Major Attractions

Mount Royal, rising more than 700 feet (200 m), is Montreal's most prominent physical feature and site of Mount Royal Park. A large illuminated cross marks the site of the original wooden cross erected on the summit by the city's founders.

The oldest section of the city, with its many historic buildings and monuments, attracts many visitors. Montreal's oldest building is the Seminary of St. Sulpice, which dates from the late 1600's. It stands in the Place d'Armes, opposite a statue of the Sieur de Maisonneuve, founder of Montreal. The Château de Ramezay, built in 1705 as the governor's residence, today houses a museum of history and archeology.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has large and varied collections. The Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art and the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History are also here. Place des Arts, a center for the performing arts, is home to the Montreal Opera and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Olympic Park, with a stadium and other facilities, was the main site of the 1976 Summer Olympics. Underground shopping malls in the downtown area, especially at Place Ville Marie and Place Bonaventure, are popular attractions. Also popular is Île Ste. Hélène. On this island are a museum with exhibits devoted to the settlement of Quebec, an aquarium, and an amusement park. Sports are a major Montreal attraction. The city is home to the Canadiens (professional hockey) and the Alouettes (professional football).