While not quite as charming in the old-world sense as Quebecois capital of Quebec City, Montreal (or a silent-T’ed Mon-réal as the local francophone population calls it) packs an awful lot in throughout the year. From bellylaughs at its comedy festival to a cuisine culture designed to joyfully fill expand your belly, it’s a ferociously cold winter wonderland and a testament to some to some of the finest design the world has ever seen.
With perhaps the finest and most exciting food scene in North America, with plenty of sport and snow-time pursuits, Montreal is a picturesque mix of 18th-century facades and parks. The best view of the city comes from Mont Royal, the three-peaked hill which gave Montreal its name.
Here is our pick of the top five things to do there:
5. Parc du Mont-Royal
Created by the brain behind New York’s Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted, this park is a popular spot in the city to take some time for yourself. In fair weather, it’s packed with cyclists and joggers, or people taking a moment’s rest on the grass or benches. When winter empties flurries of snow across the 280 hectares, the three hills and wide expanse make for excellent conditions for cross-country skiing and tobogganing.
One of the most famous landmarks in the park is the 40m-high metal Cross of Montreal, which was erected in 1924. Illuminated at night, the structure pays homage to Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, founder of the city, who singlehandedly carried a wooden cross to the spot in 1643 after the fledgling settlement was saved from a flood.
[Flickr/Christian]
4. Basilique Notre-Dame
One of the most iconic landmarks in the city, this Catholic basilica is a sumptuous example of overdoing it, with its opulence regarded these days as gilding the lily. Construction finished in 1829, with the cathedral built over the site of a smaller church, and today it features the famous Casavant organ and the Gros Bourdon, believed to be North America’s biggest bell.
The Sacre Cœur chapel behind the main altar is a popular place for weddings, so visits to the basilica offer many chances to spot a bride. Perhaps the most eye catching was singer Céline Dion, who in 1994 was wed in the main cathedral, which last made big headlines in 2000, when former US president Jimmy Carter and Fidel Castro were both pall-bearers at the funeral of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
[Flickr/Leo Li]
3. La Biosphère
An American import to the French-influenced city, Buckminster Fuller’s stunning geodesic dome was built for the American pavilion when Montreal hosted Expo ’67, and though it has a retro-future feel, the dome is a wonder of design.
Inside is a nature centre, complete with a green geothermal energy system and the kind of hands-on interactive displays that keep kids – of all ages – entertained. The dome acts as a museum focusing on urban ecosystems and ecotechnology. Upstairs, a gallery dedicated to the structure’s eccentric architect offers excellent views of the river.
[Flickr/R@inier]
2. Le Musée de beaux-arts de Montréal
Montreal’s world-famous Museum of Fine Arts allows visitors to marvel at paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, furniture, prints, sketches, and photographs, some of which date back thousands of years, others just a few months.
With an impressive haul of European masters, including Rembrandt, Picasso, and Monet, the museum also offers the uninitiated an unparalleled look at the finest Canadian works by the country’s finest artists, as well as many Inuit and aboriginal artefacts.
[Flickr/Gustavo Thomas]
1. Have a bite in La Banquise and a drink in Dieu du ciel
[Flickr/kandisebrown]
A Québécois staple, poutine (chips served in gravy with cheese curds) is the fortifying carb explosion you’d feel guilty tucking into anywhere else. Since 1968, La Banquise has been the best place in Montreal to find it, offering more than 30 variations. On weekends, the place is mobbed, but it’s worth the effort.
After finishing your dinner, it’s best to wash it down with a nice beer, and Dieu du Ciel is a popular spot with the locals. Famous for its ever changing list of beers and microbrews, it’s an excellent spot to soak up some local atmosphere and raise a glass.
[Flickr/Stephen Gardiner]
Every Tuesday on The Right Hook, travel writer Manchán Magan joins George in the Dublin studios of Newstalk, where he opens up the world to the rapt host. You can listen back to this week's segment below:
