Information about flights to Montreal
A melting pot of European culture and New World philosophy, Montreal ranks as one of the most desirable living destinations in the world. It is particularly popular with university students thanks to its excellent universities, thriving nightlife and world-class music venues and museums.
The Place d'Armes
Dating back to the 1830s, the Place d'Armes is one of the best examples of the European influence on Montreal and is one of the oldest squares in the city. The square is home to a number of notable sights, including the Maissonneuve Moment, which was designed by the eminent sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert. This monument was designed shortly after the 250th anniversary of the founding of Montreal and features statues of influential figures of the city, including Jeanne Mance, Charles Le Moyne, Iroquois and Lambert Closse.
Another landmark in the Place d'Armes is the New York Life Insurance Building, which was built in 1889, and was the tallest business building in the city when it was completed. It is known for its beautiful Italian Renaissance-style architecture, with many similarities to other Renaissance-inspired buildings in New York and Cincinatti.
The Basilique Notre-Dame
One of Montreal's most famous sights, also in the Place d'Armes, is the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal (Notre-Dame Basilica), a powerful representation of Gothic Revival architecture of the early 19th century. Bearing several architectural similarities to the Notre-Dame of Paris, this building is noted for its impressive interior decor, although part of the building was destroyed in a fire in the 1970s and was subsequently rebuilt in its original style.
Little Italy
Immerse yourself in North America's largest outdoor market, the Jean Talon Market, and smell all those fresh, classically Italian ingredients, from cured meats to exquisite cheeses. This area is also home to many charming Italian restaurants, and can even be explored through an official two and a half-hour tour by Viator.
Hotel de Ville (City Hall)
Also bearing a similar resemblance to the Hotel de Ville in Paris, this building was first built in the 1870s but suffered a fire in 1926 and was rebuilt again. The building has an impressive Great Hall of Honour and was declared a National Historic Site in 1984. In 1967, the Hotel de Ville was also where the former French president Charles de Gaulle declared his support for the Quebec independence movement in a speech referred to as the Vive le Québec libre speech.
