Cruise Diva Goes Ashore in Canada &
New England: the Northeast Passage
Sights to see & things to do
Montréal, Québec - Canada
Considered by many visitors to be one of the most “European” of North American cities, think about spending a pre- or post-cruise sojourn in beautiful Montréal.
Diversions
Infotouriste, at 1001 Square Dorchester in downtown Montréal, provides visitors with tourist information and services such as maps and guided tours in the city of Montréal as well as throughout the Province of Québec. Take a city tour by bus, boat, bicycle, horse drawn carriage, or on foot.
Old Montréal is located between the river and downtown. In this historical part of the city, you’ll discover its unique architecture, museums, shops, restaurants, outdoor cafés and the Old Port. At the heart of the city's cultural life, the Museum District radiates out from the Museum of Fine Arts. Crescent, de la Montagne and Sherbrooke streets are the hub of the district's business life. The Old Customs House, circa 1836, attests architecturally to the presence of British in Montréal. This neo-classic house is now an integral part of the Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History.
Château Ramezay Museum, the 18th century governor’s residence, houses a collection of exhibits tracing the area’s history from aboriginal society to the 20th century. Built in 1922, the Clock Tower commemorates the courage of the men of the Merchant Fleet whose lives were lost during World War I. An exhibit inside traces Montréal's development and the history of the river. Climb the 192 steps to the observatory for a stunning view of the city and river. And this historic clock still keeps time!
Saint-Sulpice seminary, the "Vieux Séminaire," is the oldest building in Montréal. Built between 1684 and 1687, it was expanded twenty years later. Its circa 1701 clock is the oldest of its kind in North America.
Montréal got its name from Mount Royal, the mountain Jacques Cartier (the first European to explore the St. Lawrence River) climbed in 1535. Today a magnificent park on the mountain is crisscrossed by trails and cycling paths. The grounds were opened to the public in 1876 to provide Montréalers and visitors a place to enjoy the outdoors in the heart of the city.
Shopping
One of Old Montréal's key landmarks is the silver dome capping Bonsecours Market, a neo-classic building reminiscent of ancient Greece. Built in the middle of the 19th century, stroll through the market and boutiques where you’ll find a wide variety of merchandise.
In response to Montréal’s severe weather, a network of underground passageways was inaugurated in the 1960s. Known as Montréal's underground city, three major shopping malls are now totally or partially underground with office towers built over them. Cours Mont-Royal, Place Montréal-Trust, and the Promenades-de-la-Cathédrale are the largest shopping complexes in the metropolitan area. Linked to the Metro, the entrance to the underground city opens directly onto Sainte-Catherine Street.
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