Montréal Guide » More About Montréal: Overview

Overview

Old and new blend seamlessly to define a city that is at once hip and contemporary yet quaintly charming. One of the largest French-speaking cities in the world, Montréal is home to a number of multinational corporations and is the third most popular convention destination on the continent, though its people speak a variety of languages and claim ancestry to 41 different countries. It's a vibrant cultural center with diverse museum offerings, including the Musée des Beaux-arts and the Biodôme de Montréal. The Montréal Symphony Orchestra is a must for music lovers, and Cirque du Soleil's brilliant, breathtaking shows will delight anyone. Enjoy the "City of Festivals" any time of year with celebrations ranging from February's Fête des Neiges to spring and summer's International Jazz Festival and the Film Festival. Other popular sites are Old Montréal and the Old Port with loads of shopping and an abundance of fine dining; Olympic Stadium; and Ste-Catherine Street, the main commercial street downtown. "Reso dans la ville souterraine" (City Underground) is a 30-kilometer network of boutiques, cafes, theatres, hotels and shopping centers, even a university.