Vieux Montréal
If the skyscrapers of the Downtown are typically North American, then many of the buildings in the historic Old Town are distinctly European in style, which is only to be expected, really, seeing as the town was founded by the French!
I enjoyed exploring the streets and squares of "Vieux Montréal" - it's a facinating part of the city: museums, art galleries, shops and cafés...we didn't visit them all, of course, there wasn't time! But we certainly got a good flavour of the place.
Click on the photos to see the fullsize picture.
This is the Centre d'Histoire de Montréal. The official map says that the exploration of Montréal starts here - actually it was where we finished, footsore and looking for somewhere to rest and get a coffee! Originally it was the Central Fire Station in Place d'Youville. Just behind, at the far end of the square, is the city's birthplace, where the French settlers first landed in 1642.
The old Sulpician Seminary is the oldest building still standing in Montréal. It was first built in 1684 - old by anyone's standards - and served as the residence for the seigneurs of the island in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Again, I copied the official map by taking the photo through the bars of the gate. Nothing new under the sun, eh? I have to say here that the map was very good - clear and easy to read, with useful information on the various points of interest.
This is the Maison d'Ville - City Hall - taken from Place Jacques-Cartier. It was from this balcony that Charles de Gaulle uttered his famous "Vive le Québec libre!" in 1967, which whipped up no little patriotic fervour amongst the separatists. As you can no doubt tell by the cloud, it was just about to start raining!
Place Jacques-Cartier was originally a 19th Century market place. It's dominated by a monument to Lord Nelson, and is lined with cafés. In fact, we had lunch here and sheltered from the downpour!
After the rain had eased somewhat, we carried on exploring the Old Town streets. I think this shot gives some idea of the atmosphere of the pretty, narrow streets. I think it was Rue Saint-Paul, though I'm not 100% sure.
I DO know what this building is - it's Bonsecours Market, which definitely stands on Rue Saint-Paul! Very impressve for a market hall! Opened in 1847, it actually served as the city hall until 1878. It's now been restored and houses a variety of designer boutiques and interesting exhibitions.
This is Place Vauquelin, next to City Hall, and across Rue Notre-Dame from the top of Place Jacques-Cartier. So now you know EXACTLY where it is! The monument hidden by the centre flagpole is Lord Nelson - which maybe teaches me the lesson that it's sometimes an idea to take the picture from slightly to one side!
Vieux Montréal | Olympic Park
