Welcome to Montreal
Nearly 400 years after its birth, the city of Montreal continues to be a vital asset to the country of Canada, and to all of North America. With a population of over 1.6 million people, Montreal is Canada’s second largest city, and is a leader in domestic and international industry in areas such as aerospace, electronics, pharmaceuticals, information technology, telecommunications, media, finance, and research and development. The city has an extensive education system; Montreal is home to four major universities—English-speaking McGill University and Concordia University, and French-speaking Université du Québec à Montréal and Université de Montréal. These centers of learning and research contribute greatly, not only to Montreal’s economic success, but also to its culture and artistic community.
Montreal’s Place des Arts is the cultural heart of the city, housing several concert and performance arts venues, as well as music, comedy, and art festivals. Headquartered here are the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Opéra de Montréal, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. In addition to these classical performance arts, Montreal also has many eclectic music and dance groups that integrate a variety of styles and avant-garde techniques into their performances. Although many ethnic groups and communities are involved in Montreal’s arts scene, the official language is French, and the city is undeniably a cultural center for French-speaking North America. Montreal is a leader in French media, radio, film, and publishing.
On the subject of architecture and design, one of Montreal’s features that make it unique in comparison to other cities is its Underground City. The Underground City is a system of underground (and some enclosed above-ground) pedestrian tunnels that spread all over downtown Montreal, making it easier for downtown dwellers, employees, and visitors to get from one area to the other. The tunnels are air conditioned and lighted, and have shops and other points of interest. They are comprised of over 5 square miles, and connect shopping areas, hotels, offices, residential complexes, major attractions, and universities, as well as metro, train, and bus stations. The Underground City proves invaluable to the community particularly in inclement weather, with up to 500,000 people using it in the winter. Above ground, Montreal never ceases to amaze with its chic mix of historical architecture--such as the Gothic Revival Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica, and the 5-story city hall building designed in the Second Empire, or Napoleon III architectural style—and sophisticated contemporary skyscrapers that light up the sky.
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