A visit to Montreal wont ever be complete without walking on the cobblestoned streets of Old Montreal where the first arrivals of the city settled, minutes walk from the St. Lawrence River where a port was established and is still serving the locals and tourists. In summer, the port and its surrounding areas become a rendezvous for artists of all kinds—from performance to visual artists to plain buskers. Outdoor concerts and recreational activities in nearby parks abound everywhere and water sports are a hit to beat the summer heat.
Most of the buildings in the area are dating back from the 17th century, thus, one of the oldest urban settlement in North America. In the far west, youll see the Places dArmes where various military events were held; to the South is the imposing Notre Dame Basilica; the grand City Hall stands on a hilltop in the northern side; and on the east is the gushing river and the Bonsecours Market which served as the main public market of the city for more than 100 years.
Today, you might not be able to feel the ancient sense of times past, but as you walk on those tiny cobblestones and narrow lanes, remember that your steps are retracing the footprints of the ghosts from the past.
