too.
As Montreal is a city to explore, you will find that every culinary request is catered for whether you want to visit cafes or restaurants, they are all in abundance and your ability to reach any part of the city is further enhanced by an efficient transport system.
Progress has been kind to Montreal and it has gone from a city with no cafes, pubs or wine bars in the mid fifties to a booming city that encourages tourism and provides for the many tastes, to satisfy its numerous visitors.

 

 Hotels In Montreal – Experience Montreal’s Class

Montreal is a city that is filled with excitement. It has tours that will thrill your nerves. It also has great people who respect you irrespective of how you look and where you come from. Since the people are hospitable, it means that the hotels will not disappoint you. Let me take you through some hotels in Montreal.
The first hotel that I will talk about is Hotel Le Germain. This hotel opened in 1999. After its opening, it added Laurie Raphael Montreal inside it in 2007. This hotel is an offshoot or rather branch of Daniel Vezina who is an inestimable chef. The mother restaurant is in Quebec City. This hotel is very stylish as there is a mixture of Asian minimalism and Western comforts. Apartment London These styles include plush bedding, ergonomic work areas, wicker chairs that have thick cushions, self-serve breakfasts and a lobby fireplace. If style is your middle name, this is the place to be.
Next let us look at Hotel Le St-James. Hotel Le St-James represents a triumph of design and preservation for visiting royalty. Without doubt, if you want to be treated like royalty, make a visit to this hotel. Montreal has designer hotels that span the spectrum from superminimalist to gentleman’s club. Hotel Le St-James is more gentleman than superminimalist. This hotel began as a merchant’s bank in 1870 and the lavishness of that station has been truly retained. Why I say this is because a richly paneled entry leads to a grand hall that has Corinthian columns, balconies with gilded metal balustrades and curved urns. This is quite a “banker’s hall” right? It is where meals and afternoon tea is served regularly accompanied by harp music. The rooms are furnished with entrancing antiques and immaculate reproductions. The amazing thing is that all these rooms have video screens that control lights, room temperature, and more amazingly, the DO NOT DISTURB sign. There is also a candlelit spa that specializes in full-body water therapy. Royalty indeed!
Hotel Nelligian opened in 2002. In 2007, it spent eight million Canadian dollars to expand. It went from 63 to 105 units. Now, more than half of the overnight accommodations are suites. The bedrooms are dark wooded, with puffy duvets, heaps of pillows and quality mattresses. The staff works diligently and admirably. The building maintains beautiful spaces. This is done throughout the building from the Verses restaurant on the ground floor to the rooftop terrace. In the rooftop terrace, drinks and light meals are served up till 11pm. On the bedroom walls are lines from the poet Emile Nelligan. This hotel is quite a commendable one for the romantics. Many of Montreal’s hotels are famous the world over and attract a healthy international clientele thanks to promotion on the internet. Hiring an seo consulting professional certainly reaps its rewards in the hotel industry when it comes to international reputation and new business. Attraction marketing is also a powerful way to attract the new clients and business partners that make any tourist venture a success.

There is a hotel that has washed through Vieux-Montreal and this is Le Saint-Suplice Hotel which has been opened since 2002. It impresses with an all-suites configuration. More to that, it has an ambitious eatery; S Le Restaurant, which has a courtly service. It is a member of the Concorde chain which means this is a very sophisticated hotel with high standards. The suites are not all the same but vary according to taste. Some have a plethora of conveniences and gadgets such as kitchenettes that have microwaves, stoves and fridges. Others have fireplaces. This hotel has large suites that are sometimes hired by film crews that usually shoot movies. Your children will not be bored as they are also catered for by gaming consoles, board games and so on.

 

Restaurants and Food In Montreal

The tasty and classy side of Montreal

Montreal is arguably the most beautiful city in Canada. It has all varieties of activities and sites to see. This is a city that you can enjoy no matter what. Even if you are not an outgoing person, there is a lot for you to do. Argan Oil Apart from that, it is also known for its restaurants and food. Therefore let us look at some restaurants and food in Montreal.

Au Pied de Cochon is one of the famous restaurants that are packed to the walls six nights per week. As you can see, this restaurant has a cult following and for obvious reasons. It has delicious food. This place is loved by Normand Laprise and American chef Anthony Bourdain. The name means the pig’s foot and as the name suggests, the menu lives up to it as what is served most is slabs of meat especially pork. The meats served in this restaurant are roasted to the point where they start falling off the bone in the brick oven. The brick oven survives from a previous pizza joint that used to occupy this space. Pork is the main meat but it does not mean you cannot get other types of food as there is a grand selection of seafood. You can get oysters, lobsters, crab and even foie gras which come in 10 combinations. These combinations include a tart with poutine which comes in a method called Duck in a Can. This comes with a can opener. This may make you feel like you are saturated with cholesterol and the only fitting finish is sugar pie. Of course you will need to remember your African Mango to burn off those calories but the delicious food you will experience in Montreal is certainly worth it.

Next let us look at Cavalli and its food. This glamorous space is filled with striking young women dressed in snug black dresses and hunky young men with requisite 4 day old beards. You will be excused for thinking that the hotel is an after party of a Hollywood premier with 300 of the beautiful people. The food has to get a mention too. You can make a meal of any of the dozen antipasti. However, do not ignore the pine nut-crusted filet mignon or rack of lamb with oregano crust and olive jus. There is a glowing pink bar that turns into a heavy scene later in the evening. You should be aware that the prices in this restaurant resemble the quality and beauty.

Finally, let us look at Europea and its food. This restaurant is not really stunning when you view it from outside. When you enter, you still aren’t impressed as the low ceiling, bare wood floors, and brick walls are quite simple. Once you taste the food, you realize why the “Chef of the Year” award was given to chef Jerome Ferrer by the Societe des Chefs, Cuisiniers et Patissiers du Quebec. You will also see why Gourmand put this restaurant in the “bistro deluxe” category. First off, is a three segment meal with various tasty nibbles in each. Following this comes an unannounced “teaser” which is a demitasse of lobster bisque along with a shot of truffle oil. All these leads to the main event; Alaska crab legs and warm lobster salad.

Without doubt, you will experience great restaurants in Montreal and you will eat food that will just leave you wanting more.

 

Montreal is a city in Canada that is a great tourist destination because there is always something interesting no matter what your interests or inclinations are.  If you are a night owl and your energy level is at its highest when the dark sets in, then Montreal will surely make your night enjoyable.  If you are not a night person, the nightlife and entertainment in Montreal might just be able to make you want to stay up all night long.

If you are looking to make your night fun and interesting, Montreal is studded with several bars and pubs which makes deciding on which one to go quite challenging.  If you know a local resident, it would be really helpful to ask for some recommendations.  If you plan to go on an adventure to search for that perfect spot to party your night away, then make sure to keep yourself sober enough to be able to go home without getting lost.  The people of Montreal are willing to accompany you and take you to different bars and pubs but remember that this city gets a lot of visitors no matter what time of the year, so being a little extra careful would not hurt.

People have different tastes and ways to enjoy their nights.  There are those who want to watch live bands perform and you can have a taste of Montreal’s music scene at Club Soda, Le Swimming, and Grumpy’s Bar.  If you are the type who enjoys sophisticated alcoholic drinks in low light and soft music, you can try out Piano Bar La Belle Époque.  If dancing is your thing and you are looking for a place to shake your booty, you can check out Club 1234, Club La Boom, or Exit.  If you are going out with friends and you are up to a game of pool while gulping down some beer, Le Swimming or Le Scratch are some of the best places to hang out.  No matter what you have in mind, no night goes wasted with the variety of nightlife locations you can find within Montreal.

Montreal has a culture so rich that they feature different festivals in every month of the year.  You will have more options for a night of fun and entertainment during these festivals.  The Jazz festival features gigs and concerts you could go to.  The Just for Laughs festival provides you with a night of laughter with family and friends.  The fireworks festival is, of course, held at night and you can enjoy a night of oohs and aahs while watching great pyrotechnical performances.  These are a few nightlife and entertainment options if you want to enjoy the night with wholesome fun and pure enjoyment for the whole family.

Planning a trip to Montreal is worth it especially if you are armed with helpful information like which places to go to at night.  Montreal will definitely make it hard for tourists to leave.   This city provides locals and visitors alike with sheer fun and entertainment 24 hours a day.

If you want to get the best out of a visit to almost any city, the best way to explore is on foot. Montréal, one of North America’s most popular pedestrian-friendly North American cities has so many different areas to explore. From Vieux-Montréal with its cobbled streets, to the bustling downtown and Mont-Royal, there are many walking tours you could take that will enable you to see everything this destination has to offer.

The city of Montréal is extremely easy to navigate on foot and there is a useful Metro system that can help you to travel between different neighborhoods with ease. With these walking tours, you can discover all the great things about the different parts of Montréal with ease.

Vieux-Montréal is the oldest part of the city and has a rich architectural heritage that has been well preserved and restored. Beautiful 18th and 19th Century buildings now include a range of shops, hotels, cafes, bars, galleries and much more. A walking tour through Vieux-Montréal will allow you to experience and appreciate the atmospheric dining spots you’ll find here, as well as pass by many of the highlights of the neighborhood.

Vieux-Montréal is a great neighborhood to stroll through on almost any day of the week. This neighborhood is both lively and safe to explore during the day or during the evening. You will find that most museums in the area are closed on Mondays and that during the holidays, and on warm days, you’ll find the plazas and other popular hang-outs will be fairly packed. Vieux-Montréal is one the most picturesque parts of Montréal, so make sure you take a stroll through this area at a time that suits you!

If you’re looking for a guided tour of the Vieux-Montréal area, you’ll find there are departure points just outside popular attractions such as the Notre-Dame Basilica boutique. There are also other tours of the area including themed tours such as the ‘Montréal Ghost Trail’.

Another great place in Montréal to explore on a walking tour is downtown. Once you’ve seen the beauty of Vieux-Montréal, it’s nice to be able to contrast the two areas. Downtown Montréal is the most contemporary and vibrant part of the city.

Square Dorchester is one of the central locations in downtown that you should definitely take a stroll to. Here, you’ll find plenty of tour buses and horse drawn carriages that can take you on a tour of the area if you fancy a break from walking but still want to explore the city.

Downtown Montréal is home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Montréal’s most prominent museum. If you have the time and the inclination, make a stop here and explore the museum (which consists of two buildings both made from Vermont marble). If you’d rather continue on a walking tour of Montréal, you could alternatively make your way along Rue Sherbrooke if you want to do some shopping or head to Rue Crescent if you’d rather explore Montréal’s ‘party central’.

Whether you are taking a guided tour or a self-guided tour of some of the different areas of Montréal, there is no doubt that the city of Montréal has a lot to offer. Exploring Montréal’s history with a walking tour is definitely something that should not be missed when you visit this city!

A vacation is very relaxing. You tend to forget all your troubles and your focus becomes the fun that is ahead. You realize that life is too short and there is no reason that you should spend it on the sidelines. You realize that it is time that you become a player in life and not just a spectator. A place where you can be a player and relax at the same time is Montreal. If you do not believe me, I bet some fascinating tours of Montreal will make you a believer.
The first tour that I will talk about is Old Montreal, which is a walking tour through which you can discover the awesome city of Montreal. It is a city bursting with amazing art, interesting history, and out of this world architecture. During this walk, you will come across Notre-Dame Basilica, Place Jacques-Cartier, City Hall and other amazing sites such as Place d’Armes, Royal Bank, Cours Le Royer, St. Jacques, Champ de Mars and Bonsecours Market. Remember, these are just highlights. You can form highlights of your own. You should however be aware that this tour is seasonal and operates from May through to October. This means that if you really want to take part in it, you should be in Montreal in this season.
The next is the exciting Montreal Dinner Cruise. During this tour, you can feel the Southern breeze and taste a colorful meal. You will enjoy an exclusive ambiance on the Cavalier Maxim, a five-course dinner in the intimacy of a chic dining room and you will also listen to music that will have you dancing all night. If you are a romantic, you have no reason to miss this cruise. Again, this tour also has highlights. Some of these highlights are; you will get a panoramic view of Montreal city from the glassed-in dining rooms, and magnificent outside terraces with music. Your food is prepared in such a way that it is worthy of the Captain’s Table. The food includes Fresh Salmon Fillet, supreme chicken and fillet mignon. I am sure your mouth is getting all watery. The wine you order will not disappoint as your wine steward knows exactly what will go well with your gourmet dinner meal. Remember as I said, there will be music and nothing beats a cruise with music.
Montreal is also a sporting area. For this reason, you can actually go on a bike tour escaping the crowds in a three hour bike adventure around the city lead by a professional guide. You can choose from two exciting tours thereby uncovering the history, architecture and without doubt the lively neighborhoods of Montreal. This is quite fun especially in the morning. The itineraries are the city tour and the vista architecture tour. In the city tour, you will begin at the Old Port and ride to the Latin Quarter. In this tour, you will also get the opportunity to taste Montreal’s world famous Bagels. If you are a beginner, the city tour is the best. Vista architecture tour, just like its name suggests, lets you see the famous architectural buildings. In this tour, you will learn the importance of the Saint Lawrence River. This bike ride is intermediate friendly. Whichever you choose, you will still enjoy.

Montreal is known to be the Cultural Capital of Canada because of the richness of its culture especially when it comes to the variety of festivals this city has to offer.  A year in Montreal will surely keep everyone busy as each month of the calendar features different festivals that are worth celebrating.  The city is packed with artists who specialize in music, performing arts, film, literature, and every other category of art that you could think of.  Each of these has a corresponding festival that comes with it which will make everyone, locals and visitors alike have a truly enjoyable experience.

There are so many festivals in the city of Montreal but let us focus on the popular ones.  Just for Laughs is a comedy festival that is famous worldwide, thanks to its regular television episodes.  This festival was founded in 1983 and is celebrated in the month of July of every year.  The festival consists of an awarding event that praises and gives awards and recognition to people who have made Montreal locals and visitors laugh their hearts out.  This is also the best time for aspiring comedians and comediennes to showcase their talents as this is the time of the year that talent scouts and managers from all over the world are here for a talent hunting spree.

The Montreal Fireworks Festival is also one of the many reasons you should definitely visit Montreal during the summer.  This festival features different pyrotechnical competitors from around the globe.  Each one is given 30 minutes to showcase their firework displays which are synchronized to the music of their choice.  Children, and adults alike, will surely enjoy this competition.  It is a well known fact that everyone enjoys a good firework display.

The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal is a festival for jazz enthusiasts.  The month of June is the time of the year when jazz amateurs and professionals come together for almost 2 weeks of musical passion and enjoyment.  The festival features numerous concerts, jamming sessions, workshops, and more activities to pay tribute to the wonderful world of jazz.  If you are a die hard fan of jazz, this is the perfect time to satisfy your cravings of really good music and to get a glimpse of famous jazz artists from all over the world.

The International Festival of Circus Arts is one festival you should not miss.  It is scheduled every July and it involves a lot of shows that will surely have your eyes glued in awe-struck wonder.  Be prepared to be amazed with shows that feature great circus artists and performers, not only from Montreal, but from other countries as well.  Watch the thrilling drama of acrobats and fearless performers while they dance and cross thin wires high above your heads.  Experience the great benefits of a good laugh while watching clowns perform crazy antics live.  No matter what your preferences or interests are, you would definitely find your place here in the city of festivals called Montreal.

The city of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, has more French speaking people than any other city in the world except Paris, France. French is the first and primary language for 66% of Montreal residents, while just 13% have English as their primary language. Of course, just about all the people of Montreal speak both languages fluently, but the French language and culture is a primary source of pride and identity not only for Montreal, but all of Quebec.

In fact, a slight majority of Montreal residents favor seceding from Canada altogether. They view their culture as distinct from the rest of the nation, and many residents of Montreal don’t like being viewed as Canadian. Rather, they think of themselves as “Québécois.” Referendums calling for Quebec to become a sovereign nation were defeated in both 1980 and 1995, however, and the latter by an extremely narrow margin of about 1%.

There are 1.9 million people in Montreal proper, but about 3.6 million in the wider metropolitan area. Montreal is one of the fastest growing cities in all of North America.  It is also considered one of the world’s “most livable cities,” according to the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.

Not surprisingly, Montreal is dominated  by people of European origin with French making up about  23% of the mix, with Italian next at 10%,  Irish 5%, English 4%, Scottish 3% and Spanish 2%. The most numerous groups of what are called “visible minorities” are blacks, at almost 5%, Arabs almost 3% and Latin Americans around 2%. South Asians and Chinese are counted at 2% each.

The vast majority of Montreal residents belong to one of the mainstream Christian faiths, with Roman Catholics in greatest numbers, along with a large mixture of various Protestant denominations. However, Montreal has the second-largest concentration of Muslims of any city in Canada, and almost 110,000 identify themselves as Jewish. Although census figures show that active participation in religion has faded considerably in recent years, Montreal is well-known for the huge number of churches located throughout the city, many of them examples of magnificent, classical architecture.

The people of Montreal are world renowned for the rich culture of art they suffuse through their city. From deeply classical forms of art, to pop culture, Montreal is widely considered to be among the most vibrant artistic communities in the world. Social and cultural events are many, and conducted through all-seasons. There is scarcely any time of the year when the people of Montreal are not celebrating some kind of artistic, cultural and social festival, making this city extremely popular with travelers and tourists.

Interestingly, while the people of Paris have the reputation of being rude and snotty, the French-speaking culture of Montreal has much the opposite character, according to most travel writers. The people of Montreal love comedy and levity, as demonstrated by their world-famous “Just For Laughs” comedy festival, which also produces a hidden-camera practical joke TV show, which is also enormously popular around the world.

The people of Montreal are justifiably proud of the vibrant, multi-cultural and cosmopolitan milieu that makes up the fabric of their bright, clean and friendly city. Not only is Montreal considered one of the most livable cities in the world, it is also a favorite place to visit by hundreds of thousands of people every year.

The Culture of Montreal Is European In Origin, But Maintains A Unique Identity Today

When travelers visit Montreal for the first time, just about all of them say something like: “This feels more like a city in Europe than North America.” Add in the fact that more than 66% of Montreal residents speak French as their first language, and the close ties of Montreal to Europe seem complete.

But not so fast! Surprisingly, the vast majority of Montreal residents don’t appreciate, sometimes even resent, being compared too closely with France. It violates their sense of being a unique city couched in a distinctly North American culture. Many people in Montreal will tell you that comparison’s to France begin and end with a common language – and even that does not sit well with some. Montreal residents make many distinctions between the kind of French they speak with that of the French spoken in Europe.

But there are several ways to look at the influences of Europe on Montreal, which are many, obvious and undeniable . As we know, all of North America – the United States and Canada alike – were colonized by European nations starting with the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World in 1492.

Beginning in the 1600s, it was the English and French who began moving into what is now the Unites States and Canada, beginning nearly two centuries of epic struggle between two European super powers. Just as the Spanish dominated the South American countries, the British dominated North America, but where challenged in many areas by France. For the most part, the British came out on top, but some conclaves of French culture took hold, one of the most prominent of which is Canada’s province of Quebec and the city of Montreal.

So Montreal remained a French-speaking city (all of Canada is technically bi-lingual), and indeed, the vast majority of the population there today is drawn from European roots. The current population breaks down like this: Those of  French descent make up  23% of the mix, Italians are next at 10%,  Irish 5%, English 4%, Scottish 3% and Spanish 2%.

Even so, it is important to remember that the vast majority of these people were born and bred in Canada. Most of the population of Montreal is several generations removed from its European origins. They have developed a distinct culture and a unique identity. The people of Montreal do not think of themselves in European terms. They are not only highly cognizant of, but proud of their identity as North Americans and as Canadians.

But wait – there’s one more interesting factor to consider. Canada, as a nation, is nominally still sovereign to the English monarchy! Canadians consider Queen Elizabeth to be “their Queen.”  Yes, just as the monarchy is largely symbolic in the United Kingdom, so it is in Canada, but this historic tie remains nonetheless.

So here we have one of the most interesting twists of world history. The city of Montreal is fiercely proud of its French-speaking culture, and at the same time, recognizes the English Queen as its sovereign!

Certainly, there are other factors to consider, not the least of which is the architecture of Montreal, which is powerfully evocative of European style. Many restaurants feature the cuisines of French and Italian culture — but these again have developed their own North American flavors –while retaining the essence of their European origin.

Without a doubt, Montreal represents a powerful blending of Old World Europe and New World development.

The city of Montreal dates back over 2,000 years and today Montreal is Canada’s second largest region.  In the twenty first century, Montreal is known for it’s culture, arts, sports and international trade but it wasn’t always that way.  This city had a very humble beginning.

A brief history of Montreal follows:

Montreal was originally founded by the nomadic, First Nations tribes people.  In time, the First Nations tribes, cultivated Maize and built secure villages.  In 1611, the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, established a fur trading post and in 1642 an official colony was founded to evangelize the natives. Over time, the colony became a popular fur trading post for the French.  The region continued in French hands until the end of the 7 year war in 1760 when it was officially surrendered to Great Britain.

Montreal became an actual city in 1832 and by 1860 it was the largest economic and cultural center in all of Canada.  The city continued to prosper and grow throughout the years, becoming a major railroad hub and a shipping center.  In 1920 prohibition arrived in the United States, provoking many Americans to move up to Canada.  Americans were looking for alcohol and jobs.  In the 1930′s, with the U.S. slipping into depression, the economy of Montreal struggled to stay afloat.  In 1951 the city reached over one million and growing.

The eyes of the world came to Montreal in 1976 when the city hosted the 21st Olympic Games.  The Montreal Olympics was opened by Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, as the head of Canada.  The Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, competed in the games and represented the British Equestrian Team.  For many, the most notable athletic performance was that of Nadia Comaneci of Romania.  The young female gymnast scored seven perfect tens for the first time in history.  Scoreboards in 1976 only went up to nine and so her score read “1.0″ instead of ten.  (a problem that was fixed for all subsequent Olympic games).

The twenty first century brought general prosperity and growth to the entire Montreal and Island of Montreal region. ( unified in 2002 into one big city) Citizens of Montreal speak both English and French which dates back to their founding Fathers and the end of the seven year war in 1760.

If you visit Montreal today check the weather.  The city is known for cold and snowy winters but beautiful springs, summers and falls.  Historic sites to see include Montreal’s underground city, the Place d’ Armes , Notre-Dame Basilica and the controversial Olympic stadium.

Just outside the city you will find Beaver Lake on Mount Royal.  The site of Mount Royal park was designed as a wooded greenspace by Frederick Law Olmsted who also created New York City’s,  Central Park.  The park is home to two historic cemeteries dating back to 1852 with over 1 million graves.

In this brief history of Montreal we see a city which has survived difficulties, only to shine brighter in years to come.  Millions of people and cultures have contributed to what the city is today, Canada’s cultural capital.  Montreal is an  international, multi-cultural city, with something for everyone who visits.

 

Montreal or Mount Royal from which the city derived its name is the second largest city in Canada.  The residents of Montreal are said to be originally from 80 different countries which is not surprising when you consider the vast mosaic of cultures that have formed the backbone of its cosmopolitan culture.  While the distinctive British influence can be identified in many parts of the city, the undoubtedly French flavored hospitality is visible everywhere you go and French is just one of the languages you will hear if you take a walk down the street.  A city full of fun and laughter and a natural sense of gaiety seems to exude from those who live in Montreal. They do love their music, their steaming hot cups of cappuccino and their smoked beef, and it’s extremely difficult to be gloomy in this city where   the spirit and natural love of life creates such an ambiance that makes you want to be absorbed into it.

Considered to be one of the safest cities in North America, it’s possible for anyone to walk down the streets at anytime during the day or night without fear. With varying climatic conditions, Montreal can be really hot in July with very high humid conditions.  One strange climatic statistic is that it’s during summer that the city of Montreal enjoys both the maximum days of sunshine as well as the most number of days of rainfall as well. Winters can be very cold with an abundance of snow and chilly breezes that makes the temperature plunge well below zero at times.  This can be well believed when you consider that the lowest temperature recorded in the city is a mind numbing -38 degrees.

St. Laurent Boulevard, popularly known as ‘The Main” is where it is said the city is split in half, both physically as well as psychologically. This happened when immigrants made their settlement here on arrival and is still not considered the best part of the city to live with an address in this area receiving hardly any recognition on a status scale.   Economically, Montreal is very strong and is known to be only second to other major Canadian cities.  Its major source of income is through technology, commerce, finance and culture and today, Montreal is home to some big multinational companies such as Air Canada and IBM.

Montreal is famous for many things but what brings many visitors to Montreal are its music festivals that draw crowds in their numbers to this cosmopolitan city in Canada. Anyone who has visited the city on an earlier occasion and especially someone interested in music is sure to be familiar with the Place-des-Arts which is the epicenter of art and classical music. It is here that most of the summer festivals are held and is the ideal setting with its large open air space ringed by concert halls and theatres for operas, and other musical acts performed by the many famous celebrities that grace them.

The city is also well known for its hosting of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and is also considered the most popular venue to show case the talents of lesser known French musical artists.  Connoisseurs of music are known to fly from London and other European cities to attend these musical festivals with most airlines offering special flights during the season. Another event that brings hoards of visitors to Montreal is its White Party also known as “Bal en Blanc” that is held during Easter. A very unique festival now in its 13^th year, the White Party usually gets   at least 15,000 spectators who join in the fun that features DJ’s from all across the world.

Those  who prefer  club hopping to attending music festivals  have no reason to be disappointed because Montreal is increasingly becoming popular as a city with an active and vibrant night life. Some interesting Night clubs to visit are   St. Catherine and St. Laurent (strange names for night clubs) or the Latin Quarter where it is possible to find a club to dance away the night to the beat of music from the 80’s. There are also many supper clubs in Montreal that offer   fine dining options where you can simply relax and enjoy the ambience or watch the many celebrities who visit these clubs regularly.

Keep in mind however, that it’s not easy to get into these supper clubs unless you are the guest of a VIP or be ready to stand in queue for hours until you get your chance.

Located on an island right in the middle of St. Lawrence river, no one was surprised when Montreal was designated as the UNESCO City of Design and was the first urban center to sign the Geo-tourism Charter of the National Geographic society. A city that show cases modern art, design and architecture Montreal’s free spirited character is well displayed in its avant-garde designs  and innovative sense of style that pervades the whole city. The old Montreal is still wonderfully preserved with the sensationally landscaped Mount Royal Park that provides a charming backdrop to  business centers  as well as residential housing schemes.

Renowned for its food and original restaurants that serve French cuisine par excellence,  this wonderful city with friendly people has the distinction  of being one of the 15 famous cities to have joined the world Good Food Cities Network in 2007. Being the second largest French speaking city after Paris, Montreal is also famous for its four famous universities; two of French   and two of English language.  People visit Montreal for all kinds of reasons; from those who simply love art to those who have fallen in love with its very active nightlife.  Some can’t resist its restaurants while others drive up for the weekend to buy their favorite herbal tea or visit one of the many museums dotted all over the landscape.

It is not possible to talk about Montreal without mentioning its plethora of festivals held right throughout the year. From Jazz, to Film Festivals more and more Europeans are visiting this fun city wanting to absorb its multi cultural diversity and the freedom of its cosmopolitan nature.  Still considered as one of the safest cities in North America, not to say the world;  walking around at any time of the day or night has never been a problem for its citizens or for its many visitors. Having an excellent transport system,  it is possible to visit the many small villages spread right across the city whenever you feel like getting away from the huzzle and buzzle of city life. Great for shopping with plenty of exciting malls, there’s no doubt that Montreal has something for everyone and is definitely a place not to be missed.