The Old Port, better by bike
A city with a jazz festival, an international film festival, a beer festival (the oldest in North America), one for chamber music, another for electronic music and even one for Swings. it can only be a big city.
Panoramic 1: Place d'Armes
We start with this grandiose square dominated by the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Montreal, a Neo-Gothic jewel, built in the 19th century. Around the church, a neoclassical building (the Old Bank), several art deco and one glass. In this first and wide corner the eclectic and free spirit of the city is summed up . Once seen, continue along Rue Notre-Dame and browse its cafés (so Parisian) and its alleys, many of them unpaved, until you reach Rue McGill, a wide avenue of terraces in the sun. Follow Place de la Grande-Paix-de-Montréal until you reach the Saint-Laurent River, one of two that surrounds this island city.
The Place des Armes
Overview 2: The Old Port
If you haven't already rented a bike at one of the more than 400 stops in the city for $5 a day, this is the best place and time to do it: the Promenade of the Old Port (the Old Port Walk) is a wide bike path that goes to the edge of the river, you can go entering until the end of each pier (all with souvenir stalls) and in the Place de l’Horloge, a beautiful green esplanade that looks towards the jean drapeau park and the strange Habitat 67 houses reminiscent of Brazilian favelas.
Panoramic 3: Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
After the river walk, we return to Old Montreal to Rue Saint-Paul, again the cobbled streets, the stone houses, and on top this neo-Gothic chapel whose apse is crowned by a large Virgin. Next to Notre Dame de Bon Secours, La Maison Pierre du Calvet, the oldest house in Montreal (from 1725), a chateau hotel, which is also a restaurant. The ideal place to eat, dine or stay and feel in the heart of Europe… sorry Montreal . After the break, continue down Rue Saint-Paul to the lively and artsy Place Jacques-Cartier, have a beer in the courtyard of the Jardin Nelson, and head up to the Hotel de Ville.
The Maison Pierre du Calvet, the oldest house in Montreal
Overview 4: Quartier Latin
What do all the Latin neighborhoods have that are always the liveliest in the cities? And in one of French descent like this, more. The proximity of the university makes these streets of colored houses whose ground and first floors (or even the entire building) are bars and restaurants in the most fun area of the city from five in the afternoon. The call of beer and cheap food never fails.
Panoramic 5: Quartier des Spectacles
After the beers and the crowds of the Latin Quarter, we arrive at the great squares (so Central European) of the entertainment quarter, where the Museum of Contemporary Art is, the headquarters of the jazz festival, the film festival, and now in spring 21 swings with music for children and adults. If you continue along Rue Jeanne-Mance to the left you will find one of the four gates that border Chinatown or Le Quartier Chinois, with a main artery, the Rue de la Gauchetière, full of restaurants, patisseries, bubble tea and everything you find in any European Chinatown …or, yes, American.
If you have opted for the bike, you will still have time to cross the Parc Jean Drapeau or the Sainte Hélène Island. Or go up to Plateau de Mont Royal and see the best panorama of all: the whole of Montreal.
Mont Royal: Montreal's Central Park