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City Guide - Montreal - Sightseeing | ||
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Sightseeing Montreal's highest point and most recognisable landmark is Mont Royal (Mount Royal), a landscaped park with several kilometres of jogging and skiing tracks, and lookout points offering dramatic views of the city and the St Lawrence River. On its southern slope, the high-rises and modern shopping malls of downtown Montreal are interspersed with older buildings, interesting museums and notable churches. Underlying this is the Underground City, an ever-growing complex of underground pedestrian passageways connecting the metro, major hotels, shopping malls, offices and restaurants. The first place most visitors go to is Old Montreal and the Old Port, a spectacular collection of historic buildings, inviting public spaces and riverside promenades. The islands beyond were the site for Expo 67 World Fair, which still offers abundant recreational opportunities under the name Parc Jean-Drapeau. The city's other main attractions are the complex of buildings left over from the 1976 Olympics and the nearby Botanical Garden. What really makes Montreal unique, though, are its neighbourhoods. The Plateau Mont-Royal (web site: www.tpmr.qc.ca) is an urban village surrounding boulevard St-Laurent ('the Main'), and was the first place immigrants stopped when arriving in Montreal. The Jewish, East European and Portuguese residents have been joined or displaced by students and, most recently, yuppies, but the place has an undeniable energy. Further north, Little Italy's cafés and restaurants surround the Jean-Talon Market. Chinatown lies at the south end of boulevard St-Laurent, between downtown and Old Montreal. Tourist Information Centre Infotouriste (Tourisme Québec) 1001 rue du Square-Dorchester Tel: (514) 873 2015 or (877) BONJOUR (266 5687). Fax: (514) 864 3838. E-mail: info@tourisme.gouv.qc.ca Web site: www.bonjourquebec.com Opening hours: Jun-early Sep daily 0700-2000; May and early Sep-Oct daily 0730-1800; Nov-Apr daily 0900-1800. The Centre Infotouriste provides information on the whole of the province (including Montreal), and shares its location with bureaux de change, tour operators and car hire and travel agencies. Tourist Information Centre of Old Montreal 174 rue Notre-Dame East E-mail: info@tourisme-montreal.org Web site: www.tourism-montreal.org This office provides less extensive information on the city of Montreal only. Opening hours: Easter-late Jun daily 0900-1700; late Jun-early Oct daily 0900-1900; early Oct-Easter Thurs-Sun 0900-1700. Passes The Montreal Museums Pass (tel: (514) 845 6873 or (800) 363 7777) allows visitors free admission to 20 museums in the city on any two out of three consecutive days. Available at both tourist offices and at participating museums (cost: C$20). The Get an Eyeful package is valid for 30 days and includes admission to the Olympic Tower, Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Biodôme, none of which are covered by the Museums Pass (cost: C$22.50). |