Old Montreal Parks and Public Spaces

Get Outside during a Summer Vacation to the Port of Montreal, Quebec

Apr 20, 2009

During an Old Montreal summer vacation, walk and relax in the parks and public spaces of this French-speaking city.

Old Montreal parks make the perfect destination for a quiet summer vacation where relaxing in historic places and enjoying pretty terrace cafés are the biggest priorities on the travel itinerary. From Place d’Armes that hails a founder of the city to the park Champ-de-Mars that sits aside the grandiose City Hall, an amble through the public spaces and parks of Old Montreal rates as a relaxing summer pastime.

Visit the Old Montreal Public Space Place d’Armes

This French-speaking city whirls around a columned statue of Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, who founded Montreal in 1642 with a handful of other French settlers. The square sits between Rue Saint-Jacques Ouest and Rue Notre Dame Ouest—two of the main thoroughfares through the Old Montreal, which is called Vieux Montreal in French.

Within easy distance of the square lie some fabulous examples of Old Montreal’s historic buildings including:

Now a green space, Place d’Youville has witnessed much of Montreal activity including being the capital of Canada in the mid-1800s and also was the former water-route of the Saint-Pierre River.

Place d’Youville has recently been re-dubbed Place de la Grande-Paix and makes a quiet destination to include in an Old Montreal summer vacation or a Montreal walking tour. Admire the 41-foot granite obelisk that commemorates when Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve and other French setters founded Montreal in 1642 and called the new settlement “Ville Marie”. For more historical discoveries, head to the nearby museum of archaeology and history Pointe-a-Callière at 350 Place Royale.

Old Montreal Park Champ-de-Mars and Market-like Place Jacques Cartier

Champ-de-Mars offers lots to explore including the City Hall and the old stone walls of this once-fortified city. Walk through the Champ-de-Mars and discover:

After all the exploration, head to Hotel Champ-de-Mars at 756 Rue Berri for a drink at the hotel bar. The hotel offers a historic feel and was once the preferred spot for port workers to revel.

Or, if the weather is warm head to Place Jacques Cartier to relax at a café in this market-street at the heart of Montreal. Whether it’s spring, summer, or fall, if the weather is warm expect to enjoy busking musicians, packed patios, and an outdoor party.

Transport to Old Montreal

Getting to the Old Montreal remains simple with bus and metro options. Three metro stations lie within walking distance of sites in the port district. Take the orange line to Square-Victoria, Place-d’Armes, or Champ-de-Mars.

The 515 bus runs through the Old Port, encircling the district. Running along Rue de la Commune, up into the St. Denis and Latin Quarter, along René Lévesque, then down Rue de la Cathédrale, the bus also offers a walking-free orientation to the historic public spaces and parks of Old Montreal.

The copyright of the article Old Montreal Parks and Public Spaces in Quebec Travel is owned by Chloë Ernst. Permission to republish Old Montreal Parks and Public Spaces in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.