Vieux Montréal

I spent the first part of Friday exploring Vieux Montréal, much of which dates back to the 17^th – 19^th centuries. The cobblestone streets and old buildings were very nice and the area had a bit of a European feel to it.

The nearby port area provided nice views of the Marché Bonsecours (a market known for its building’s neoclassical architecture) and the Biosphere (a remnant of the 1967 World Fair across the St. Lawrence River).

Next I walked to the Place Jacques-Cartier, a pedestrian street lined with shops and restaurants that had a bit of a touristy feel to it. It's named after the French explorer who claimed Canada for France in the 16th century. There was a nice building at the top, though I’m not sure what it was.

The highlight of Vieux Montréal for me was the Basilique Notre-Dame, which was was constructed in the early 19^th century and is known for its Gothic Revival architecture. While the basilica is a bit imposing from the outside, the inside is striking with deep blue and gold colors coupled with dark wood.

In the afternoon I met up with my cousin, Rick, who nicely offered to take me on a tour of Montreal after he finished up with work. Our first stop was Mont-Royal – the mountain that gave the city its name. “Mountain” is probably a bit of a stretch actually, given that it’s less than 800 feet high. That said, it provides a great view of the Montreal and is definitely worth a visit.

Next we headed to Rick’s house to pick up Serge and then went to the nearby Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir festival. Basically a long stretch of Avenue Mont-Royal had been closed for pedestrians and there were tons of stands with food, drinks and various goods for sale. There were tons of people out as well given the great weather.

 

The festival is known for La Grande Fresque de Nuit – chalk drawings done by artists in the middle of the street. They were done the night before we visited, so the drawings were still in good shape.

After walking around for a bit we headed back to Rick and Serge’s place for a very nice BBQ. Serge made some poutine, a staple in Quebec that consists of French fries, fresh cheese curds and gravy (see picture below). It was very good, so be sure to give it a try if you ever visit Montreal.

 

After dinner we went to Les Francofolies – a festival with free concerts in downtown Montreal that celebrates French music. The area is closed for pedestrians and there are a number of different performances on the various stages throughout the night.