About the city:
Montreal that has emerged as Québec Province's economic and cultural centre is on an island 40km long and 15km wide, where the Ottawa River flows into the Saint Lawrence River in Canada's southeast. It is about 65 km from the U.S. border, where the northern-most part of New York State and Vermont meet.
The most striking landmark of Montreal is Mount Royal, a 232m (760ft) remnant of volcanic rock known locally as 'the mountain'. The core of the city is quite small and is below the mountain in the south-central part of the island. Late May to early September is peak tourist time and when a procession of festivals, including the legendary Jazz Festival and the Grand Prix, take over the town.
Weather
Montreal 's climate is known for its cold in fact arctic winter (December-March) that is great for winter sports but chilling (-13°-5°C in January) for people. Summers (18°-27°C in July) are hot with warm, long, lazy nights and sunny, days. Late May to early September are possibly the most enjoyable months for outdoor activities and walking.
Tourist Attractions:
A must for every tourist visiting the city is the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, a colossal neo-Gothic church completed in 1829, which boasts of spectacular vaulted ceilings, ornate woodcarvings and attractive stain-glass windows. Also worth a visit is St. Patrick's Basilica, the 1847 church that is one of the purest examples of Gothic Revival style in Canada.
Next on the itinerary of any visitor would undoubtedly be the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts that displays great works of distinguished Canadian artists. Still another star attraction is the Botanical Garden that is Second only to London's Kew Garden. The 181-acre site contains ten large glasshouses displaying many exotic species of flora and fauna; an insectarium, poisonous plant garden and a Japanese garden that has one of the best collections of bonsai outside Japan.
Montreal boasts of several museums each one unique in its display. While the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal is entirely devoted to works by Canadian and international contemporary artists; Musée Marc-Aurèle Fortin almost exclusively exhibits works of Marc-Aurèle Fortin, a great landscape painter. And then while we have the Musée George-Etienne Cartier that features animations and exhibits telling the story of Canada's great statesman, Sir George-Étienne Cartier; we also have Chateau Ramezay one of Montreal's eighteenth-century colonial buildings, its collection covering the history of Montréal and Québec.
The Ave Mont Royal in Montreal leads to Parc Mont Royal - Montreal's biggest and best park that pulls nature lovers throughout the year. From here, one can have spectacular panoramic views of the city, the river and the surroundings.
A must visit is the massive Parc Olympique built for the 1976 Montréal Olympic Games. A cable car runs up the Montréal Tower, which overhangs the stadium, to a glassed-in observation deck, from where one can have stunning views of the city and beyond. Housed within the former velodrome at the Olympic Complex is the spectacular Biodôme, which re-creates four distinct ecosystems and is home to 5000 plants and 4000 animals, including penguins, monkeys and alligators.
From one of the port’s quays on the river a ferry runs to Parc des Îles, a park created on two islands, Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame that were the site of the 1967 World's Fair. Île Sainte-Hélène now boasts Québec's largest amusement park, and Île Notre-Dame is an artificial island created in the middle of the river.
Montreal is also a treat for those who wish to woo dame luck. Casino de Montréal one of the world's largest casinos containing 88 gaming tables and 1700 machines is a major attraction.
Close Destinations:
Between 80km and 150km north of Montréal, the Laurentian Mountains are a lake-sprinkled playground popular for just about every outdoor pursuit. Saint Sauveur des Monts, the first stop-off on the way north, is a small and pleasant resort town. The largest town and resort centre in the Laurentians is Saint Agathe des Monts, a good spot for a picnic or a cruise around the lake and its sandy beaches. Mont Tremblant is a three-part resort and park district that marks the northernmost point of the Laurentian destinations.
Mont Tremblant itself is the area's highest peak and is a major state-of-the-art ski centre. Parc de Mont Tremblant, about 25km (15mi) from Mont Tremblant, is a wild, wooded area that offers plenty of hiking, biking and canoeing opportunities. About an hour's drive northwest of Montréal is the Rouge River, one of the best white-water rivers in North America. The area is popular for kayaking trips, mountain biking and rock climbing.
Accommodation:
Montreal has a wide variety of hotels, from the boxy downtown "business" hotels to smaller European-style hotels. There is also a nice selection of Bed & Breakfasts all over the city, most of which are charming and cozy. Most accommodations are within or close to the downtown core, so one has easy access to wherever one is going.
Keep in mind that in the high season visitors love to explore Montreal . Therefore, it is advisable when you visit to the city, first do advance book ing for the hotel . One of such websites that offer an outstandingly convenient and trustworthy online reservation system is hotel-listings-online.com that offers you an exclusive range and excellence quality of contented and comfortable all types of accommodation in USA, UK, and Europe and around the world with outstanding room amenities. You just have to choose your destination and site will guide you by offering a vast range of many staying options at very economical costs.
Hotel Rates and Charges:
B & B's in Montreal tend to be in the $40-$80 price range. Also available are large furnished Victorian apartments that charge 100 to 200$. Apartment hotels are on a slightly higher range charging anywhere from 120 to 250 $, while five star hotels provide double accommodation at 150 to 400$.
Montreal also has a few interesting youth hostels. If one stays in a hostel, and eats over-the-counter food and self-caters, one can manage on about $25/day.
Lodging:
Apartment hotels offer fully equipped kitchenettes, free high-speed internet access and all the conveniences of home including continental buffet breakfast. Hotels provide rooms and suites with large working desk, telephones, dual phone line with voice mail, iron and ironing board and coffee maker. Amenities in hostels are limited to free access to a kitchen, laundry room and phone for local calls.
Amusing and amazing Facts about the city:
Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city on Earth (after Paris). People from Montreal are called "Montrealais".
Montréal has a notoriously arctic winter. Montréal gets around the problem with its ' Underground City', a unique climate-controlled zone of nearly 32km of galleries, 10 subway stations, two railway stations, 2,000 shops, hotels, offices, cinemas, parking areas, etc. This makes the city an alluring year-round tourist spot.
Just to the east of the Latin Quarter is the hub of the gay community, The Village. Among the bars, clubs and cafés are a slightly rougher edge and 'anything goes' attitude, especially during the Gay Pride Festival in early August when things get decidedly outrageous.
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