City: Ville-Marie
Top Things to do in Ville-Marie
The 10 Best Historic Sites in Ville-Marie, Canada
Montreal, c’est si bon! This French-speaking city is considered the cultural capital of Canada, and is a cosmopolitan celebration of Québécois style. A horse-drawn carriage ride around the cobblestone streets and grand buildings of Vieux-Montréal will give you a taste of European flavor. The Basilique Notre-Dame is a confection of stained glass, and the Plateau Mont-Royal district will delight you with its quaint boutiques and cafés. Dig in to a massive plate of poutine to fuel up for a tour of the epic Olympic Park.
Restaurants in Montreal
1. Avenue McGill College
2. Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,149 reviews
Called the Sailors' Church because of the wooden ship models that hang from its ceiling, this church was originally designed by Marguerite Bougeoys, one of Montreal's first teachers. Next to the Chapel, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum ($) presents fascinating stories/accounts and significant objects to showcase the life and work of Marguerite Bourgeoys, Montreal's first teacher. Visitors can explore the 18th-century stone crypt and climb the tower to admire a stunning view of the St. Lawrence, Old Montreal and downtown. The archaeological site, opened in 1998, has witnessed more than 2,400 years of history. In addition to its permanent exhibition spaces, the Museum offers a variety of temporary exhibitions and cultural activities, along with school programs. Tours of the Bonsecours neighbourhood, the oldest part of Montreal, are offered on Saturdays, from April to June, and October and November. Reservation required.
Reviewed By AlwaysForever
We stopped here at this free admission chapel twice during our visit. It is far smaller and simpler than the large Notre Dame Basilica, but peaceful and beautiful in its decorations. Do not miss the statues on the chapel on the exterior port side of the building. If you enjoy visiting religious buildings, this is definitely worth a visit.
3. Maison Historique George-Etienne Cartier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Former home of Sir George-Etienne Cartier, now a history museum.
4. Lieu Historique National du Canal-de-Lachine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 630 reviews
No longer used as a means of transportation, this canal now serves as a recreation area with hiking and biking trails.
Reviewed By 993dagmarg - Shelburne, United States
A wonderful place to run, cycle, walk or even picnic. Water levels rise in the summer to allow for boating and kayaking/canoeing. Can be quite busy summer weekends. See my pictures from different times of the year.
5. Musee Marguerite-Bourgeoys
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
Crowning an ancient promontory above the Saint Lawrence River, once a campsite favoured by the Native peoples, a 300-year-old chapel, a museum of history and an archaeological site invite you to hear what they have to say about the people who founded Montreal. Through the achievements of Marguerite Bourgeoys, a woman of courage and compassion who lived in 17th-century Montreal, you will find yourself transported back through time to another world, that of our ancestors.
6. Place Vauquelin Fountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Notacamper99
This plaza is a lovely (and less crowded than Place Jacques-Cartier) stop while touring Old Montreal. The fountain is large and has seating around the entire outside. On a warm day, it is lovely to sit for a few minutes and enjoy the atmosphere.
7. Dorchester Square
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 51 reviews
This downtown plaza was recently renamed in honor of Lord Dorchester, the governor of British North America in the late 1700s.
Reviewed By on_the_go_98765
Across from the Cathedrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde as a generous section of greenery that is home to some great monuments, cultivated (and not no so cultivated) grounds, a sub-ground metro system, shallow pools with spurting fountains, and all this beauty spans a block-deep area between Rue St. Catherine and Rue St. Antoine (give or take a bit). It's all about 5 acres. It bears the names and is associated with: Dorchester Square Place du Canada Victoria Square (or Victoria Park) Maisonneuve Monument (location for) Boer War Memorial (location for) The borders and direct distinctions between these entities are wishy-washy (read that to mean: uncertain, indecisive and wavering). Yup, this is a fluid boundary. By strict definition, Victoria Park is more manicured. It's more of a people's park here on the Dorchester side of the fence (where the grass is always greener). When we passed by, there was an open-air kind of people's concert taking place, folks were sitting on benches, the Metro had traffic up and down the wrought-iron staircase, and lovely pools shot gurgling little plumes up to add to the ambiance. Dorchester Square is the home of 4 significant statues: Tribute to Sir Wilfirid Laurier, the Boer War Memorial, a cenotaph called Lion of Belfast, and that famous (and much loved by Scots) poet, Robert Burns. Across the park divide (I am supposing) is where Queen Victoria Park is located (her statue is a dead give-away) and also a fantastic monument to Maisonneuve (pirate or privateer, depends on your opinion). There's also a great pair of statues called The English Bulldog and The French Poodle. Great humorous story here. This spot of park was established in the 1800's and Montreal should be ever so thankful that it was.
8. Chateau Ramezay Historic Site and Museum of Montreal
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 596 reviews
Montreal’s portal to its past, the Chateau Ramezay was the first building in Quebec to be classified an historic monument. Chosen as one of the 1001 Historic Sites You Must See Before You Die, the Château invites you to relive more than 500 years of history, from the pre-contact Amerindian era to the 20th century.A not-to-be-missed heritage landmark in Old Montreal, the Château Ramezay holds fascinating collections, displayed in numerous exhibits, intermingled with multimedia portrayals of historical figures recounting, in six languages, highlights of their lives at the Château. Items in the museum shop reflect this legacy.Visit the Governor's Garden and experience delights typical of an urban garden in New France. In summer, a courtyard café overlooks the garden.
Reviewed By Bron-bird - Kitchener, Canada
This Museum is a treasure. The gardens are free to enter and delightful providing a glimpse of how people relied on plants 400 years ago. The house has thick stone walls providing a very cool atmosphere on a warm summer day. Child friendly.
9. Place d'Youville
10. Edifice Grand Trunk
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