Hello From Montreal - Part 3 - A Driving Tour As A Great Introduction To A Fascinating City
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Travel Leisure -> subcategory Vacations.
Discovering Montreal: A Driving Tour Through a Captivating City
Published: June 29, 2006
Upon arriving in Montreal around 1 pm, I met with Carole, a licensed professional guide from Guidatour, at the Holiday Inn. She was set to be my expert for a driving tour of Montreal's vibrant center. Having only visited once before, a decade ago, I needed a quick dive into the city's layout. Though downtown Montreal is compact and easily walkable, our driving tour promised an engaging introduction to this bustling metropolis.
Our journey began as we headed south on St. Urbain Street, first stopping at the iconic Place d'Armes, home to the stunning Basilica of Notre Dame?"the city’s largest and most beautiful cathedral. From there, we passed Montreal City Hall and ventured up Boulevard St. Laurent, known as "The Main." This historic route witnessed generations of immigrants making their way from the port to different neighborhoods of the city. A highlight was passing the Hotel Godin, once a garment factory, now transformed into a chic boutique hotel?"an example of how Montreal’s historic buildings have been revitalized.
We then arrived at Prince Arthur Street, a pedestrian area renowned for its reasonably priced restaurants and vibrant outdoor patios. Its history as a hub of 1960s hippie culture now gives way to a diverse culinary scene perfect for families. We paused for lunch at Chez Gautier, a beloved bistro established in 1978. Its Parisian decor, with exquisite woodwork and a handcrafted glass dome ceiling, set the scene for a delightful meal.
Adjacent to Chez Gautier is La Patisserie Belge, a pastry shop known for its beautifully crafted cakes and pastries. On the terrace, I enjoyed a traditional French onion soup alongside a warm goat cheese salad?"an energizing lunch for our continued exploration.
Our tour resumed northward, passing through Parc des Amériques, a park celebrating the city's Latin American communities, until we reached the Mont Royal neighborhood, part of the trendy Plateau area. Just west lies the Outremont neighborhood, characterized by its ethnic diversity, evident in the proximity of a synagogue and a Chinese church. Carole mentioned the renowned bagels of Fairmont Street as we navigated Cote St. Catherine, a boulevard encircled by green spaces and elegant homes. Historically, Outremont was a Francophone stronghold, while Westmount, to the southwest of Mont Royal, catered to English speakers.
We drove past the University of Montreal, one of four local universities?"two catering to Anglophones and two to Francophones. The UOM, primarily French-speaking, boasts architecture by Ernest Cormier, a pioneer of the Art Deco style in Montreal. We continued through Cote des Neiges, a multicultural enclave of recent immigrants.
A standout attraction on Mont Royal’s northwest side is Saint-Joseph’s Oratory, with the world’s second-largest dome, after St. Peter’s in Rome. Built through the efforts of Brother André (1845?"1937), a doorkeeper at Collège Notre Dame, the oratory stands as a significant landmark. Originally starting with a small chapel in 1904, the basilica, completed in 1967, has since been a symbol of faith and miracles associated with Brother André, who was beatified in 1982.
Nearby stands the École Polytechnique, site of the tragic 1989 Montreal massacre. A memorial here honors the memory of violence victims. Our journey also took us past Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, Montreal’s largest, and Mount Royal Protestant Cemetery, resting places for numerous prominent citizens. Mount Royal itself?"a green haven at 223 meters?"offers panoramic views and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, famous for New York’s Central Park.
At Parc Mont-Royal, our first stop was Castor Lake, an artificial lake surrounded by meadows, serving as a winter skating rink. Continuing, we parked near Maison Smith, the last farmhouse on Mont Royal, now an exhibition and activity center. Here, we encountered an impressive gabbro rock specimen, a reminder that Mont Royal is formed from magma intrusions, not volcanic activity.
We hiked briefly to the famous Belvédère Kondiaronk lookout, offering breathtaking views of downtown Montreal. City regulations ensure skyscrapers remain shorter than the mountain, adding to the lookout’s charm. The Chalet du Mont Royal, nearby, hosts various cultural events.
Concluding our tour, we ventured to Westmount, an exclusive residential enclave traditionally home to Montreal’s Anglo elite. The area is adorned with Neo-Tudor and Neo-Georgian homes, highlighting its affluence. Greene Avenue, a bustling commercial street, showcases chic shops.
Further east on Sherbrooke Street lies the Golden Square Mile, once the domain of the Canadian upper class, primarily of Scottish descent, who thrived in the fur trade from the 1850s to the 1930s. Today, some Victorian houses remain, alongside bustling retail spaces. This area also includes McGill University, Montreal's oldest, founded in 1821. As we circled back to the hotel, we passed UQAM, the city’s youngest university, founded in 1979 and embodying modernity.
This whirlwind three-hour journey offered a rich introduction to Montreal, a city I looked forward to reflecting on over dinner at Modavie, accompanied by jazz.
For a detailed experience with photos, visit [Travel and Transitions](http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/montreal_driving_tour.htm).
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Hello From Montreal - Part 3 - A Driving Tour As A Great Introduction To A Fascinating City.
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