McGill University

Montréal's signature university, McGill received its charter in 1821 after being endowed and founded by James McGill, a wealthy Scottish immigrant, in 1813. The gift was intended to give English-speaking residents an educational opportunity. Since that time, the university has grown to encompass both the original downtown campus and Macdonald Campus, about 25 miles west of the city. The school now accommodates graduate and undergraduate students and includes six teaching hospitals and 17 libraries. Tours of the downtown campus are available by reservation and last about an hour. They're led by students and feature the university's prominent buildings and facilities.