Montreal's Birthplace

Old Montreal is both a neighbourhood and a symbol of its evolution as an urban centre. Nestled between the mighty St. Lawrence River and the polished skyscrapers of the International District, Old Montreal’s architecture leaves one with the impression of a city frozen in time. Yet history wasn’t as kind as we’d like to believe. Monstrous fires ravaged this city once known as Ville Marie, decimating a good portion of its original buildings. What we see today is a hodge-podge of various eras across its three-and-a-half century lifetime, which is truly what gives Old Montreal its inimitable flavour.

Place Jacques Cartier

Place Jacques Cartier is undoubtedly the epicentre of Old Montreal, a galvanizing public square, lined with restaurant terraces and haunted by all manner of street merchant, artist and performer. At its centre stands Nelson’s Column, erected in 1809 by British nobles, preceding its London-based carbon copy in Trafalger Square by thirty years. The monument is actually one of the most hotly disputed historic symbols in the city, as it symbolizes the French defeat to the English during the Battle of Trafalgar and the British Empire’s intentions to expand into North America.

Rue St. Paul

Indeed, Old Montreal is a portal to the past, living testimony to the many cultural influences that render our city so fascinating to this day. A slow stroll along St. Paul Street’s cobblestones is the surest way to soak up the taste of time here, while the many high-ranked