Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Vieux Montreal, the original part of the city along the
riverbank dating from the 1600s, is the city’s leading tourist attraction. I’m quite
sure we didn’t visit it on my family trip in 1981 but would likely have taking
a walk through it on my 1990 trip with my friend Larry. If we did, though, I don’t recall it. Nothing
looks familiar, so maybe we didn’t stop there or at least didn’t explore it
seriously. Thus, it seems completely new to me this time around in Montreal. I
guess that’s a good thing – places are always most enjoyable when they’re new.
The narrow streets in the old part of town surrounding
several squares and notable public buildings seem almost European and are very
touristy. That doesn’t detract from the architectural consistency and beauty of
the area around Place Jacques Cartier and the Bonsecours Market. The single
biggest attraction, though, is the Basilica of Notre Dame, the current church
dating from the mid-1800s but the church with the most impressive artwork and
most beautiful altar and choir of any of the churches in Montreal.
2025-05-23