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Montreal Attractions
Bus, Carriage and Limousine Tours
Visitors to Montréal have a wide choice of tour itineraries and prices. Gray Line de Montréal, (514) 934-1222, offers local tours. Also, calèches, or horse-drawn carriages, circulate around the city.
A flexible way to see the city is by taxi. Guides who ride in your automobile also are available. The competency and fees of all guides are regulated by law. They must hold a certificate from the School of Tourism of Montréal, wear an official city badge and produce a valid tourist guide license.
Driving Tours
Although multilane divided highways provide fast transit between Montréal and the rest of Québec, older roads that follow the same route--Hwy. 132 on the south shore of the river and Hwy. 138 on the north--offer scenic alternatives. These roads, which follow the courses of original 18th-century roads, wind through small villages and towns with the best examples of Québec's domestic and ecclesiastical architecture.
Beyond the towns, the roads pass through farmland divided in parallel strips, each with its own access to the river--remnants of a system laid out under seigneurial ownership during French colonial times.
In summer the farms beckon motorists to stop and pick raspberries; roadside stands offer frites (french fries), vegetables and baked goods, and shops sell hand-carved whirligigs or homemade catalognes (rag rugs). In short, these old highways offer an introduction to a resilient and singular culture.
Walking Tours
Brochures outlining self-guiding walking tours of Old Montréal with explanations of its architecture can be obtained at the information bureau at 174 Notre-Dame Est and at the information kiosk at Infotouriste, 1001 rue du Square-Dorchester.
Spectator Sports
Few would argue with the assertion that Canadians are perhaps the best hockey players in the world and that Canadian hockey fans are the most loyal and discriminating sports fans anywhere. Indeed, hockey belongs to Canada. And although no sport is likely to match hockey on Montréal's popularity scale, a handful of other professional sports ably compete to fill gaps on the entertainment bill.
Hockey
Near the end of the 19th century two enterprising students at McGill University are said to have invented not only the puck but the general rules of the game of hockey as it is known today. By the time the National Hockey League (NHL) was formed in 1917, the 6-year-old Montréal Canadiens already were the pride of Montréal. An epic 5-year winning streak in the late 1950s even was dramatized as a metaphor for Québécois pride in Rick Salutin's play, "Les Canadiens."
The Canadiens have taken possession of the Stanley Cup a record 25 times. The team has garnered enough NHL title banners to intimidate even the most formidable opponent, and has achieved an impressive presence in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Among the former players honored there are such legends as Maurice "Rocket," Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur. Home games during the regular season are played at Centre Bell from October through March, with playoffs starting in April and ending in June; phone (514) 932-2582.
Performing Arts
With its distinctly European tastes and modern air, Montréal would seem a hotbed of innovative performing arts. But the cultural scene here actually is new. It wasn't until the 1960s that theater, cinema and dance hit the city with full force. Today French-language productions are presented at about a dozen theaters around town, and the city is hailed within the province for its provocative avant-garde cinema.
Dance
The Grand Canadian Ballet of Montréal, performing both classical and modern repertory at Place des Arts, has attracted enthusiastic audiences for more than 35 years. The troupe has toured internationally and has featured the works of many new Canadian composers and choreographers. Its December production of "The Nutcracker" is a big seasonal event in Montréal. Phone the box office at (514) 842-2112.
Another longtime company is the Ensemble National de Folklore Les Sortilèges. The group of 20 dancers has performed Québécois and other folk dances in colorful costumes for more than 25 years. They entertain in various halls around the city; check the local papers or phone (514) 522-5955.
Music
The world-renowned Montréal Symphony Orchestra performs during its regular season at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at the Place des Arts, but locals recommend attending one of the performances at the Notre-Dame Basilica, 116 rue Notre-Dame. Performances usually begin at 8 p.m.; phone (514) 842-2925. The Orchestre Métropolitain promotes classical music while preparing new generations of musicians. The orchestra's regular season performances are at the Maisonneuve Theatre in Place des Arts, but it also performs in St-Jean-Baptiste Church and tours regionally; phone (514) 842-2112.
Special Events
A hub on the international film festival circuit, Montréal welcomes a remarkable variety of programs each year.
The granddaddy is the Montréal World Film Festival, a competition similar to those held at Cannes and Venice. Staged from late August to early September, the event occupies various theaters throughout the area. Other significant festivals include the International Film Festival on in March; and the 9-day Montréal Fringe Festival in June.
Premier sporting events include the 65-kilometre (40-mi.) Tour de l'Île de Montréal, which brings 45,000 cyclists to the city in early June; the July Valleyfield International Regatta, said to be the largest speedboat event in North America; Canada's international tennis championships, and Le Masters de tennis du Canada, from late July to mid-August.
The city's other events cover a broad spectrum. Each new year gets off to a frosty start with the ice sculptures and competitive winter sports of the week-long Fête des Neiges at the end of January. The Snow Festival keeps the city entertained with costume balls, giant ice slides and all varieties of winter fun.
The International Music Competition, held at the Place des Arts, begins in mid-May and runs into the first week of June. This competition is divided into strings, piano and voice categories. June marks the beginning of the Mondial SAQ International Fireworks Competition, which ends in late July.
The St-Jean-Baptiste Celebration on June 24 is an official holiday honoring the patron saint of French Canadians. Bonfires, fireworks, dancing and music are among the day's events and activities. Bridging late June and early July is the Montréal International Jazz Festival, during which the world's foremost jazz artists participate in concerts; the 2007 festival is June 28-July 8.
The Just for Laughs (Juste pour Rire) Festival, running the entire month of July, is a program of comedy acts from around the world. Performers are both established comedians and newcomers. Many acts perform in the Latin Quarter on St-Denis St. and are free; admission is charged for others taking place in theatres. Some acts are in French and some in English. The schedule for English presentations is July 12-22, 2007; July 10-20, 2008; July 9-19, 2009. Phone (514) 845-2322 or (888) 244-3155.
The Francofolies de Montréal Song Festival is held in late July. December ushers in the Québec Handicraft Show and scores of Christmas festivities.
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