Living in Old Montreal
This is where Canada’s roots come from. Old Montreal, the oldest district of the city, keeps traces of the country’s history and offers tourists but also its inhabitants an enchanted and picturesque break in the discovery of life in the city. With its cobbled pedestrian streets, its typical architecture dating from New France and its intimate boutiques, Old Montreal displays a resolutely European cachet. Read on to find out just how much!
The unique architecture of the Old Montreal district
Old Montreal is a major tourist attraction. With some of its buildings dating from the 17th century, it is one of the oldest urban areas in North America. Near Place Jacques-Cartier to the east is Montreal’s city hall, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours chapel, as well as preserved colonial mansions such as Château Ramezay. To the west, it’s just as beautiful, with the Notre-Dame basilica, the Saint-Sulpice seminary and, in a different genre, the New York Life building from 1888 as well as the old Royal Bank building.
It is to the south that we find real treasures of the history of Canada and the city, with important archaeological vestiges of the first colony of Montreal, especially around Place Royale.
An intense, varied cultural and gastronomic life
One of the main places of leisure and attractions is the Old Port of Montreal. Sports enthusiasts, film buffs, cyclists, skaters and many more come together to take advantage of the many amenities; the IMAX and Cirque du Soleil cinema, or the quays, always lively, in winter and summer.
In terms of culture, Old Montreal has something to be proud of with a series of museums such as the Pointe-à Callière Museum or the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum which retrace the history of the neighborhood and of ancient Montreal.
In addition, fashionistas will be delighted to learn that the area is full of shops, clothing and jewellery stores … unless you prefer the handcrafted creations sold at the Bonsecours Market.
Old Montreal has more than a hundred establishments that help establish its reputation as one of America’s major gastronomic capitals. Run by international chefs, these renowned restaurants are found mainly on the main commercial arteries of the district, such as Saint-Paul and Notre-Dame streets.
The real estate landscape in Old Montreal
The advantage of Old Montreal is that it has retained the European character of its stone houses, cobbled streets, narrow and winding, while modernizing its real estate landscape in places. We are thus witnessing the coexistence of traditional properties and modern real estate programs, such as the Sax which offers luxury apartments a few steps from the St. Lawrence River and the Quai de l’Horloge. In the same genre, Le Solano offers high-quality services near the Champ-de-Mars metro station, as well as all the tourist and historical attractions of Old Montreal.
Admittedly, the prices of its apartments are high, but isn’t living in a historic district priceless?