Montreal

Montreal is the largest city of Quebec in Canada, located on the left bank of the St. Lawrence River, Montreal lies at the foot of Mount Royal. The city is one of the largest industrial centers of Canada. It is a great river port and an important railway junction, situated at the confluence of the rivers St. Lawrence, Ottawa, Richelieu. Montreal has multiple channels and major railway lines that lead to Quebec, Portland, Boston, New York and other cities. Montreal lies 150 km east of the capital of the country, Ottawa.

Montreal is the second city in the world after Paris, by number of French speaking people. By law 101 of 1977, French was declared the official language of Quebec. In addition to its economic importance, Montreal has significance as an important cultural center. It offers an exciting mix of French and English culture and history dating back to the first settlement of Europeans here in 1642

More than half of the population of Montreal are Frenchmen, but all inhabitants speak both French and English, adding European charm to this vibrant cosmopolitan center. The number of inhabitants of the city of Montreal is about 1 856 000 people.

The climate of Montreal is characterized by drastic differences in temperatures in different seasons: from a chilly January with average temperatures of -13 and -5 degrees to a warm and pleasant July, when the weather is wet, but the temperature can jump to 18 and 27 degrees. Montreal is divided into different districts, each representing a distinct and unique animated part. An important fact is that Montreal is one of the oldest cities in Canada. Everywhere you can see many buildings and monuments with beautiful old architecture.

In the central part are concentrated many museums, including the fascinating Museum of Fine Arts. Once upon a time, this part of town was called the Golden Square Mile, because here were the luxurious homes of the rich Scottish and English industrialists who contributed much to the formation of the political and public face of Montreal. Today, some striking examples of modern architecture complement the urban atmosphere.

Canadians say "Montreal is the city of all saints". Names of the saints are carried by different churches, streets, avenues, squares, bridges, schools, hospitals, etc. About 300 churches and countless chapels can be seen in Montreal. Remarkable is the church of St. James, built in 1870 It is an almost exact replica of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rome.

Surmounted by a huge dome, St. James has a height of 8 storeys. Interesting is the church of Notre Dame, a copy of the cathedral in Paris, built in 1824, copies of the world's architectural masterpieces do not stop here in Montreal. Even the big station for getting across Canada located in Montreal is named Windsor. It is half cut into a big mountain wall and resembles a medieval castle.

Vieux Montréal is the old part of town, where there is an abundance of charming outdoor cafés in Paris style, artists, street shops and many stands of flowers. Saint-Denis in Montreal is the place where you can find many restaurants and bistros, boutiques and art galleries. This is the heart of French Montreal and is often compared with Paris Saint Germain De Pre.

Do not miss St. Paul street with its street lights in Victorian style and attractive squares like Place d'Arm and Place Jacques Cartier. Park du Mont-Royal or Royal Mountain is named after the high peak. It is more like a big hill with a wonderful view of the city, surrounded by the River St. Lawrence. The creator of this beautiful park is also the maker of Central Park in New York, Frederick Law Olmsted.

In the park you will see lakes in the winter turned into ice rinks, hiking trails, ski trails and many places where people can sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery in the park. Vieux Port is now converted into a two-kilometer long green promenade with numerous recreational opportunities, including some along the river.

Montreal is called Underground City, because of a system of air-conditioned spaces, widespread below the city streets and below the major buildings in Montreal. Many of these structures remain above ground, but most of them, consisting of 1 600 stores, 40 banks, 200 restaurants, 30 cinemas and 10 metro stations, are below ground level.

The international spirit of Montreal has permeated all aspects of everyday life - from world cuisine to a jazz festival, music scenes, trendy shops, avant-garde artistic performances, etc. The International Summer Jazz Festival in Montreal is one of the biggest events on the jazz culture.