Old Port of Montreal, Historic riverfront in Ville-Marie, Canada.
Description
The Old Port of Montreal runs for two kilometers along the Saint Lawrence River, blending historic buildings and infrastructure with modern recreational spaces. The area includes pedestrian walkways, a science center, an observation tower, boat rental facilities, and gardens designed for both walking and water activities.
History
French fur traders founded this location in 1611 as a trading post, and it remained Montreal's main port until commercial shipping moved eastward in the 1970s. This shift allowed the site to transform from a working harbor into a public destination.
Culture
The old port is now a gathering place where Montrealers come to be near the water, walk, cycle, and enjoy waterfront activities year-round. The space serves as a bridge between the city's working-class past and its modern recreational identity.
Practical
The area is easily accessible on foot with wide, flat pathways suitable for walking and cycling throughout the year. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and plan to explore at their own pace, as different sections offer various activities at different times of day.
Did you know?
A giant observation wheel rises 60 meters and rotates slowly to provide views of the river and city skyline from above. Riding it at different times of day reveals how the light and colors change across the water and buildings.
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Montreal combines historic sites and cultural institutions along the Saint Lawrence River. The city displays its religious past in structures like Notre-Dame Basilica, whose neo-gothic facade dates to the 1820s, and Saint Joseph's Oratory, a Catholic pilgrimage site on Westmount. Mount Royal rises...
The main monuments and tourist sites of Quebec, including the city's fortifications, historical buildings, public squares, museums, monuments, and natural areas. Sites like the Château Frontenac, Dufferin Terrace, and Montmorency Falls showcase the history and architectural heritage of the city....
Notre-Dame Basilica
294 m
Pointe-à-Callière Museum
292 m
Montreal Science Centre
78 m
Aldred Building
333 m
Pointe-à-Callière
274 m
Montreal Courthouse
333 m
Les chuchoteuses
135 m
Old Custom House
247 m
John Young Monument
2 m
Édifice Ernest-Cormier
282 m
Maison Cartier
331 m
Chapelle Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur
283 m
Pointe-à-Callière: Pavillon de l'Ancienne-Douane
244 m
Montreal Curb Market building
340 m
Immeuble Joseph-Amable-Berthelot
339 m
Maison-magasin Pierre-Del Vecchio I
288 m
Vieux-Séminaire-de-Saint-Sulpice Heritage Site
328 m
Édifice Thémis
337 m
Opus 1032
294 m
Métropole Building
296 m
Maison Perrine-Charles-Cherrier
289 m
Maison Marie-Pierre-Viger I
266 m
Maison de La Minerve
247 m
Entrepôt Pierre-Del Vecchio
277 m
Maison Elizabeth-Mittleberger-Platt
107 m
Mussen Building
311 m
Maison de l'Enseigne-du-Patriote
261 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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