MONTREAL, "THE CITY OF SAINTS"
BY CLAY LARROY
Do you feel like it is time for a short vacation? Canada
is a wonderful vacation destination. Once you decide to travel, how good you
plan the trip will help you feel comfortable and be comfortable at your
destination. Not only will you feel less anxiety before the trip, but you can
rest assured that once you arrive where you're going you will have a good
understanding of what's going on there. When you need
to plan a vacation contact me!
City Attractions in Montreal
Centre Canadien d'Architecture (CCA)
The Canadian Centre for
Architecture should be seen as much for its own architecture as for the
fascinating temporary exhibitions on buildings, architects and architectural
movements inside. Peter Rose designed the modern building, whose austere
limestone facade contrasts with the adjoining Shaughnessy House typical of the
residences of Montreal's wealthy elite at the turn of the century. The area
behind the museum is the CCA sculpture garden, designed by Melvin Charney.
Opening Times
Wed-Sun 1000-1700; Thurs until 2100.
Admission Fees
Admission Fees
Yes (except for Thursdays after 1730).
Telephone (514) 939 7026.
Website http://www.cca.qc.ca
Telephone (514) 939 7026.
Website http://www.cca.qc.ca
Disabled Access No
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
Built in 1771, this is the
city's oldest church; it contains original Édouard Meloche frescoes and has a
small museum devoted to the life of Marguerite Bourgeoys (Canada's first
saint). The tower affords excellent views of the port and surrounding streets.
Opening Times
Tues-Sun 1100-1530 (Nov-mid Jan and Mar-Apr); Tue-Sun 1000-1730
(May-Oct).
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 282 8670.
Website http://www.marguerite-bourgeoys.com
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 282 8670.
Website http://www.marguerite-bourgeoys.com
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Galerie René Blouin
This gallery never ceases
to boggle the mind. Contemporary Canadian artists exhibit their work to the
astonishment of art buffs and critics alike.
Opening Times
Tues-Fri 1000-1730, Sat 1100-1700.
Admission Fees No
Telephone (514) 393 9969.
Website http://www.galeriereneblouin.com
Admission Fees No
Telephone (514) 393 9969.
Website http://www.galeriereneblouin.com
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History
In the western end of Old
Montreal, Pointe-à-Callière, the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History,
tells the story of Montreal from its earliest days - with high-tech displays in
the stunningly modern Eperon Building, and archaeological remains in the
portions of the museum below place Royale (including the city's original
sewers) and under the renovated Old Customs House.
Opening Times
Tues-Fri 1000-1700, Sat and Sun 1100-1700 (early Sep-late Jun);
Mon-Fri 1000-1800, Sat and Sun 1100-1800 (late Jun-early Sep).
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 872 9150.
Website http://www.pacmusee.qc.ca
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 872 9150.
Website http://www.pacmusee.qc.ca
Disabled Access No
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Montreal Science Centre
A popular trip for
families, the Montreal Science Centre has a constant fresh rota of exhibitions
and programmes. Learning through interaction is the name of the game, with
hands on workshops, special events and fun activities. There is also an IMAX
cinema should the little ones demand easy entertainment.
Opening Times
Daily 1000-1700 (early Jun-early Sep); daily 0930-1600 (early
Sep-early Jun), IMAX daily until 2200.
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 496 4724.
Website http://www.montrealsciencecentre.com
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 496 4724.
Website http://www.montrealsciencecentre.com
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Musée d'Art Contemporain
de Montréal (Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art)
Adjoining the plaza at the
Place des Arts, the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Arts is Canada's only
museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art. The museum's permanent
collection is on display in one wing, on a rotating basis - the collection of
works by Québécois artists, such as Jean-Paul Riopelle and Paul-Emile Borduas,
whose expressive canvases typify the Automatistes of the mid-20th century, is
particularly strong. The other wing features temporary exhibitions focusing on
one or more artists. A small sculpture garden makes for a quiet retreat.
Opening Times
Tues and Thur-Sun 1100-1800, Wed 1100-2100.
Admission Fees Yes (except free on Wednesdays 1800-2100).
Telephone (514) 847 6226.
Website http://www.macm.org
Admission Fees Yes (except free on Wednesdays 1800-2100).
Telephone (514) 847 6226.
Website http://www.macm.org
Disabled Access No
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal (Montreal Museum of Fine
Arts)
Since it was established
in 1860, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has been at the forefront of
promoting Canadian and international art. The permanent collection is split
between the original beaux-arts building, which houses Canadian, Inuit and
First Nations art, as well as decorative arts; and the postmodern structure
opposite where European masters, prints and drawings and decorative arts are
exhibited. In the tunnel connecting the pavilions are galleries showcasing
contemporary Canadian artists and a small collection from ancient cultures.
In 2000, the museum
received the Liliane and David M Stewart Collection as a gift, comprising some
5,000 items of decorative art dating from the end of the 1930s onwards. The
whole collection of the former Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts, one of the
most important in North America, thus entered the museum. The museum also has a
reputation for hosting outstanding temporary exhibitions.
Opening Times
Tues 1100-1700, Wed-Fri 1100-2100, Sat-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission Fees No (forpermanent exhibitions). Admission is half price on Wednesdays 1500-2030
Telephone (514) 285 2000.
Website http://www.mmfa.qc.ca
Admission Fees No (forpermanent exhibitions). Admission is half price on Wednesdays 1500-2030
Telephone (514) 285 2000.
Website http://www.mmfa.qc.ca
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
Dating back to 1829, this
cathedral is the city's most iconic building. It was the first gothic-revival
church to be built in Canada and its handsome twin towers house an 11 tonne
bell nicknamed "Jean-Baptiste". Adding to local lore, French-Canadian
chanteuse, Celine Dion was married here in 1994. The Basilica's vast size, its
extraordinary craftsmanship, fine works of art and chapel are impressive,
particularly the latter considering the fact it had to be rebuilt after a fire
in 1978. With over 350 years of history, the Parish of Notre-Dame boasts a
wealth of trivia, tales and urban legends.
Opening Times
Mon-Fri 0900-1600, Sat 0900-1530, Sun 1300-1530.
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 842 2925.
Website http://www.basiliquenddm.org
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 842 2925.
Website http://www.basiliquenddm.org
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Oratoire St-Joseph (St Joseph's Oratory)
Found on the northwest
side of Mount Royal, ‘Joe's Place' is a magnificent Roman Catholic basilica
which was begun in 1924 by Brother André, a celebrated healer, and completed in
1967, after his death. The 97m-high (318ft) dome is one of the largest in the
world and there is room for 10,000 worshippers beneath it. The votive chapel
and crypt are worth investigating and there is a good view over the city from
the terrace.
Opening Times
Daily 0700-1900 (until 2200 when there is an evening service).
Hours for individual parts of the complex vary and tours are available daily
from 1000-1700.
Admission Fees No
Telephone (514) 733 8211.
Website http://www.saint-joseph.org
Admission Fees No
Telephone (514) 733 8211.
Website http://www.saint-joseph.org
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Parc Jean-Drapeau
Montreal's largest park
comprises two islands (Ile Ste-Hélène and Ile Notre-Dame) and was the site of
the city's monumental Expo 67 World Fair. Today, the islands are a great spot
for exploring on foot, bicycle or rollerblades. Half of Ile Ste-Hélène is taken
up by La Ronde amusement park. Elsewhere on the island is the Stewart Museum,
located in Montreal's only fort. It recalls the region's martial history with
costumed guides and re-enactments. Nearby, a geodesic dome contains the
Biosphère - a museum devoted to increasing awareness about river and water
ecology. On Sundays throughout the summer, groove to the beats at Piknic
electronic, a hedonistic outdoor dance party featuring the best international
and local DJs and terrific views of the city.
Opening Times
Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees No
Telephone (514) 872 6120.
Website http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com
Admission Fees No
Telephone (514) 872 6120.
Website http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Parc Olympique (Olympic Park)
The Olympic Park was the
site of the 1976 Olympic Games. The unique and costly (over C$1 billion)
Olympic Stadium is now the venue for concerts and features a sports centre with
four large swimming pools. Half-hour guided tours are available and visitors
can also take a funicular (cable car) ride up the world's tallest inclined
tower (175m/575ft). Nearby, the former velodrome is now a major and extremely
popular attraction - the Biodôme de Montréal is a recreation of five ecosystems
under one roof. Visitors can move from a tropical rainforest to a polar world,
with stops in a Laurentian forest and St Lawrence marine environment en route.
Opening Times
Funicular: daily 0900-1700 (until 1900 mid Jun-early Sep). Park:
Tues-Sun 0900-1700 (early Sep-late Jun); daily 0900-1800 (late Jun-early Sep).
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 252 4141.
Website http://www.rio.gouv.qc.ca
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 252 4141.
Website http://www.rio.gouv.qc.ca
Disabled Access No
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Space for Life
Canada's largest natural
science museum complex, Space for Life, offers four different attractions. The
newest opened in spring 2013; the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium housed in a
$48million building featuring two silver cones pointing skywards like
telescopes. Inside, in the Chaos Theatre, visitors can journey into space
against the backdrop of a Philip Glass symphony soundtrack. The planetarium
also contains a permanent exhibition of meteorites and interactive terminals,
videos and multimedia games. Also on the site is a Biodôme where you can learn
about flora and fauna in five different ecosystems, an Insectarium offering a
diverse and colourful collection of insects, butterflies, moths and spiders,
and the Botanical Garden covering 73 hectares (180 acres), which includes a
Chinese garden, Japanese garden and a Tree House displaying information on
Quebec's forests.
Opening Times
Varies.
Admission Fees Yes
Website http://espacepourlavie.ca/en
Admission Fees Yes
Website http://espacepourlavie.ca/en
Disabled Access Yes
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Vieux-Montréal (Old Montreal)
Located near the St
Lawrence River, Old Montreal is the site of the original fortified city. The
buildings and streets date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and have been
carefully restored. The area is filled, throughout the summer, with tourists
who come to stroll along the cobblestone streets, visit the boutiques and
restaurants or simply soak up the joie
de vivre among the
street entertainers and pavement cafes in the former marketplace of place
Jacques-Cartier. A tour on a horse-drawn calèche makes for an especially
romantic way to see the sights.
Opening Times
Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees No
Website http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca
Admission Fees No
Website http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca
Disabled Access No
Unesco World Heritage Site No
Vieux-Port (Old Port)
The Old Port was once one
of the most important trading ports in North America. With most shipping
activity now taking place downriver, this area has been transformed into an
excellent recreation and exhibition area, filled with walkers, cyclists and rollerbladers
on the riverside promenades between the Clock Tower and the locks at Parc des
Écluses. The Montreal Science Centre , on King Edward Pier, is a science and
entertainment centre geared towards a family experience, with exhibitions, the
Immersion Movie Game (interactive video game on a giant screen) and an IMAX
cinema.
Opening Times
Daily 1000-1700 (early Jun-early Sep); daily 0930-1600 (early
Sep-early Jun), IMAX daily until 2200.
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 496 7678 or (514) 496 4724 ,1 877 496 4724.
Website http://www.oldportofmontreal.com
Admission Fees Yes
Telephone (514) 496 7678 or (514) 496 4724 ,1 877 496 4724.
Website http://www.oldportofmontreal.com
Disabled Access No
Unesco World Heritage Site No
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
No, I love Montreal... I think I love Montreal more than Montreal loves me... I love the food there.
Kathy Griffin