Montreal is a city of contrasts – French flair meets modern energy, and a rich history hides some delightfully oddball secrets.
Let’s peel back the layers of this charming city!
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Underground City: Montreal boasts the world’s largest underground network. It’s a sprawling labyrinth of tunnels connecting shops, metro stations, and even hockey arenas – perfect for escaping the winter chill.
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Saint Joseph’s Oratory: Topping Mount Royal, this massive basilica houses the preserved heart of Brother André, and its dome is larger than that of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
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Home of the Bagel: Montreal’s take on the bagel is legendary – smaller, sweeter, and cooked in a wood-fired oven. The rivalry with New York is fierce!
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Language Soup: Montreal is officially French, but English is widely spoken, and you’ll hear a delicious mix of languages unique to the city.
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Festival Fever: Montreal hosts a mind-boggling number of festivals, from comedy to jazz, fireworks to heavy metal. There’s always something to celebrate!
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A Leaning Tower, Too: The Olympic Stadium’s tower leans even more than the Tower of Pisa! It never reached its full height and remains an iconic part of the skyline.
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Habitat 67: This quirky modular housing complex, built for Expo ’67, looks like a futuristic Lego creation and continues to fascinate architects.
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The City of Saints: Montreal’s street names reflect its devout past – you’ll find plenty of “Rue Saint-Something” throughout the city.
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Orange Traffic Cones: A symbol of Montreal’s endless construction, the orange cone has achieved cult status – you’ll even find them on souvenirs!
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Birthplace of Cirque du Soleil: This world-renowned circus company started as a small Montreal troupe of street performers in the 1980s.
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Haunted Mountain: Mount Royal is rumored to hold restless spirits, with ghost stories dating back centuries.
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A Donut Named After a Mayor: The “Joe-Louis” donut, a 1930s creation, is believed to be a tribute to heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, not a mayor (contrary to popular belief!).
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Pâté Chinois HQ: This Québécois comfort food (Shepherd’s Pie with a French twist) is best enjoyed in Montreal diners for the true experience.
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Tam-Tams!: Every Sunday in summer, crowds gather in a giant drumming circle around the George-Étienne Cartier Monument in Mount Royal Park.
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Secret Speakeasies: Montreal has a thriving hidden bar scene, tucked away behind ordinary storefronts and accessed via cryptic clues.
The Verdict
Montreal is a city that loves a good time, a delicious meal, and a touch of the unexpected. From its subterranean cities to its bagel battles, there’s always a new quirk to discover. Embrace the charming chaos – that’s Montreal’s secret sauce!