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Montreal: A Perfect Combination of Old and New Attractions

Montreal is a city that is located in Quebec, which is a province in the country of Canada. It’s the province’s largest city and the country’s second largest. It was named after the Island of Montreal, where it can be found. Montreal used to be the commercial capital of Canada, but it was overtaken by the country’s capital Toronto. However, it still is an important hub for the country’s commerce, finance, film, tourism, culture, design and technology. Montreal has a perfect combination of old and new things. Some of the things that you shouldn’t miss on your travel are the following.

Explore the Old Montreal

It was the original site of Montreal City and it still continues to be the center of culture. If you want to get a feel of the life of the locals, head here. You’ll also get to step in a place that is already part of history as you’ll see rows of buildings that have been there since the 17th century. Since there are several attractions that can be found around the area, the best things to do is to explore it by foot. Some of the sites that you may check out are Notre-Dame Basilica and Place Jacques-Cartier.

Check Out the Jean-Talon Market

This is where you will find the freshest produce. From fruits to vegetables and spices, you’ll find everything here, including the regional products of Quebec. It’s the oldest public market in Montreal and also one of the largest. Aside from the fresh produce that you can buy, visiting here is a fantastic way to mingle with the locals.

Enjoy the Fresh Air and Great View at Mount Royal

This high hill is the largest park in the center of the city. The park was inaugurated in 1876 and it’s such a breath of fresh air. You’ll also get an amazing view of the city and even the Adirondack Mountains in the USA when the weather is clear. Visiting the park is free. You can have a picnic at the park or go strolling or cycling.

Visit the Jardin Botanique de Montreal

Jardin Botanique de Montreal

This garden is a National Historic Site of Canada and it houses an extensive collection of flowers and plants, making it as one of the most important gardens in the world. It was opened in 1931 and covers 75 hectares or 190 acres of land area. Its greenhouse complex is where you can find plants that are native to countries in different parts of the world. There are also several outdoor gardens that have their specific themes. The most popular are the Japanese and Chinese gardens.

See Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The city is also known for its art scene. This is why you shouldn’t miss going to Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to experience this first hand. Fine arts collections that date back centuries ago can be found here. Some of the artworks that you’ll see are those made by Picasso, Cézanne, Renoir, El Greco and Rembrandt. There are also pieces from World War I and furniture designed by Frank Gehry.

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Photo Attribution:

Featured and 1st image by Andrevruas (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

2nd image by Jacquie Atamanuk (Jacquie Atamanuk) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons