The last time we visited Montreal was almost twenty years ago; it was a brief visit only and we didn't see much.
From my memory of our last visit, Montreal was not as built up and exciting as it is today.
This time we had a few more days and have come to appreciate Montreal much more. There are many interesting and heritage buildings in the city which has done a great job combining European historical charm with modern North American urban planning. There are numerous modern highrises and office buildings housing offices and beautiful shopping malls in the downtown area.
These modern design buildings coexist harmoniously with Montreal's traditional duplexes, triplexes and quadruple. The most famous and special feature of Montreal's residential architecture is its steep, winding, wrought iron outdoor staricases which we do not see too often anywhere in Canada.
I have always been fascinated by these interesting staircases and wanted to find out more about them. While they look like an aesthetic choice today, they actually originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a clever solution to urban planning and economic rules. In the late 1800s, the city of Montreal mandated that new residential developments set buildings back from the street to create front yards and green space. To maximize the indoor square footage of the living space on these smaller lots, builders pushed the stairwells outside.
Winter temperatures in Montreal could be harsh and drop significantly. Unheated interior stairwells were a major source of heat loss. Pushing staircases outdoors meant landlords didn't have to waste money heating shared hallways.
Therefore, staircases were twisted into S-shapes, spirals, and tight angles to fit within the narrow distance between the sidewalk and the front door without exceeding steepness regulations. These clever designs contributed to the unique architectural element of many Montreal houses at the time. I love these spiral staircases and couldn't stop taking pictures of them while we were in Montreal.
Another reason we enjoyed visiting this city is its inviting and welcoming neighbourhoods and pedestrain streets.
Montreal turns many of its major thoroughfares into vibrant, car-free walkways during the summer months.
The one we liked most was Avenue Mont-Royal (Plateau-Mont-Royal) - One of the longest pedestrian zones in the city. Our hotel was in this neighbourhood and we visited it a few times. When we were there, Mont-Royal was a massive green corridor lined with vintage clothing stores, bookstores, bakeries, and street art installations.
The pedestrain street was just as lively at night past 10:00p.m! We saw a flower shop still opened at 11:00pm, with people inside! Montrealers still shopping for flowers shopping at the wee hours of the night!
During our walk on the pedestrain street, we went into the neighbourhood library to rest our tired feet and read for a little while and discovered an art exhibition there. Wow! It was a good show and FREE!
Another streer, Prince-Arthur Street East, also a pedestrian-friendly street running between Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Square Saint-Louis known for its terraced dining and casual vibe.
There are many exciting things to see and do in Montreal! We were absolutely delighted that we made this trip after more than two decades and enjoyed every moment of our stay in this beautiful city. It is so different from all the other cities in North America! Next time if we crave to have a slice of Europe, we no longer need to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Just a few hours drive from Toronto, viola! We will be in Montreal, our own European city right in our front door in Canada!
RT, Toronto, Canada, 072026
surrounded by classic Montreal triplexes with wrought-iron spiral staircases and lively cafés.
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