Old Port of MontrealMontreal's Old Port (Vieux Port de Montreal) is
actually fairly new, having had a major face-lift to make it the
most popular site for visitors to the city, drawing five million of
them each year to throng the bustling wharves. There are still
plenty of boats in evidence but nowadays they are mainly tour
boats, ferries and even amphibious buses, which offer sailings
along the St Lawrence or around the port. Ferries cross to the Parc
des Iles, site of the Expo 67 world's fair, which lies in the St
Lawrence and offers family outdoor activities like picnic
facilities, swimming, skating or skiing in winter. The Old Port
itself is a thriving arts and entertainment venue where something
is always happening. It also offers a huge open-air skating rink,
Imax cinema, and a Science and Technology Center with interactive
displays. The port also has a vibey cafe culture. The clock tower
offers excellent views across the city and contains an exhibition
that traces Montreal's history. Around the port are the city's
original 17th-century fortifications.Olympic ParkMontreal's futuristic Olympic Park was built for the
1976 Summer Olympic Games and still serves as a showpiece today.
Designed by French architect, Roger Tallibert, it is impressive in
both size and shape, able to hold up to 80,000 spectators who now
gather here for concerts and baseball games. The landmark tower on
the main stadium, standing at 575 feet (175m), is the world's
tallest inclined tower. Visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of
Montreal and its surroundings from the observation floors,
accessible by a funicular-type elevator. The Olympic Park complex
also features the unique attraction known as the Biodome, a
building containing four ecosystems. Pop over to view the wonderful
Botanical Gardens opposite the park, which are the second largest
in the world.St Joseph's OratorySt Joseph's Oratory is a landmark in Montreal, its
imposing dome on the northwest flank of Mont Royal visible for
miles. This Oratory is a famous pilgrimage site, despite only being
completed in 1967, attracting over two million visitors and
pilgrims each year. It was founded by Brother Andre, a beloved monk
who was known as the miracle-worker of Mount Royal because of his
healing abilities. Work began on the basilica after his death in
1937. Its dome is the second largest in the world, being 318 feet
(97m) high; it is second only to St Peter's in Rome. The Oratory's
carillon is made up of 56 bells that were originally cast for the
Eiffel Tower in Paris; the Oratory acquired them in 1956. Visitors
can climb the 283 steps from street level to the basilica's portico
for beautiful vistas over the city.Museum of Fine ArtsDuring the past 140 years the Montreal Museum of Fine
Arts has assembled one of North America's finest encyclopaedic
collections, totalling more than 30,000 objects. The collections
include Canadian art, contemporary art, Inuit and Amerindian Art,
European Masters, prints and drawings and decorative arts. The
museum also regularly features special exhibitions and activity
programmes for adults, students and children.Montreal Botanical GardenIn close proximity to the Olympic Park and the
Biodome, the Montreal Botanical Garden is one of the largest of its
kind, home to over 22,000 plant species and roughly 30 exquisitely
mapped out gardens, making it well worth a visit any time of year.
Begun in 1931 in the midst of a financial crisis in the city, the
Garden provided work for thousands of unemployed Montrealers and
has since developed into a popular tourist attraction, with its
astounding array of plants and trees, as well as the fascinating
Insectarium that casts new light on much-maligned creepy crawlies.
An array of interesting sights and sounds await the visitor,
including the Tree House (highlighting the important role of trees
in our lives), a First Nations Garden (illustrating the interaction
of Inuit and Amerindians with nature), a Chinese Garden, the Quebec
Butterfly House, a Medicinal Plant Garden and so much
more.
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