Though Montréal island is a large
51km by 16km, the heart of the city
is very manageable, and is divided
into Vieux-Montréal - along the St
Lawrence River - a downtown
high-rise business core, on the
south side of the hill of Mont
Royal, and the lively Plateau and
Quartier Latin neighbourhoods to the
east. Sherbrooke, de Maisonneuve,
Ste-Catherine and René-Lévesque
are the main east-west arteries,
divided into east (
est ) and
west (
ouest ) sections by
the north-south boulevard
St-Laurent, known locally as
"The Main". Street numbers
begin from St-Laurent and increase
the further east or west you travel:
thus 200 rue Sherbrooke ouest is
about three blocks west of the Main
and 1000 boul René-Lévesque est is
about ten blocks east of the Main.
North-south street numbers increase
north from the St Lawrence River.
You're most likely to start by
sampling the old-world charm of Vieux-Montréal
. The narrow cobblestoned streets,
alleys and squares are perfect for
strolling, and every corner reveals
an architectural gem, from
monumental public edifices to the
city's first steep-roofed homes.
Close by, the Vieux-Port
holds the new iSci centre and is a
departure point for getting out on
the water. To the north, in the
compact downtown area, the
glass frontages of the office blocks
reflect Victorian terraces and the
spires of numerous churches,
clustered within the shadow of the
city's landmark, Mont Royal ,
which the residents simply call
"The Mountain". Meanwhile,
the mountain's eastern plateau is
the spot where the city's pulse
beats fastest as the eateries and
bars of The Main throng with
people day and night. On the city's
outskirts the enormous Stade
Olympique complex and the vast
green of the Jardin Botanique
are the main pull. Beneath street
level the passages of the Underground
City link hotels, shopping
centres and offices with the Métro.
