Montreal, with three million people, is the second largest city of Canada; it lies on the same longitude as Milan, Italy. However, there is no Mediterranean Sea or Alps, which would make for a milder climate. The summers are hot and humid, in contrast to bitter cold winters with lots of snow.
TWO LANGUAGES, TWO CULTURES TO EXPLORE
It is not enough to merely visit the abundant city sights just to be able to cross them off of your checklist of what to see: No, Montreal is a city that needs to be explored on foot and experienced to its fullest, and only then will you get to know the city’s unparalleled temperament, its passion for life and its many cultural treasures. Stroll or ride a horse-drawn carriage through “Le Vieux Montreal”, the old-town quarters around the port with its restaurants, street-side cafés, art galleries, and souvenir shops and you will have the opportunity to savour Old-French ambiance. However, when approaching the city centre from Westmount Square at the foot of Mount Royal, an old volcanic cone, you could swear you are visiting a typical British town. Despite belonging to the British Empire for 200 years, Montréal’s Gallic spirit remains unbroken. Closing time is at 3 a.m. and Montreal thoroughly takes advantage of it. Finding your way in Montreal is easy: On the southern shores of “Ile de Montreal” lies the angular old-town with cobblestone alleys and numerous 18th century houses. Behind this, between the old-town and Mount Royal, you can see skyscrapers towering over downtown Montreal. To the west, you predominantly hear English spoken. East of downtown is where purely French neighborhoods begin. At first glance, the biggest attraction of Montreal remains hidden: The underground city below the city centre. The name ‘Underground City’ is no exaggeration; by now, the total length of the shopping streets has reached 29 km with no less than 200 restaurants, 25 theatres and 1,700 shops, waiting to serve you. When snow storms rage during the winter months, you can stroll lightly dressed through these greenery-filled underground halls.
